Simone Johnson plans to continue a legacy that spans generations. Earlier this week, the 18-year-old athlete announced her signing to the WWE, a decision her father Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson made in 1996 with the then WWF.
“Congrats to my #1 born, Simone Johnson on officially signing her wrestling contract with @wwe @wwenxt and on her way to becoming the first ever 4th generation WWE athlete,” he wrote on Instagram. “Carry our family name proudly, but your road will always be yours to create, earn & own. So proud. Live your dream. Let’s work.”
The blockbuster actor’s father and grandfather were renowned wrestlers. In 2004, Johnson retired and embarked on a path in Hollywood that’s spurned a number of franchises and animated films. He later returned to the ring in 2007 before retiring for good in 2019.
“It means the world to me,” Simone Johnson said in a statement. “To know that my family has such a personal connection to wrestling is really special to me and I feel grateful to have the opportunity, not only to wrestle, but to carry on that legacy.” Johnson will head to Orlando, Fla., to begin training at the WWE Performance Center.
