From 2013 to 2019, Neidhart appeared in the reality television seriesTotal Divas, the sole consistent main cast member across all nine seasons. She has set six records as recognized by theGuinness Book of World Records for female WWE wrestlers – most pay-per-view appearances, most matches, most wins, most Raw matches, most SmackDown matches, and most WrestleMania matches.[11] Neidhart is the longest-tenured female WWE wrestler, actively being with the company since 2007.[12]
Neidhart is the daughter of wrestlerJim "The Anvil" Neidhart and Elizabeth "Ellie" Hart, a daughter ofStu Hart, making Neidhart a third generation wrestler.[9][13] She has two sisters; her older sister, Jennifer, is a gourmet chef and caterer, and Kristen (nicknamed "Muffy") is her younger sister.[14] She is of Greek descent through a maternal great-grandmother.[15] Neidhart cites her grandfather, Stu, and her uncle,Bret, as her inspirations, both in and out of the ring.[7] As a member of theHart wrestling family, she is a cousin toHarry Smith,Teddy,Matt, andMike Hart, who are all also professional wrestlers.[13][16] She is close friends with Smith, and the two lived together for a short time as children while their fathers were wrestling as a team,The Hart Foundation.[17]
Neidhart received formal professional wrestling training in the Hart family "Dungeon" from her unclesRoss andBruce Hart, becoming the first woman to do so.[5][13] In addition to her professional wrestling career, Neidhart has received training inamateur wrestling andmixed martial arts.[8][19]
In 2003, she began working for the Hart Family's own promotion,Stampede Wrestling under the nameNattie Neidhart, beginning a long timefeud with Belle Lovitz. The pair wrestled each other repeatedly, including a match for thePrairie Wrestling Alliance, where Neidhart teamed with her father,Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart, against Lovitz andApocalypse.[22] In 2004, however, Neidhart and Lovitz formed atag team, wrestling severalintergender matches against The Meyers Brothers as well as against Anna and Ma Myers.[1]
In mid-2004, she began accepting bookings for a tour inEngland, and in March 2005, started on a two-month tour ofJapan where she used the name Nadia Hart.[5] When she returned to Canada she promptlyturned into avillainous character, labeling herself "Nasty Nattie". On June 17, 2005, she defeated Anna Marie, Lovitz, and Ma Myers in afour-way match to become the firstStampede Women's Pacific Champion, though she later vacated the championship.[23] In November 2005, Neidhart damaged hercruciate ligament while wrestling in Japan, and underwent surgery in early 2006.[24] She was sidelined for six months while she recovered.[8][24]
The following month she competed in the tournament to determineGreat Canadian Wrestling's inaugural W.I.L.D. Champion, and defeatedDanyah and Aurora en route to the final, where she lost toSirelda.[1][26] She had her last match for Stampede Wrestling on January 26, 2007, after she had signed withWorld Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), defeating Veronika Vice.[27] During the show, she also delivered a speech thanking the fans for their support.[27]
Natalya and Victoria started afeud with the debuting Brie Bella, after Victoria lost to her on the August 29 episode ofSmackDown.[40] On the September 26 episode ofSmackDown, Victoria and Natalya lost toMaria and Brie.[41] On the October 31 episode ofSmackDown, Natalya teamed up with Victoria andMaryse during aDivasHalloween costumetag team match in a losing effort to Michelle McCool, Maria and Brie.[42] On the November 7 episode ofSmackDown, Natalya accompanied Victoria to her match against Brie, where she was once again defeated. Post-match, Brie ran under the ring to escape from Natalya and Victoria, but they both reached under the ring for her, pulling her and Nicole out. The twins then attacked them and celebrated afterward.[43] On the November 21 episode ofSmackDown, Victoria teamed up with Natalya in a losing effort to The Bella Twins.[44] AtSurvivor Series (2008), Natalya competed in a 5-on-5 Survivor Series elimination match a part of Team Smackdown where her team lost to Team Raw. On the November 28 episode ofSmackDown, Victoria teamed up with Natalya and Maryse to defeat the Bella Twins and Michelle McCool, before the feud ended.[45] Followed this, her association with Victoria also ended after she retired from the company on the January 16, 2009, episode ofSmackDown.[46] atArmageddon (2008), Natalya, Jillian Hall, Victoria and Maryse lost to Maria, Kelly Kelly, Mickie James, and Michelle McCool in an Eight-Diva Santa's Little Helper tag team match.
