WWE referee Daphanie LaShaunn has been left devastated after four members of her family died in a house fire.
The 31-year-old star, whose real name is Aja Smith, has asked for prayers as her family tries to deal with the ‘unbelievable nightmare’, with others left ‘with nothing to their name’.
She wrote on Instagram: ‘My heart aches. Last night I lost my grandma, grandpa, uncle, and cousin in a house fire.
‘We were at the scene til the very end.. My soul is hollow right now. Please pray for my family as we navigate this unbelievable nightmare.
‘Planning 4 funerals and rebuilding is gonna be tough.
‘My cousin, A family of 7 with 5 kids, are now displaced with nothing to their name. Anything helps even a repost.’
A GoFundMe has been set up with around $58,000 raised in the first 13 hours.
Family member Jasmine Ivey revealed the family were in need of ‘clothing, shoes and toiletries for the children’, as well as ‘food, school supplies and basic necessities’, and ’emergency housing or temporary living assistance’.
An anonymous person has already donated $10,000, with three other unnamed individuals sending $5,000 each.
WWE superstars Bayley and Liv Morgan each donated $5,000, while Shotzi Blackheart sent $1,111, Nattie Neidhart donated $500, and
Aja’s fellow WWE referee, Shawn Bennett, donated $1,000.
On Instagram, fans and fellow stars have flooded the post with messages of support.
‘Oh my god. I’m so sorry. Sending you so much love,’ wrote WWE wrestler Chelsea Green, while backstage interviewer Cathy Kelley added: ‘Sending so much love your way!!! ❤️’
Byron Saxton, another backstage broadcaster for WWE, commented: ‘You and your family are in my heart. What a horrific tragedy. I will pray for your emotional strength as you navigate this situation.’
Current World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk replied with three heart emojis, and Raw general manager Adam Pearce said: I have no words, Aja. I send all my love to you and yours. 🙏’
Aja was born in Brazil and immigrated to Georgia in the’ ‘US at a young age.
She initially started out as a wrestler before being signed by WWE as a referee after attending a tryout.
Aja married former WWE NXT star Leon Duff in September 2022, a few months after she became the first black female referee to officiate a WrestleMania match.
She continues to appear every week on SmackDown, as well as on WWE’s regular premium live events, including last weekend’s Royal Rumble.
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