Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s eldest daughter has publicly confirmed her relationship with a fellow professional wrestler, in a social media announcement that has been welcomed by fans and accompanied by a clear message of support from her father.
Simone Garcia Johnson, better known to wrestling audiences by her WWE ring name Ava Raine, shared an Instagram Reel at the weekend that made her relationship with NXT performer Tatyanna Dumas “Instagram official”. The video, posted on a joint account the pair use, shows the two women kissing, travelling together, relaxing at home and attending events side by side. The caption on the Reel read: “From day one.. to everything time can’t erase.”
Dumas also shared the same clip on her own page, with the video soundtracked by Charli XCX’s song “Everything is romantic” and overlaid with the line “Fall in love, again and again,” underlining the hard-launch nature of the announcement. Shortly after the Reel went live, Johnson reposted it on her personal account and added her own emotional reaction, writing: “Crying screaming throwing up. I am so lucky.”
The posts appear to mark the first time the 24-year-old has directly and publicly confirmed the relationship after months of speculation among wrestling fans. The pair had already been seen together in public on several occasions, including the London screening of Johnson’s film “The Smashing Machine” in September, where they walked the red carpet with Dwayne Johnson and posed together for photographs. A post from that premiere showed Johnson and Dumas together, with Dwayne Johnson commenting beneath one clip: “Break out the Teremana ladies!” a reference to his tequila brand and a line that has since been widely shared as a sign of his backing for the couple.
The new Reel goes further than earlier hints, presenting a montage of private and public moments and leaving little doubt that the pair are a couple. Fans quickly began sharing screenshots and clips across platforms, with many highlighting both the affectionate tone of the video and the wrestler’s caption about feeling “so lucky” as indicators of how serious the relationship has become.
Both women currently work within WWE’s NXT system. Johnson, who signed with the company in 2020, is the first fourth-generation performer in WWE history, following in the footsteps of her great-grandfather Peter Maivia, her grandfather Rocky Johnson and her father. After initially training at the company’s Performance Center, she made her on-screen debut in 2022 and now appears as the on-screen general manager for NXT, playing a prominent role in storylines as well as representing the brand in public.
Dumas, 26, joined WWE earlier this year and has been introduced to audiences through the company’s “WWE LFG” programming, performing under the nickname “Muscle Mommy”. Before entering professional wrestling she played basketball in Australia and competed in the Australian versions of television contests such as Gladiators and Ninja Warrior, building a reputation as a powerful and charismatic athlete before moving into sports entertainment. Her arrival in NXT has coincided with Johnson’s growing authority figure role on the show, meaning the couple now share both a workplace and an expanding public profile within the same promotion.
The social media announcement also sits within a wider context of Johnson speaking about her sexuality and identity in recent months. In October, a commenter on one of her Instagram posts wrote: “Didn’t know she was a lesbian didn’t get that vibe.” Johnson replied: “I’m Bi, that’s why ,” openly identifying herself as bisexual in her own words. Separately, PinkNews reports that Dumas has also described herself as bisexual, responding “I’m Bi.” to a fan under an Instagram post of the pair at “The Smashing Machine” screening.
The confirmation of their relationship has therefore been seen by many fans as a significant moment of LGBTQ+ visibility in mainstream wrestling, a sport that has traditionally been slow to depict same-sex relationships among its performers. Supporters on social media have pointed to the couple’s decision to post from a shared account and include romantic images from high-profile events as a sign that they intend to be open about their lives away from the ring, rather than keeping their partnership confined to private circles.
Dwayne Johnson’s reaction has played a central role in how the announcement has been received. Long before the hard launch, the actor and former WWE champion had already indicated his approval. Following the London premiere of “The Smashing Machine” in September, he wrote “Break out the Teremana ladies!” under footage of the pair, a light-hearted line that observers interpreted as a toast to their relationship. In the days since the Instagram Reel, coverage has repeatedly highlighted that earlier comment as emblematic of his support for his daughter and her partner.
Johnson has previously spoken publicly about Simone’s decision to pursue a wrestling career and her determination not to rely on his influence when she entered WWE. In an appearance on the “New Heights” podcast hosted by Jason and Travis Kelce earlier this year, he said he had “never got that call” from her asking him to intervene with the company. He recalled that his daughter told him she wanted “to do what you do” but also wanted “to blaze my own path,” comments that he relayed with evident pride.
Those remarks, coupled with his response to her relationship going public, have shaped a picture of a parent keen to see his daughter define both her career and personal life on her own terms while knowing that his backing is available. When the new Reel appeared, one outlet reported that he again reacted emotionally in the comments, echoing his daughter’s enthusiasm for the relationship and signalling that the news would be met with warmth within the family.
As the first fourth-generation performer in WWE, Simone Johnson’s every move has attracted close scrutiny from wrestling fans since she signed with the company in February 2020. She has spoken in the past about the weight of that legacy and the challenge of stepping into an industry where her surname is one of the most recognisable in the world. Her current role as NXT’s general manager places her at the centre of weekly storylines and gives her significant screen time, while also allowing her to continue in-ring training.
Dumas, meanwhile, is still at an earlier stage of her wrestling journey, transitioning from a multi-sport background into a high-visibility role in NXT. Her experience across basketball and televised competitions has been cited as part of what made her an attractive signing for WWE, and her on-screen debut this year has been noted for its emphasis on her physicality and confident persona.
The couple’s decision to present their relationship through a carefully curated montage rather than a single photograph reflects a wider trend in how younger public figures announce milestones online. Rather than issuing a statement, they have allowed video clips of day-to-day life to speak for themselves: shared meals, travel, gym sessions and red-carpet appearances are edited together to show a relationship that stretches beyond the confines of their workplace.
For WWE, the development adds another layer of interest to its NXT brand, which is designed to showcase emerging talent before they move to flagship shows such as Raw and SmackDown. Both Johnson and Dumas are seen as potential future stars, with Johnson already in a leadership role on screen and Dumas beginning to establish her character in the ring. Their relationship is therefore likely to remain a talking point not only among fans following their personal lives but also in discussions about the future direction of WWE’s women’s division.
The response so far has been largely positive. Comment sections beneath the couple’s posts and news reports are filled with messages congratulating them and praising Dwayne Johnson for his public show of encouragement. Some fans have described the moment as “refreshing” within a sport where storylines and characters can often overshadow the individuals behind them, while others have emphasised the importance of high-profile athletes openly identifying as bisexual and being supported by their families.
The announcement also comes at a time when WWE has been seeking to broaden the range of stories it tells and the performers it elevates, with increasing attention on representation and inclusion. While Johnson and Dumas have not framed their relationship in those terms, their visibility as an openly queer couple working side by side in a global sports entertainment company will inevitably be seen as part of that wider shift.
For now, the couple have made no further public comment beyond the captions on their posts. The Reel remains pinned to their shared account, offering what appears to be an unfiltered snapshot of their life together rather than a polished promotional segment. In that sense, the announcement is as much about how they wish to be seen away from the arena as it is about their growing prominence within it: two young wrestlers, connected by family history and shared ambition, choosing to present their relationship openly and with the backing of one of the most famous figures in their industry.