While still a member of the SmackDown brand, she made her debut for theECWbrand, via the talent exchange agreement, on February 10, 2009, managing her real life boyfriend Tyson Kidd (TJ Wilson).[47] In her ECW in-ring debut, on the March 3 episode, Natalya defeatedAlicia Fox.[48] On April 5, Neidhart made her WrestleMania debut, competing in a Divas battle royal atWrestleMania XXV, but the match was won bySantina Marella.[49] On April 15 Natalya was made an official member of the ECW brand, when she was drafted there as part of the2009 Supplemental Draft.[50] On the May 13 episode ofECW, Kidd and Natalya were joined by her real-life cousin David Hart Smith, formingThe Hart Dynasty, although it was originally called The Hart Trilogy.[51][52][53]
On June 29, 2009, Natalya was traded back to SmackDown along with the other members of The Hart Dynasty.[54] Natalya's first match back for the brand was in asix-personmixed tag team match on the July 17 episode, when The Hart Dynasty defeatedCryme Tyme (JTG andShad Gaspard) andEve Torres.[55] Natalya, Kidd, and Smith went on to feud with Torres and Cryme Tyme, with Natalya also facing Torres in singles matches and tag team matches involving other Divas.[56][57] Natalya was on the winning team when the SmackDown Divas defeated the Raw Divas at theBragging Rights pay-per-view in October.[58] On December 4, Natalya lost in a triple threat match to determine to number one contender for theWWE Women's Championship after she was pinned byMickie James. The match also involvedBeth Phoenix.[59]
Natalya, along with the other Hart Dynasty members, appeared atWrestleMania XXVI, helping her uncleBret Hart during his match againstVince McMahon, turning them into faces as a result.[60] On April 26, The Hart Dynasty won theUnified WWE Tag Team Championship from The Miz and The Big Show. The following day, as part of the2010 WWE Supplemental Draft, Natalya was drafted to the Raw brand, along with Kidd and Smith.[61] On the May 24, 2010, episode ofRaw, all three members of The Hart Dynasty were attacked byThe Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) andTamina, who were making their debuts.[62][63] This provoked a feud between the trios, with The Hart Dynasty attacking The Usos and Tamina the following week in retaliation.[64] At theFatal 4-Way pay-per-view in June, Natalya and The Hart Dynasty defeated Tamina and The Uso brothers in a six-person mixed tag team match, when Natalya pinned Tamina following adiscusclothesline.[65] At the next pay-per-view,Money in the Bank, Natalya helped The Hart Dynasty to retain the championship against The Usos by stopping Tamina from interfering in the match, ending the feud.[66] In September, atNight of Champions, The Hart Dynasty lost the Tag Team Championship in aTag Team Turmoil match.[67] After a failed attempt to regain the championship, in which Kidd was pushed off balance during their double-team Hart Attack move, Kidd and Smith began to have a falling out with one another.
This culminated on the November 15 episode ofRaw, when Kidd refused to tag in and attacked Smith during a match for the WWE Tag Team Championship againstThe Nexus (Justin Gabriel andHeath Slater), resulting in Kidd became a heel once again.[68] Smith defeated Kidd in a singles match on the November 25 episode ofWWE Superstars. Afterward, Smith offered to shake Kidd's hand, but Kidd refused and instead slapped him across the face.[69] On the following episode ofRaw, Kidd defeated Smith in a rematch, with this officially ending the alliance as a team.[70]
Natalya started her singles competition run, on the September 27 episode ofRaw, when she won a battle royal to become the number one contender to theWWE Unified Divas Championship, and began feuding with self-professed co-Divas ChampionsLay-Cool (Michelle McCool andLayla).[71] At theHell in a Cell pay-per-view on October 3, she defeated Michelle McCool via disqualification in a match for the championship, which meant that McCool retained the championship.[72] She received another championship match three weeks later at theBragging Rights pay-per-view, where she lost to Layla after McCool interfered.[73] On November 1, she once again became number one contender to the Unified Divas Championship after defeating McCool in a non-title match.[74]
