Simone Johnson: I Don’t Regret Leaving WWE, I’m Really Happy Now

Simone Johnson discusses her WWE exit.

On January 30, Simone Johnson, better known to NXT viewers as Ava, made an Instagram post announcing her WWE departure. At the time, there hadn’t been any indication that the 24-year-old was looking to leave the company, and she was still an active on-screen personality up until her exit. Now, almost six months on, Johnson has reflected on whether she has any regrets.

Speaking on The Downside, Simone Johnson said there wasn’t one particular thing which led to her WWE departure, with it being on her mind for a while before she made the decision, noting she has no regrets about leaving the company.

“There wasn’t one particular thing, unfortunately. It was like a lot of things and something that had been on my mind for a while. I am so grateful for my time at WWE. I wouldn’t change it for the world. I got to live out the dream. But I think it was just time for something new. It was time for something different. I don’t regret leaving and I’m really happy now.”

-Simone Johnson

Simone Johnson served as the on-screen General Manager for the NXT brand for two years, having started in January 2024. Managing the roster, Johnson played a key role in many prominent storylines on Tuesday nights, and it’s worth remembering that her tenure with WWE began as an in-ring talent, debuting as a member of The Schism and having three televised matches.

Since leaving the company, Simone has focused on creating travel content with her partner Tatyanna Dumas, with the WWE star remaining in the public eye, albeit on a smaller scale.

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As always, we’ll aim to provide any further updates on Simone Johnson as soon as we hear more.

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