WWE developmental talent Lina Fanene and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s mother, Ata Johnson, were struck head-on by a drunk driver earlier this month and survived.
“My mom & cousin @linafanene were struck head on by a drunk driver this week – they lived,” Johnson said on Instagram. “First reaction is to find the person who did this and do unrelenting harm to them. But then you realize the most important thing is my family lived thru this and we can hug each other that much tighter these days. Hug your own family tighter today and be grateful you can tell them you love them. #BearHugsAndGratitude #100PercentPreventable #ChoicesMatter.”
Fanene suffered an arm injury from the accident and her Twitter account indicates that she went underwent surgery—Johnson paid a visit to Fanene at the hospital.
Three days earlier, Fanene posted a photo of herself and Johnson’s mother riding a car together to a function.
Fanene is a 31-year-old former college basketball player from California who WWE signed to a developmental contract earlier this year. Her uncle is WWE Hall of Famer High Chief Peter Maivia, the maternal grandfather of Johnson. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Johnson’s mother, Ata Johnson, suggested she try pro wrestling after watching him perform in person against John Cena at WrestleMania XXVIII. Fanene initially had no interest in wrestling, but she eventually began searching for wrestling schools and would land a tryout with WWE shortly thereafter. She began training at the WWE Performance Center in May. Fanene has yet to wrestle at a WWE NXT live event, but has appeared as a ring announcer.