At theSurvivor Series pay-per-view on November 21, Natalya defeated McCool and Layla in atwo-on-one handicap match to win the WWE Divas Championship for the first time.[75] After the match she was attacked by Lay-Cool until Beth Phoenix came to her aid, with the pair forming an alliance. At theTLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs pay-per-view in December, Natalya and Phoenix defeated Lay-Cool in the first Diva's Tag TeamTables match in WWE history.[76][77] Natalya was scheduled to defend her championship against Lay-Cool in a two-on-one handicap match at theRoyal Rumble, but the match was changed to a fatal four-way, also involving Eve. Eve went on to pin Layla and become the new Divas Champion ending Natalya's reign at 70 days.[78]
On April 2, Natalya, alongside the entire roster ofWWE Divas, inductedSunny into theHall of Fame.[79] On April 26, Natalya was drafted back to the SmackDown brand as part of the2011 supplemental draft.[80] In her return match for the brand, she unsuccessfully challenged Brie Bella for the Divas Championship.[81] In May, Natalya began acting as the on-screen mentor to The Chickbusters ofAJ andKaitlyn, giving them advice and managing them during their matches.[82][83] Natalya, AJ, and Kaitlyn feuded with Alicia Fox, Tamina, andRosa Mendes throughout 2011.[84][85]
On the August 1, 2011, episode ofRaw, she competed in abattle royal to determinate the number one contender to Kelly Kelly's Divas Championship atSummerSlam, which was won byBeth Phoenix. Post-match, she turnedvillainous by attacking Kelly, and stating "[her] days as the perky, cute, blonde little bimbo were officially over",[86] four days later onSmackDown, Natalya defeated AJ beforeturning on her protégé, attacking her and declaring war on the "perky little princesses" that comprised the rest of the Divas division.[87] As part of the storyline, she aligned herself with Phoenix, and the pair dubbed themselves "The Divas of Doom", defeating The Chickbusters the following week.[88] Throughout September, The Divas of Doom feuded with The Chickbusters onSmackDown, while feuding withKelly Kelly and Eve Torres onRaw.[89][90][91]
Natalya accompanied Phoenix to her Divas Championship match at theSummerSlam pay-per-view against Kelly Kelly, who was accompanied by Eve Torres, but she failed to win the match. On the September 19 episode ofRaw, the Divas of Doom lost a tag team match to Kelly and Torres after Eve pinned Natalya for the win. On the September 26 episode ofRaw, Phoenix pinned Kelly Kelly in a tag team match and granted her a new match for Kelly'sWWE Divas Championship. Four days later onSmackDown, Natalya lost a match to Kelly. Post-match, Phoenix jumped into the ring and delivered a 'Glam Slam' on Kelly, then Natalya applied and debuted their new submission manoeuvre the 'Pin-Up Strong'. Phoenix received her title match against Kelly on October 2 atHell in a Cell, which she won, with Natalya's help, to become a one–time WWE Divas Champion.[92] Phoenix successfully defended her title against Eve Torres, on two different occasions, atVengeance, on October 23, in which Natalya was banned from ringside after she and Phoenix had attacked Torres and Kelly at backstage,[93] and atSurvivor Series, on November 20, during aDivaslumberjack match.[94]
Through November, the Divas of Doom started a winning streak over"The Chickbusters" (AJ andKaitlyn), after defeating them in both tag team and singles matches, with Kaitlyn beginning to displayvillainous traits, due to her being upset at AJ over the defeats. On the December 6SmackDown tapings, the Divas of Doom defeated The Chickbusters once again. Post match, Kaitlyn solidified her heel turn after joining the Divas of Doom, however the segment was cut from the broadcast and not recognized by WWE.
