Booker T Reacts to Ava Stepping Down as NXT General Manager – WWE Hall of Famer and NXT commentator Booker T shared his thoughts on Ava stepping down from her role as NXT General Manager and her WWE departure. Ava, the daughter of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, recently exited the position, with Shawn Michaels naming Robert Stone as interim General Manager during the February 3 episode of NXT.
Booker T praised Ava’s performance in the role and said she brought a strong presence to the brand. He highlighted how her age and perspective aligned with the direction of NXT, which focuses on developing younger talent.
“Ava, daughter of The Rock of course, she stepped down from being General Manager of NXT and I’m tell you she I thought she had been doing a hell of a job. I really did,” Booker T stated. “I thought she fit that role very very well and as a young person being a part of such a young group of guys doing big things and being able to have the finger on the pulse as far as kind of like knowing what young people may want perhaps maybe what young people may need”.
Co-host Brad Gilmore also described the move as unexpected and praised Ava’s impact on the show.
“I also thought that it was unexpected. It was like an unexpected announcement that she was out of there,” Gilmore said. “She was great in her role on that show. I liked about her in NXT was you have a young person working with young people on a show that’s about the future. It’s not like Nick Aldis or somebody who’s maybe of a more advanced age running the show”.
Booker T noted that he had no indication the change was coming, even after being backstage at NXT the previous week.
“I left work last week and I didn’t know anything about it,” Booker T explained. “I didn’t hear any rumors. I didn’t feel any rumblings or anything like that as far as hey maybe Ava’s gonna take a step back and move on into a different direction. I didn’t but then again this business is very very unpredictable. It really is. You could be here today and pretty much gone tomorrow. I get it. Totally understand it. Just didn’t see this one coming. But that’s the business”.
He added that sudden changes are common in wrestling, referencing the familiar disclaimer used across the industry.
“It’s a little clause normally at the bottom page and it says card subject to change at any moment,” he said.
The discussion also turned to who could take over the role long term. Booker T and Gilmore mentioned several potential candidates, including Ricky Saints and Chelsea Green. Booker T expressed support for the idea of Green stepping into the position and said he would like to see another younger figure continue the direction established by Ava.
“I think Chelsea actually could play that role. I think she could play that role very well,” Booker T stated. “I would like to see some young person take that mantle as well. Just because NXT is such a young group. When young people see young people doing things, it inspires them”.
Ava, born Simone Johnson, signed with WWE in February 2020 and trained for more than two years at the Performance Center before debuting on NXT television in October 2022 as part of The Schism. After the faction disbanded, she transitioned into an administrative role working alongside Shawn Michaels. On January 23, 2024, she was officially named NXT General Manager, a position she held for roughly two years before stepping down.
Booker T Reacts to Ava Stepping Down as NXT General Manager
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