Summer Rae is an American former professional wrestler, actress, model, and football player best known for her memorable WWE career.
She gained widespread attention through her work with WWE and appearances on Total Divas.
Her journey from football to WWE and later work in acting and media makes her story worth exploring further.
Who is Summer Rae?
Summer Rae, widely known by the real name Danielle Louise Moinet, is an American former professional wrestler, model, actress, and football player.
She became a familiar face in sports entertainment through her work with WWE, where she developed a reputation as both an in-ring performer and a manager.
During her WWE career, she became known for her storylines with Superstars such as Fandango, Rusev, and Tyler Breeze.
These appearances helped establish her as a familiar face in WWE’s women’s division.
Summer Rae appeared on the reality series Total Divas, which gave fans a closer look at her life outside the ring, and she made her film debut in The Marine 4: Moving Target.
Before entering WWE, she played football for the Chicago Bliss and worked as a brand ambassador for a NASCAR team.
After leaving WWE, Moinet continued working in entertainment, modeling, media, and sports.
She also stayed connected with wrestling fans through social media and public appearances.
Summer Rae Early Life
Danielle Louise Moinet was born on November 28, 1983, in Manhasset, New York. Her father is French, and her mother is British, and Danielle has described both parents as major influences in her life.
They had both immigrated to the United States and encouraged her to believe that she could achieve her goals through hard work and determination.
Her parents were also married for many years, something Danielle has said she respected and admired while growing up.
Although she was born on Long Island, Danielle moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, at a very young age and grew up there.
She developed an interest in sports while growing up and later became involved in fitness and athletics.
Her father also introduced her to professional wrestling at an early age, and she has recalled watching wrestling with him on Saturday mornings.
Family remained important to Danielle as she grew older, and she continues to support the Dean Thomas Moinet Foundation founded by her sister.
The foundation helps families with medically fragile children receiving treatment at Duke and UNC hospitals.
Summer Rae Age
Summer Rae is 42 years old as of 2026 because she was born on November 28, 1983. Her zodiac sign is Sagittarius.
Summer Rae Nationality and Ethnicity
Summer Rae is American by nationality. Her family background includes French and English ancestry, with her French ancestry specifically noted in biographical records.
Summer Rae Education
Summer Rae attended Enloe High School in Raleigh, North Carolina, before continuing her studies at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina.
She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Marketing and was also a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority.
Her marketing education later became useful beyond wrestling, particularly in her work involving media, branding, and social engagement.
Why is Summer Rae Famous?
Summer Rae became famous mainly through her career with WWE. She joined the company in 2011 and worked through its developmental system before becoming a regular presence on WWE television.
Her popularity increased after she became Fandango’s dance partner and valet, and she later became involved in major storylines with Rusev and Tyler Breeze.
Her appearance on the reality series Total Divas also introduced her to viewers outside wrestling. She appeared in 28 episodes of the series between 2013 and 2017.
Her film role in The Marine 4: Moving Target added another part to her entertainment career.
Football and NASCAR Career (2008–2011)
Summer Rae began building her professional career in the sports and entertainment world during the late 2000s.
She worked as a lead brand ambassador and spokesperson for Bobby Labonte’s NASCAR team, where she traveled to different markets and represented the team at promotional events.
The role also gave her opportunities to appear in local and national media, helping her become comfortable in front of cameras and large audiences.
She later joined the Chicago Bliss of the Legends Football League and played as a cornerback.
She eventually became the team captain and also handled spokesperson duties, appearing in media interviews and representing the team at public events.
Her time in football strengthened her athletic background and gave her valuable experience that would later prove useful in professional wrestling.
WWE and FCW Career (2011–2012)
In 2011, Danielle Moinet joined WWE and began developing her wrestling career in Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW).
She initially worked as a ring announcer before moving into more active roles around the ring.
As she gained experience, she began wrestling and managing other performers and adopted the name Summer Rae.
Her time in FCW allowed her to learn the different sides of professional wrestling, from performing in front of a live crowd to developing a character and working through wrestling storylines.
When WWE transitioned FCW into NXT, Summer Rae continued her development and became increasingly involved in the company’s developmental programming.
NXT and Main-Roster Rise (2012–2013)
Summer Rae gradually established herself as a wrestler and character in NXT.
She became involved in storylines with other performers and developed a confident, antagonistic personality that helped her stand out.
Her work in NXT eventually led to an opportunity on WWE’s main roster. In April 2013, she made her main-roster debut and became closely associated with Fandango.
Her role as his dance partner and valet quickly attracted attention because of their distinctive entrance.
The pairing became one of the memorable acts on WWE television at the time and helped Summer Rae gain wider recognition among wrestling fans.
WWE Main Roster and Total Divas (2013–2016)
Summer Rae became involved in several storylines during her main-roster years.
She worked with performers including Fandango, Rusev, Lana, Dolph Ziggler, and Tyler Breeze, taking on both managerial and wrestling roles.
Her character often played an important part in storylines, while her athletic background allowed her to compete inside the ring as well.
Her career also expanded into reality television when she joined the cast of Total Divas.
The show gave viewers an opportunity to see Danielle Moinet outside her Summer Rae character and follow aspects of her life away from WWE.