In early 2012, Natalya was characterized as being notable for smellyflatulence; this character development was heavily panned by critics.[95][96][97]
On January 29, atRoyal Rumble, the Divas of Doom competed in an eight-woman tag team match alongside the Bella Twins, and defeated the team of Eve Torres, Kelly Kelly,Alicia Fox, andTamina.[98] The next night onRaw, Phoenix successfully defended her Divas Championship against Eve. At theElimination Chamber pay-per-view, Phoenix successfully defended her championship against Tamina, in a point where her association with Phoenix started splitting up,[99] and on the March 22 episode ofSuperstars, Phoenix teamed with Eve Torres against Natalya and Tamina, in a losing effort, with this effectively ensuring the ending for the team.[100]
Beginning in April, while onNXT Redemption, Natalya became allied with former Hart Dynasty partner Tyson Kidd again, and started feuding with former protégé Kaitlyn when she felt Kaitlyn was paying Kidd too much attention.[101][102] The pair faced off in both singles and tag team competition throughout mid-2012, including being on opposite sides of a six-Diva tag team match atMoney in the Bank, which Natalya's team lost.[103][104][105] Their feud ended on August 31, when Natalya lost to Kaitlyn in a singles match onSmackDown.[106] In November, Natalya began an on-screen relationship withThe Great Khali.[107] The following month, Natalya savedHornswoggle from an attack by Rosa Mendes, thus turning face in the process. This led to a feud with Natalya, Khali, and Hornswoggle facing off against Mendes and her allies,Primo and Epico in mixed tag team matches in early 2013.[108] On the March 27 episode ofNXT, Natalya lost a Divas Championship match to champion Kaitlyn.[109]
Upon the debut of theTotal Divasreality television program in July 2013, Natalya beganfeuding with fellow co–stars on the show, The Bella Twins. Natalya and Brie Bella went on to trade victories in singles matches onRaw and atSummerSlam.[110][111][112] The cast ofTotal Divas then transitioned into a feud withAJ Lee, theWWE Divas Champion, who ridiculed the cast and the show.[112] This resulted in a four-way match atNight of Champions in September, where AJ successfully retained the title against Natalya, Brie, andNaomi.[113] Simultaneously, Natalya continued appearing alongside long–time allyThe Great Khali, and the two began a feud withFandango and the debútingSummer Rae,[114] which led to a mixed tag team match at theHell in a Cell pay–per–view, which Natalya and Khali lost.[115] After forcing AJ to submit on the November 1 episode ofSmackDown during a tag team match, Natalya unsuccessfully challenged AJ for the Divas Championship onWWE Main Event two weeks later.[116][117] AtSurvivor Series, the cast ofTotal Divas faced off with a team led by AJ and Natalya and Nikki Bella were the sole survivors in the match.[118] In December, Natalya unsuccessfully challengedPaige for theNXT Women's Championship.[119] After pinning AJ again in a tag team match onRaw, Natalya was named number one contender to the WWE Divas Championship, but failed to capture the title atTables, Ladders and Chairs.[120][121]
On April 6, 2014, Natalya competed atWrestleMania XXX in the 14–Diva "Vickie Guerrero Invitational match" for theWWE Divas Championship, which was won by the defending championAJ Lee.[122] In May, Natalya was entered into a tournament to determine the new NXT Women's Champion. She defeated Layla andSasha Banks en route to the final atNXT TakeOver, in which she lost toCharlotte.[123][124][125] Throughout September, Natalya started acting as the on-screen mentor forRosa Mendes, starting afeud against"The Slayers" (Summer Rae andLayla). They faced off against them during theMain Event[126] andSmackdown[127] shows, losing both tag matches due to miscommunication as a team. Additionally they also faced off againstAJ Lee andPaige on the September 8, episode ofRaw, once again in a losing effort.[128] On the September 29, episode ofRaw, Natalya and Tyson Kidd accompanied Mendes to her match against Layla, in which she was defeated,[129] followed this her association with Mendes quietly disbanded. On November 23, Natalya took part of Alicia Fox's team atSurvivor Series, which was victorious in a clean sweep.[130]
In mid–2014, Natalya entered astoryline with her real–life husbandTyson Kidd, in which their relationship was openly acknowledged on-screen. She regularly accompanied Kidd to the ring, where he often used her as a distraction to win his matches.[131][132][133][134][135] The storyline would continue followedTotal Divas footage,[136] in which Kidd transitioned into a disrespectful angle against Natalya, this part of the storyline was done in order to use themarriage problems they both had.[129][137][138][139][140]
