Ava Raine Slams ICE, Walks Away from Trump-Linked WWE

Paul Riverbank, 2/2/2026Ava Raine, daughter of Dwayne Johnson, sparks a conversation by slamming ICE after leaving WWE. Amidst political turmoil and personal activism, she transitions from the wrestling ring to public platforms, emphasizing the power of her voice in a polarized world.

It wasn’t an announcement of a new promotion or a nostalgic farewell match making headlines this week. Instead, it was a single, unmistakable sentiment she shared online after her WWE contract ended: “And now that I can say this with my full chest, (middle finger emoji) ICE and that entire administration.” Those words, blunt yet deliberate, tore off like a spark in dry brush. The replies came fast. Some fans cheered; others recoiled. Beyond pro wrestling’s loyal base, Ava’s statement soon found traction with audiences attuned to far wider debates.

If you were watching the news out of Minneapolis, you might understand the timing. During recent ICE raids, tragedy struck: a nurse and a mother died, igniting angry, sorrowful protests across the city. The response was swift—there’s no other word for it. Demonstrators filled intersections, while the “ICE Out” movement, a two-week boycott of regular commerce and work, surged in popularity. Ava’s post didn’t arrive in a vacuum; it landed in the middle of raw, ongoing public grief and resistance.

Within WWE, politics always operated just below the pyrotechnics and bravado. Vince McMahon, ever the showman, once built a main-event feud around Donald Trump for WrestleMania 23. Trump Plaza’s involvement at WrestleMania is still a trivia favorite, not least because holding any sports event in New Jersey carries its own story. Beyond kayfabe, family ties filtered into boardrooms—Linda McMahon, Vince’s wife, was a Trump cabinet member; Paul “Triple H” Levesque is now on a White House fitness council. For some, the line between the spectacle of wrestling and the theater of politics has grown almost invisible.

Ava, meanwhile, wasn’t just another legacy act. She joined WWE in 2020—relatively quietly, given her lineage. By 22, she’d shattered developmental milestones, becoming NXT’s youngest-ever General Manager, and played a role in launching the Women’s North American title, an achievement not lost on those who follow every twist in the developmental system.

Whatever motivated her exit—was it creative direction, family priorities, or political conscience?—remains speculative. WWE sources hint she was courted with bigger money and more influence, yet something pushed her away. Social media, as ever, is rife with conjecture: “Did WWE let her go because of her activism?” reads one comment with hundreds of likes. The real answer, for now, is between Ava and those she trusts.

Looking forward, one thing seems certain: Her next stage won’t involve ropes and squared circles but public platforms, statement-making, and possibly, activism. In a wrestling industry where many choose silence about politics—sometimes for contractual reasons, sometimes for safety—Ava’s candor feels both risky and refreshing.

She’s more than a next-generation athlete, more than the daughter of a superstar. She’s stepping deliberately into debates that ignite strong feelings on all sides. Where this leads her—or where she chooses to lead the conversation—remains unwritten. But as she trades turnbuckles for tribunes, Ava’s story is becoming about something larger than signature moves or championship belts. It’s about how, in a world fraught with hard choices, a young woman decided to speak in her own, unfiltered voice.

Simone Johnson, who the wrestling world grew to know as Ava—or, in some circles, Ava Raine—rarely escaped attention, even when she would have preferred to. Now, days after her decisive departure from WWE, that spotlight only sharpens. She’s notable not just for her in-ring potential or for the weighty surname (her father is Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, for those somehow unacquainted), but for the simple, unvarnished power of her own words.It wasn’t an announcement of a new promotion or a nostalgic farewell match making headlines this week. Instead, it was a single, unmistakable sentiment she shared online after her WWE contract ended: “And now that I can say this with my full chest, (middle finger emoji) ICE and that entire administration.” Those words, blunt yet deliberate, tore off like a spark in dry brush. The replies came fast. Some fans cheered; others recoiled. Beyond pro wrestling’s loyal base, Ava’s statement soon found traction with audiences attuned to far wider debates.If you were watching the news out of Minneapolis, you might understand the timing. During recent ICE raids, tragedy struck: a nurse and a mother died, igniting angry, sorrowful protests across the city. The response was swift—there’s no other word for it. Demonstrators filled intersections, while the “ICE Out” movement, a two-week boycott of regular commerce and work, surged in popularity. Ava’s post didn’t arrive in a vacuum; it landed in the middle of raw, ongoing public grief and resistance.Within WWE, politics always operated just below the pyrotechnics and bravado. Vince McMahon, ever the showman, once built a main-event feud around Donald Trump for WrestleMania 23. Trump Plaza’s involvement at WrestleMania is still a trivia favorite, not least because holding any sports event in New Jersey carries its own story. Beyond kayfabe, family ties filtered into boardrooms—Linda McMahon, Vince’s wife, was a Trump cabinet member; Paul “Triple H” Levesque is now on a White House fitness council. For some, the line between the spectacle of wrestling and the theater of politics has grown almost invisible.Ava, meanwhile, wasn’t just another legacy act. She joined WWE in 2020—relatively quietly, given her lineage. By 22, she’d shattered developmental milestones, becoming NXT’s youngest-ever General Manager, and played a role in launching the Women’s North American title, an achievement not lost on those who follow every twist in the developmental system.Whatever motivated her exit—was it creative direction, family priorities, or political conscience?—remains speculative. WWE sources hint she was courted with bigger money and more influence, yet something pushed her away. Social media, as ever, is rife with conjecture: “Did WWE let her go because of her activism?” reads one comment with hundreds of likes. The real answer, for now, is between Ava and those she trusts.Looking forward, one thing seems certain: Her next stage won’t involve ropes and squared circles but public platforms, statement-making, and possibly, activism. In a wrestling industry where many choose silence about politics—sometimes for contractual reasons, sometimes for safety—Ava’s candor feels both risky and refreshing.She’s more than a next-generation athlete, more than the daughter of a superstar. She’s stepping deliberately into debates that ignite strong feelings on all sides. Where this leads her—or where she chooses to lead the conversation—remains unwritten. But as she trades turnbuckles for tribunes, Ava’s story is becoming about something larger than signature moves or championship belts. It’s about how, in a world fraught with hard choices, a young woman decided to speak in her own, unfiltered voice.