Simone Alexandra Johnson, Johnson’s daughter with his ex-wife, Dany Garcia, officially signed his WWE contract in February after being previously involved in the training.
Johnson stopped fighting to pursue acting in 2004, but returned in 2011 before retiring from the arena in 2013.
Discussing the teenager’s new career path during a virtual appearance on “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” on Friday, Johnson was proud.
“You know it drives me crazy,” said the 48-year-old actor. “First of all, what an honor my daughter wants to follow in my footsteps but, more importantly, following my footsteps sounds cliché – but in reality she wants to create and trace her own path, which is so important.”
According to Johnson, Simone is the youngest person to be signed by the WWE in the history of the organization, and “he was getting his ass quietly under the radar” from the age of 16, despite the challenges.
“She hung up there and I’m very, very proud of her,” said the “Jumanji” star.
Simone has a powerful wrestling legacy. His father was a 10-time WWE world champion, while his grandfather, Rocky Johnson, and great-grandfather, “High Chief” Peter Maivia, are the WWE Hall of Famers.
“It means the world to me,” he said in a statement in February. “Knowing that my family has such a personal connection with wrestling is very special to me and I am grateful to have the opportunity, not only to fight, but to carry on that legacy.”
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