On the January 5, 2015, episode ofRaw, after Natalya defeated WWE Divas Champion Nikki Bella in a non–title match, Brie and Nikki would attack Natalya, with Paige making the save.[141] This led to a tag team match atRoyal Rumble between the two teams, with The Bella Twins picking up the win.[142] Through February, Natalya and Kidd started a brief feud againstNaomi andJimmy Uso, facing off during an intergender tag team match on the February 16, episode ofRaw, which Natalya and Kidd lost.[143] When Kidd allied himself withCesaro, Natalya began managing the team and was by their side in February, when they won theWWE Tag Team Championship's atFastlane.[144] The following night onRaw, Natalya helped the duo retain the titles against The Usos, turningheel in the process.[145] On the February 26 episode ofSmackdown, the villainous Natalya defeated Naomi in a singles match, before the feud ended.[146] On March 28, Natalya inductedAlundra Blayze into theWWE Hall of Fame.[147] On March 29, she accompanied Kidd and Cesaro during theWrestleMania 31 kick-off show, in which they successfully retained the Tag Team Championships.[148]
Natalya lasted the rest of the year competing in various matches,[149][150][151] including a number one contender'sbattle royal for Nikki Bella's Divas Championship, on the April 13 episode ofRaw, which was won byPaige.[152] On the April 9 episode ofSmackdown, Natalya defeatedAlicia Fox. Post-match, she and Fox were attacked by thespecial guest referee for the matchCameron,[153] which would lead to atriple–threat match the following week, with Cameron coming out victorious.[154] During adark match on the June 1 episode ofRaw, Kidd had suffered a severe neck/spinal injury after receivingSamoa Joe's 'Muscle buster' finishing maneuver. Several weeks later, Kidd stated that he would be out of action for over a year, with Natalya taken off television for the very first time in order to care for Kidd.[155]
After a three-month absence from television, Natalya returned on the September 21, 2015, episode ofRaw, as aface, confronting thevillainousPaige over her actions duringCharlotte'sWWE Divas Championship celebration. Later that evening, she was defeated byNaomi in a singles match.[156] After multiple confrontations between the two,[157][158] Natalya would defeat Paige on the October 5 episode ofRaw.[159][160] Three days later, onSmackDown, Natalya teamed withBecky Lynch and Charlotte the three defeated Team Bella (Alicia Fox, Brie Bella, and Nikki Bella).[161] On the October 15 episode ofSmackdown, while Paige saved Charlotte and Becky from an attack by Team Bella, Natalya, after a backstage altercation with Paige, would be attacked.[162] In the end of October, Natalya started afeud withTeam B.A.D. (Naomi,Tamina andSasha Banks),[163] after the three distracted her during her match with Paige, and attacked her,[164] but Natalya went on to gain revenge over the team by defeating Naomi[165] and Tamina in two singles matches before the feud quietly ended.[166][167]
In January 2016, Natalya revealed that she had been working through a broken ankle, which was mistaken for a simple sprain and after two months of inactivity, she made her official return during alive event on January 3.[168] Few weeks later, Natalya returned to WWE television, on the January 18 episode ofRaw, where she defeated Brie Bella, with her former rival Paige in her corner.[169][170] Upon her return, Natalya started competing in various singles and tag team matches, ending on both winning and losing sides.[171][172][173][174][175] On March 12, atRoadblock, Natalya unsuccessfully challenged Charlotte for the Divas Championship.[176]
On the March 22 episode ofMain Event, alongside Alicia Fox she accompanied Paige to her match against Naomi, accompanied by Tamina andLana. Later in the match, she and Fox were viciously attacked bySummer Rae and a returningEmma, distracting Paige as they aligned themselves with Lana and Team B.A.D.[177] The following week, she along with Brie Bella and Alicia Fox accompanied Paige to her match against Emma on the March 28 episode ofRaw, where she was defeated after Lana attacked Paige. Post-match, she along her allies were attacked by Emma, Summer Rae, Lana, Tamina and Naomi, before they were saved by a returningEva Marie.[178] As a result, Natalya'sTotal Divas team (also including Brie, Alicia Fox, Eva Marie and Paige) faced the newly dubbed team B.A.D. & Blonde (Naomi, Tamina, Lana, Emma, and Summer Rae) in a10-Diva tag team match atWrestleMania 32's pre-show.