Daily News 19

Tag: The Rock

  • Simone Johnson Recalls Backlash After The Rock Took Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania Spot

    Simone Johnson Recalls Backlash After The Rock Took Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania Spot

    Simone Johnson, known on-screen as Ava Raine, recently opened up about the intense backlash she faced after her father, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, appeared to take Cody Rhodes’ main-event spot at WWE WrestleMania 40. The revelation came during an appearance on Rhodes’ podcast, What Do You Want To Talk About?, as reported by Fightful.

    The Rock’s Return Sparks Fan Revolt

    The controversy erupted in early 2024 when The Rock returned to WWE television shortly after Cody Rhodes won his second consecutive Royal Rumble match. Despite Rhodes earning a championship opportunity against Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, The Rock’s insertion into the WrestleMania 40 main-event picture ignited a massive negative reaction from the global fanbase. Fans hijacked WWE’s social media channels to voice their frustration, but the hostility quickly extended beyond the principals involved.

    Simone Johnson Caught in the Crossfire

    At the time, Simone Johnson was an active performer on the WWE NXT brand. She recalled the specific moment she realized the depth of the audience’s anger. It occurred during the NXT Vengeance Day event, the first WWE programming aired after the controversial angle on SmackDown.

    “Dad [The Rock] came back; he shook your hand; he took your spot. That was Friday. That Sunday was a NXT pay-per-view, Vengeance Day. It was the first time there was WWE programming since that Friday. I will never forget this. I was sitting in makeup. I finished my makeup, and our head writer, Johnny Russo, came up to me and was like, ‘Can I talk to you for a minute?’ ‘Sure.’ I don’t think I had filmed the promo that I was doing that day; we were about to film it.”

    Johnson detailed the warning she received from the creative team moments before her segment aired.

    “He was like, ‘Just so you know, when we play your promo, please don’t be surprised if they boo you.’ ‘Okay.’ I can understand that. That did happen. All of the hate online happened. That day, it changed the way I looked at fans overall and changed the way that I looked at the wrestling business. For a while, I thought about it in a very negative way. It was quite negative at the time,”

    Finding Perspective Amid Adversity

    Despite the difficult experience, Johnson explained how the ordeal ultimately contributed to her professional growth. She credited the situation with forcing her to develop a thicker skin and a more focused mindset regarding her own career trajectory.

    “All these external factors are happening, and everyone can have an opinion because of who I am or what my dad has done. It made me be a little selfish in my journey and what I was doing, but it was necessary,”

    Resolution and Departure

    The WrestleMania 40 narrative eventually resolved in Rhodes’ favor. “The American Nightmare” finished his story by defeating Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Championship on Night Two, while The Rock headlined Night One in a tag team match alongside Reigns against Rhodes and Seth Rollins.

    Johnson remained with WWE NXT until January 2026, serving as both an in-ring competitor and the brand’s General Manager during her final run. She opted not to renew her contract, allowing it to expire as she moves on to the next chapter of her career.

  • Former WWE Champion Cody Rhodes Says Goodbye to Beloved Dog Pharaoh

    Former WWE Champion Cody Rhodes Says Goodbye to Beloved Dog Pharaoh

    For years, Pharaoh was more than just a pet to Cody Rhodes; he was a beloved member of the Rhodes family and a familiar face in the professional wrestling world. On Tuesday, the WWE star announced the passing of his faithful companion, sharing that the husky had gone to “forever sleep.”

    Pharaoh’s Public Life Alongside “The American Nightmare”

    Pharaoh, a furry white husky, made several notable public appearances during Rhodes’ career. Fans first saw him during Rhodes’ match entrance at AEW All Out in 2019. Following Rhodes’ return to WWE in 2022, the dog appeared again in a backstage segment on Monday Night Raw. His popularity even led to an official Mattel action figure, and he once served as an unofficial opponent to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

    A Heartfelt Tribute on Instagram

    Rhodes penned a moving tribute on Instagram, detailing Pharaoh’s unique personality and the deep bond they shared. He preserved the full text of his post:

    “Huskies need a job,” Rhodes wrote on Instagram. “P howled at the moon. When we thought he would be afraid of the older dogs we had, but instead ran into the living room and belly flopd’ on them. He patrolled the pool. He always tore up a plant when a stranger came into the backyard to let them know – ‘I’m crazy’ – and don’t come closer. He got the best training and retained most of it-I’d call him a crisis dog. Whenever there was a crisis, there he was. He put his nose under my arm in the truck…everytime. He was always with us, and when my world got turned upside down…he sat outside with me looking at the Texas stars until the sky started to shift and he pressed his head against me firmly in a way that let me know he understood. It goes without saying, he was a good boy. My best man.”

    Memories from Starrcast and Family Life

    Rhodes also recalled a cherished memory from the 2018 Starrcast convention, where fans respectfully stepped aside and cheered as Pharaoh walked through the venue. However, the former Undisputed WWE Champion emphasized that Pharaoh’s most important role was at home. According to Rhodes, the dog’s true job was being present for—and perhaps protecting—his first daughter, Liberty.

    The tribute concluded with a simple, powerful message: “We love you,” Rhodes added.

    Cherished Final Moments

    The Instagram post included a series of cherished family photos. The final image, filtered in black-and-white, shows Rhodes petting a happy Pharaoh while the Undisputed WWE Championship sits nearby—a poignant snapshot of the wrestler’s two worlds colliding.

    This story was originally published by Men’s Journal on Sep 8, 2026.