Professional Wrestling has been a staple of our social culture in the United States and abroad for as long as I can remember. There is no doubt that the industry, in the way of entertain and revenue generation, has grown exponentially over the last 30-plus years – primarily through the WWF/WWE brand. One way that the Vince McMahon and his family have grown this brand is by opening up the platform to women in a way that it has not been done in the past. One of the league’s most exciting and intriguing characters is Natalya “Nattie” Neidhart and for good reason. Not only is she excited to watch, she has major longevity, being one of the most tenured females in the business. For those of you who don’t know who Nattie is, here are five quick facts to get you up to speed.
1. She Started Her Career In Shimmer
The WWE has proven to be a difficult league for women to break into without proper representation in the way of an agent of public relations specialist. So, like many other independent women wrestlers, Nattie launched her career in Shimmer, a professional wrestling league designed to highlight the talent of female wrestlers. The league began in 2005 with a mission focused on providing a legitimate platform for female wrestlers to showcase their talent, and it was through this platform that Nattie broke into the WWE.
2. She Has Trained with MMA Fighters
While there are some people who don’t professional wrestlers seriously, especially female wrestlers, these individuals are superb athletes that are in remarkable shape and very well-trained. In fact, Nattie has trained with some of the top MMA fighters on the planet, including Ronda Rousey, Shayna Baszier, Jessamyn Duke, and Maria Shafir, just to name a few. Natalya trained with these MMA fighters to expand her diversity inside of the ring, as well as improve her overall confidence.
3. She Is Part of a Rare Breed
There have been some phenomenal wrestlers over the last five decades, but finding third generation athletes in the sport has become a rarity. Two of the most notable third generation giants are Randy Orton and The Rock, but when it comes to women in the sport, there is only one name that can be placed on that list – Natalya Neidhart. She is the granddaughter of Stu Hart, and the daughter of Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart, who married Stu’s daughter. Did I mention that Bret “The Hitman” Hart is her uncle?
4. She Is Cool With the Great Khali
The Great Khali made a name for himself in the WWE and he also made his way into film, taking a role in the remake of The Longest Yard. If you are long-time WWE fan, you probably remember Nattie being teamed with Khali on more than one occasion. The opportunity to work with the giant allowed them to create a genuine and lasting friendship. She also became good friends with Hornswoggle who she was paired with several times.
5. She is Diva Outside of the WWE as Well
Natalya made the decision that she was not going to pass on the reality television reality gravy train. She signed to star in the Total Divas series, and as you can imagine there is no shortage of drama, betrayal, and retaliation – meaning that Nattie should feel right at home. When watching this show there are times that you will have a quick WWE flashback, especially when Nattie decides that it is time for some payback.
Follow Us