[179] Natalya's team won after Naomi submitted to Brie Bella.[180][181] After confronting Charlotte during her championship celebration the following night,[182] she challenged Charlotte to a championship match on the April 11 episode ofRaw, in which she was unsuccessful in capturing theWWE Women's Championship.[183] On the April 18 episode ofRaw, Natalya confronted Charlotte during an interview and revealed thatShane McMahon had booked them in a rematch for the Women's Championship atPayback and that her uncleBret Hart will be at her corner.[184] At the event, she was defeated after match refereeCharles Robinson, ended the match as Charlotte held her in theSharpshootersubmission hold, Natalya's signature finishing move, even though she had not submitted making reference to the infamous "shootscrewjob" theMontreal Screwjob. After the match, both Natalya and Hart applied their finishing maneuver the "Sharpshooter" on Charlotte andRic Flair.[185] The following month at theExtreme Rules pay-per-view, she was once again defeated by Charlotte in asubmission match in which Ric Flair was banned from ringside, however, she was helped byDana Brooke while dressed as Flair allowing Charlotte to get the victory.[186]
On July 19, Natalya was drafted toSmackDown as part of the2016 WWE draft.[192][193] She made her first appearance for the brand on the July 26 episode ofSmackDown, losing againstBecky Lynch.[194] On the August 9 episode ofSmackDown, Natalya competed in a losing effort againstCarmella.[195] The following week, Natalya teamed withAlexa Bliss in a losing effort against the team of Carmella, and Becky Lynch, after a distraction provided byEva Marie andNaomi.[196] AtSummerSlam, Natalya teamed with Alexa Bliss and the returningNikki Bella (who replaced the suspended Eva Marie[197]) against Naomi, Lynch, and Carmella in asix-woman tag team match. Nikki Bella pinned Carmella to score the victory for Natalya's team.[198] AtBacklash, Natalya competed in asix-pack elimination challenge to determine the inauguralSmackDown Women's Champion and was eliminated by Nikki Bella.[199]
On the October 25 episode ofSmackDown, Natalya lost against Nikki Bella in a match to determine the captain of the SmackDown women's team at theSurvivor Series pay-per-view.[200][201] However, after Nikki had been attacked backstage before the match, Natalya replaced Nikki but led her team to defeat.[202] At theTLC pay-per-view, Carmella accused Natalya of having been Nikki's attacker at Survivor Series; Natalya denied this[203] for weeks before attacking Carmella on the December 20 episode ofSmackDown and admitting to having attacked Nikki, revealing her pent-up jealousy of Bella's success over the years.[204] Natalya and Nikki were set to compete in a match on the January 10, 2017, episode ofSmackDown, but the match never officially started due a brawl between the two, where referees came in to break them up.[205] At theRoyal Rumble pay-per-view on January 29, Natalya competed in a six-woman tag team match alongside Alexa Bliss andMickie James against Nikki, Naomi, and Becky Lynch, where her team was defeated after Naomi pinned Bliss.[206] On February 12 at theElimination Chamber pay-per-view, Natalya faced Nikki in singles competition,[207] which ended in a double count-out.[208] The feud culminated in aFalls Count Anywhere match on the February 21 episode ofSmackDown, in which Natalya was victorious after an interference fromMaryse.[209] On June 18 atMoney in the Bank, Natalya competed in the inaugural women'sMoney in the Bank ladder match, which was won by Carmella following an interference byJames Ellsworth.[210]
On July 23, Natalya defeated Flair, Lynch,Tamina, andLana in a five-way elimination match atBattleground, earning an opportunity to face Naomi for the SmackDown Women's Championship atSummerSlam on August 20.[211] At the event, Natalya defeated Naomi to capture the SmackDown Women's Championship. With this victory, Natalya became the first woman to hold both theDivas Championship and the SmackDown Women's Championship.[212] On the September 12 episode ofSmackDown, Natalya made her first successful title defense in a rematch against Naomi.[213] AtHell in a Cell on October 8, Natalya defended her championship againstCharlotte Flair, which resulted into a disqualification loss after she attacked Flair with a chair.[214] On November 14 episode ofSmackDown, she dropped the title to Charlotte, losing by submission, and thereby ending her reign at 86 days.[215] Natalya then competed atSurvivor Series along withBecky Lynch,Tamina Snuka,Naomi and Carmella as a part of Team Smackdown against Team Raw in a losing effort.[216] Natalya received her Smackdown Women's Championship rematch atClash of Champions, but was unsuccessful against Flair in a lumberjack match.[217]
