WWE Star Ava Slams ICE, Calls Out Trump After Exit

Paul Riverbank, 2/2/2026Ava Johnson, known as WWE's Ava, sparks controversy after her exit from wrestling, passionately condemning ICE and the Trump administration on social media. Her bold stance and activism, fueled by recent tragic events and her family's legacy, signal a new chapter of defiance and public engagement in her career.

That post, bracingly candid, rocketed through wrestling circles and far beyond, shaded with the sort of frustration that’s rarely given an unfiltered audience from industry insiders. What triggered such pointed fury? Recent harrowing events: Two lives—a Minneapolis nurse and a mother—were lost during ICE raids, a tragedy that re-ignited protests across the country. For two weeks, the city’s streets filled once more as residents joined a nationwide “ICE Out” initiative, abstaining from work and shopping in hopes of turning momentum toward change.

There’s a shadow cast by family legacy as well. Ava’s father, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, remains a global icon. The younger Johnson’s own trajectory seemed golden: signing with WWE just out of her teens; swiftly becoming the company’s youngest-ever general manager on NXT. She was still only 22 when she brought in the NXT Women’s North American Championship—a milestone with her fingerprints all over it.

But Ava’s world operates at the crossroads of sport, entertainment, and, inevitably, politics. WWE has never fully hidden its Trump-era connections. Vince McMahon, the man who once wielded creative power at the company, made Trump part of wrestling spectacle decades ago; Trump Plaza sponsored those infamous WrestleManias, and the McMahon family’s political ties have only grown. Today, Paul “Triple H” Levesque sits on the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition, while Linda McMahon, one-time WWE executive, holds a federal position herself.

Such links may have intensified the edge in Ava’s words. There’s talk she was courted hard to stay, offered not just more money but the chance to shape the next act. Still, she declined—a decision insiders chalk up partly to desires to explore work with her parents or carve different paths entirely.

Ava’s rapid shift from backstage architect back to bold activist marks a startling transformation for those used to WWE’s choreography. The sense is unmistakable: she’s done holding her tongue. As debates on immigration and enforcement rage, her exit and outspokenness almost guarantee she’ll remain in public view, even as her next step remains a mystery.

It’s a new chapter—one closed with gratitude, but opened with defiance. There’s little suggestion that silence is in her future.

When Simone Johnson, known as Ava to WWE fans, closed the door on her wrestling career last week, she seemed initially to follow the standard script: an appreciative Instagram note to supporters, a calm acknowledgment of change. Yet, barely days later, that composure broke in dramatic fashion. Ava took to social media—specifically, X—and, without hedging, condemned both U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Trump administration. With her words: “And now that I can say this with my full chest, (middle finger emoji) ICE and that entire administration.”That post, bracingly candid, rocketed through wrestling circles and far beyond, shaded with the sort of frustration that’s rarely given an unfiltered audience from industry insiders. What triggered such pointed fury? Recent harrowing events: Two lives—a Minneapolis nurse and a mother—were lost during ICE raids, a tragedy that re-ignited protests across the country. For two weeks, the city’s streets filled once more as residents joined a nationwide “ICE Out” initiative, abstaining from work and shopping in hopes of turning momentum toward change.There’s a shadow cast by family legacy as well. Ava’s father, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, remains a global icon. The younger Johnson’s own trajectory seemed golden: signing with WWE just out of her teens; swiftly becoming the company’s youngest-ever general manager on NXT. She was still only 22 when she brought in the NXT Women’s North American Championship—a milestone with her fingerprints all over it.But Ava’s world operates at the crossroads of sport, entertainment, and, inevitably, politics. WWE has never fully hidden its Trump-era connections. Vince McMahon, the man who once wielded creative power at the company, made Trump part of wrestling spectacle decades ago; Trump Plaza sponsored those infamous WrestleManias, and the McMahon family’s political ties have only grown. Today, Paul “Triple H” Levesque sits on the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition, while Linda McMahon, one-time WWE executive, holds a federal position herself.Such links may have intensified the edge in Ava’s words. There’s talk she was courted hard to stay, offered not just more money but the chance to shape the next act. Still, she declined—a decision insiders chalk up partly to desires to explore work with her parents or carve different paths entirely.Ava’s rapid shift from backstage architect back to bold activist marks a startling transformation for those used to WWE’s choreography. The sense is unmistakable: she’s done holding her tongue. As debates on immigration and enforcement rage, her exit and outspokenness almost guarantee she’ll remain in public view, even as her next step remains a mystery.It’s a new chapter—one closed with gratitude, but opened with defiance. There’s little suggestion that silence is in her future.