It’s been a while since we’ve seen Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson throwdown inside the WWE ring. These days, the wrestler-turned-actor is mostly busy starring in blockbuster films.
The years away from his first love didn’t stop him from expressing his excitement about the sports network’s latest wrestling signee.
Proud Father
Johnson is certainly proud of his eldest daughter, Simone Johnson, for following his footsteps to make a name for herself in wrestling. The 48-year-old ‘Baywatch’ actor shared this sentiment during a recent guesting on ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’.
In his virtual appearance, the father-of-three congratulated his daughter for signing a contract with WWE and said how it blows his mind. Johnson also emphasized how it’s important that Simone wants to create her own path even though she’s entering the same industry that first made him famous.
The legacy that the father and daughter duo would have in the sport isn’t unique though. They would be joining the likes of English pro wrestler Xia Brookside and her father NXT senior trainer Robbie Brookside.
History-Maker
There’s one thing that makes Simone’s career choice a bit more significant though. Her signing on with WWE in February 2020 at 18 effectively makes her the youngest person to ever ink a contract in the company’s history, according to Johnson.
Even more impressive is that the young woman has been working on her throwdown skills since she was 16 years old under the radar as her father revealed. And it looks like she’s wasting no time as she’s reportedly already begun her training at the Performance Center in Florida.
Of course, there’s also the fact that Simone would be the first-ever fourth-generation wrestling star to work with WWE.
A Family of WWE Legends
To the unfamiliar, Johnson’s own father Rocky Johnson and grandfather Peter Maivia were both Hall of Fame wrestlers. The Rock himself is a 10-time world champion.
That said, Simone certainly faces a lot more pressure to live up to the greatness of those family members that came before her. Fortunately, she seems to be game for the challenge and says that she’s grateful for the opportunity to carry on her family’s legacy.
Executives at WWE are also excited to welcome the young wrestler even saying how it was her passion and drive that earned her a spot to train with other elite athletes.