On the April 16, 2018, episode ofRaw, Natalya was once againdrafted toRaw and became afan favorite for the first time sinceJune 2016. In her first match, she defeatedMandy Rose, but after the match, both Rose andSonya Deville attacked her beforeRonda Rousey made the save.[218] Shortly after that scene, Natalya was placed in astoryline with Rousey as she was revealed to be her training partner and friend.[219][220][221][222] In June, Natalya competed in theMoney in the Bank ladder match for the third time in her career, however, at theevent, the match was ultimately won byAlexa Bliss.[223][224] Throughout the following months, Natalya continued to compete in various singles and tag team matches[225][226][227] and also worked as amanager for bothNia Jax[228] and Ronda Rousey in some of their matches against Alexa Bliss to avoidMickie James' interference.[229]
In May, Natalya competed in theMoney in the Bank ladder match at thenamesake pay–per–view, where she was unsuccessful in winning the match.[249] In June, Natalya andAlexa Bliss were supposed to compete in an late addition match at theSuper Show-Down pay–per–view inJeddah, Saudi Arabia, however, the match was rejected by theSaudi Arabian government just before the show started due to thesuppression of women's rights.[250][251][252][253] On July 15's edition ofRaw, Natalya won a fatal four-way elimination match to become the #1 contender forBecky Lynch'sRaw Women's Championship. AtSummerSlam, Natalya was unsuccessful in winning the Raw Women's title from Lynch in aSubmission match.[254] On theRaw after SummerSlam, Natalya revealed that she suffered a storyline dislocated elbow and came out wearing a cast, when she was then subjected to a brutal assault from the returning Sasha Banks, whom Natalya considered a friend.[255] Natalya was defeated by Banks on August 26 edition ofRaw.[256] Natalya later began feuding withLacey Evans, exchanging victories and losses, before defeating her in a last woman standing match.[257] The pair later took on the Kabuki Warriors in a losing effort.[258] Natalya defeated Evans again atCrown Jewel, which was the first ever women's match to take place in Saudi Arabia.[259] On the second night ofWrestleMania 36 on April 5, 2020, she lost toLiv Morgan in the pre-show.[260]
On the June 15 episode ofRaw, Natalya andLiv Morgan lost toThe IIconics. Afterward, Natalya began turning heel by ripping on Morgan and claiming that she had been given no respect, withLana venting her frustrations to Natalya afterward.[261] On the June 22 episode ofRaw, Natalya turned heel for the first time since 2018, when she solidified her alliance with Lana and defeated Morgan by submission.[262] On the October 12 episode ofRaw, Natalya would end her alliance with Lana after the duo were defeated byMandy Rose andDana Brooke. The same night, Natalya competed in a battle royal for aRaw Women's Championship opportunity where she would survive to the final two before being eliminated by winner Lana.[263]
As part of the2020 Draft in October, Natalya was drafted to theSmackDownbrand.[264] In January 2021, Natalya formed an alliance withTamina while putting the women's tag team division on notice.[265] On the January 30 episode of WWE Backstage, the two allies were forced to face each other in a match to determine who would be the number 30 entrant at the Royal Rumble, in which Natalya won, earning her spot.[266] Natalya and Tamina won a Tag Team Turmoil Match on the first night ofWrestleMania 37 for an opportunity to faceNia Jax andShayna Baszler for theWWE Women's Tag Team Championship on the second night.[267] However, they failed to win the titles.[268] On the May 14 episode ofSmackDown, she and Tamina would defeat Baszler and Jax to win the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship.[269] On the September 20 episode ofRaw, they lost the titles toNikki A.S.H. andRhea Ripley.[270]