During the same period, she began exploring acting and appeared in the WWE Studios film The Marine 4: Moving Target in 2015.
WWE Departure and Career Beyond Wrestling (2016–Present)
Injuries affected Summer Rae during the later part of her WWE career and kept her away from regular competition.
WWE announced her release on October 29, 2017, ending her full-time run with the company.
Although she was no longer a regular WWE performer, she remained connected to wrestling and made a notable return at the 2022 Women’s Royal Rumble.
Since then, Danielle Moinet has continued to work across sports, entertainment, modeling, and media.
She has also maintained an active relationship with wrestling fans through social media and public appearances.
Her later work has allowed her to use the experience she gained as an athlete, wrestler, television personality, and sports spokesperson while developing a career beyond the WWE ring.
Summer Rae Movies and TV Shows
Summer Rae expanded into acting and television during her WWE years. Her most notable film role was Rachel Dawes in The Marine 4: Moving Target (2015).
She became the first WWE Diva to land a role in a WWE Studios film and performed her own stunt work for the project.
Her television work includes:
- Total Divas — Summer Rae
- WWE Monday Night Raw — Summer Rae
- WWE NXT
- WWE Main Event
- WWE Ride Along
- WWE’s The Bump
She also appeared in wrestling-related television specials and other entertainment productions.
Why was Summer Rae Released From WWE?
WWE announced Summer Rae’s release on October 29, 2017, alongside Emma and Darren Young.
The company did not provide a specific reason for ending her contract, so there is no confirmed basis for saying that she was released for one particular reason.
At that point, Summer Rae had already been away from regular WWE competition for an extended period because of injuries.
However, WWE’s announcement did not say that her injuries were the reason for her departure.
It is therefore more accurate to say that she was released after a long period away from active competition rather than attribute the decision to a specific cause.
What Happened to Summer Rae?
After leaving WWE, Summer Rae moved away from full-time wrestling and began focusing on opportunities outside the company.
She continued to explore work in entertainment, modeling, media, and sports while remaining active on social media.
Summer also expressed interest in continuing her career rather than simply stepping away from the public eye.
Her connection with WWE resurfaced in 2022, when she made a surprise appearance in the Women’s Royal Rumble.
She entered the match at No. 23 and was eliminated by Natalya after 52 seconds.
This appearance gave fans a chance to see her back in a WWE ring after several years away, although she did not return to the company as a full-time wrestler.
What is Summer Rae Doing Now?
Today, Summer Rae is working in combat-sports media.
In 2024, she joined BYB Extreme Bare Knuckle Fighting Series as an interviewer and social media correspondent, bringing her previous experience in wrestling, live sports, and television to the role.
Her current work represents a natural continuation of her career in sports entertainment.
Rather than competing regularly in the ring, she uses her experience in front of the camera to interview fighters, cover events, and connect combat sports personalities with audiences.
Summer Rae Husband
Summer Rae is not publicly confirmed to be married and does not have any publicly confirmed children.
There is also no reliable information establishing a current husband or partner. Her WWE storylines sometimes included romantic pairings with other wrestlers.
However, these were part of her on-screen character and do not reflect her real-life relationships.
Summer Rae Net Worth
Summer Rae has an estimated net worth of $3 million as of 2026. She earns money through her work in sports media, entertainment, modeling, and brand appearances.
Summer currently works with BYB Extreme Bare Knuckle Fighting Series as an interviewer and social media correspondent, where she conducts fighter interviews and hosts multimedia content.
She has also earned income from her earlier WWE career, television appearances, acting, modeling, and sports-related media work.
Her experience as a former wrestler and television personality also gives her opportunities for brand partnerships, endorsements, media appearances, and other promotional work.
Social Media Presence
Summer Rae remains active online under her real name, Danielle Moinet.
Her social media presence allows her to share updates about her professional work, travel, fitness, entertainment projects, and appearances in the sports world.
Summer Instagram account @daniellemoinet has a substantial following, while her X account continues to use the @DanielleMoinet name.
Her online presence has helped her maintain a connection with wrestling fans even after leaving WWE.
Summer Rae Height and Weight
Summer Rae stands at 5 feet 10 inches which is equal to 178 centimeters or 1.78 meters tall. Her billed WWE weight was around 125 pounds which is equal to 57 kg.
Her tall, athletic appearance suited both her football background and her wrestling career.
During her WWE years, her blonde hair, confident presentation, and distinctive ring attire became important parts of the Summer Rae character.
Away from the character, Danielle Moinet has also worked as a model and has continued to maintain a polished presence in entertainment and sports media.
Conclusion
Summer Rae built a career that went far beyond the wrestling ring.
From playing football for the Chicago Bliss and working in NASCAR promotions to becoming a recognizable WWE Superstar, she continually moved into new areas of entertainment.
Her work on Total Divas and The Marine 4: Moving Target further expanded her profile.
Although her full-time WWE career ended in 2017, Danielle Moinet has remained active through modeling, media, social media, and combat-sports work.
Today, she continues to build a career on her own terms while staying connected to the world that first made her famous.
If you enjoyed learning about Summer Rae, leave a comment and share your thoughts about her journey with us!