During a backstage segment on the October 28 episode ofSmackDown, Natalya was attacked by Shayna Baszler who aligned with Ronda Rousey, effectively ending their alliance. As of result, Natalya turnedface for the first time since 2020.[278] On the same night, at aSmackDown taping ahead ofCrown Jewel, Natalya suffered a storyline nasal injury during a post-match attack conducted by Shayna Baszler at the instruction of Ronda Rousey.[279] This was done to cover Natalya's real life nasal surgery, in which she would need three months to recover.[280] She returned during the2023 Royal Rumble match as the 11th entrant, being eliminated along with Baszler byDamage CTRL (Bayley,Dakota Kai,Iyo Sky).[281] On February 5, 2023, Natalya won a fatal four-way match onSmackDown against Baszler,Zelina Vega, andShotzi to qualify for the women'sElimination Chamber match, where the winner would be given a Raw Women's Championship match against Bianca Belair atWrestleMania 39.[282] On February 18, after starting the match and eliminating Liv Morgan by technical submission with the help of eventual winnerAsuka, Natalya was eliminated by Carmella, becoming the third woman in the match to be eliminated overall.[283] On March 25, 2023, Natalya teamed with Shotzi to qualify for the Women's WrestleMania Showcase fatal four-way tag team match at WrestleMania 39.[284] The match took place on the second night, in which Rousey and Baszler were victorious after Rousey forced Shotzi to tap out with an arm bar.[285]
As part of the2023 WWE Draft, Natalya was drafted to theRaw brand.[286] On the May 8 episode ofRaw, Natalya stepped up to SmackDown Women's ChampionRhea Ripley but Ripley would make her way out of the ring before things got physical.[287] AtNight of Champions, Natalya unsuccessfully challenged Ripley for the SmackDown Women's Championship in asquash match that lasted 70 seconds.[288] On the June 8 episode ofRaw, Natalya facedZoey Stark to qualify for the women'sMoney in the Bankladder match, but was defeated. On the June 19 episode ofRaw, Natalya was originally scheduled in a rematch against Ripley, however the match never began as Ripley attacked Natalya before the bell rang.[289] On the July 3 episode ofRaw, Natalya once again unsuccessfully challenged Ripley in a rematch for theWomen's World Championship, with the match being well received.[290] Since then, Natalya had also began regularly appearing onWWE Main Event defeating the likes ofXia Li,Tegan Nox, andNikki Cross.[291][292][293] On September 6, it was announced that Natalya would once again challenge Ripley for the Women's World Championship atSuperstar Spectacle, Natalya was defeated at the event.[294][295] On the September 18 episode ofRaw, Natalya unsuccessfully challengedBecky Lynch for theNXT Women's Championship.[296] Over the following weeks, Natalya formed an alliance with Tegan Nox. On November 20 episode ofRaw, Natalya and Nox won a fatal 4-way tag team match to receive aWWE Women's Tag Team Championship opportunity.[297] On the November 27 episode ofRaw, the duo unsuccessfully challengedChelsea Green andPiper Niven for the titles.[298]
On January 27, 2024, at the2024 Royal Rumble, Natalya entered the women'sRoyal Rumble match at number 1, and lasted 20:57. During the match, she attempted to eliminate her tag team partner Tegan Nox before being eliminated by Nox herself.[299][300] In March 2024, Natalya would start making appearances on theNXT brand and would form an alliance withKarmen Petrovic. On the April 9 episode ofNXT, Natalya unsuccessfully challengedRoxanne Perez for the NXT Women's Championship, after interference fromLola Vice.[301] On week 2 ofSpring Breakin', Natalya was defeated by Vice in an NXT Underground match.[302] Natalya participated in the 2024 Queen of the Ring tournament, where she was defeated byIyo Sky in the first round.[303]
On September 9 episode ofRaw, Natalya made her comeback after a three-months hiatus to team up with Lyra Valkyria andZelina Vega, defeatingPure Fusion Collective (Shayna Baszler, Sonya Deville and Zoey Stark).[304] At theRoyal Rumble on February 1, 2025, Natalya entered the women’s Royal Rumble match as the 18th entrant, before being eliminated by Liv Morgan.[305] In March, Natalya began mentoringMaxxine Dupri, eventually forming a team with her called The Dungeon Dolls.[306] The duo would team together on the April 11 episode ofSmackdown, where they entered a tag teamgauntlet match for a WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship match atWrestleMania 41 but were unsuccessful.[307] On July 9, Natalya appeared on WWE's developmental brandWWE Evolve, challenging Kali Armstrong for the Evolve Women's Championship, where Armstrong retained her title after pinning Natalya with the "Kali Connection".[308][309] On July 25, Natalya made her debut for WWE's sister promotionLucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA) during the Alianzas event, teaming with Lola Vice, defeatingFaby Apache &Lady Shani andDalys &Chik Tormenta in a three-way tag team match.[310] On August 18, Natalya challengedBecky Lynch for theWWE Women's Intercontinental Championship onWWE Raw, where Lynch retained her title.[311]
Beginning in October 2017, Neidhart has been writing a weekly column which appears in theCalgary Sun andEdmonton Sun, detailing her life and career.[323]
In an October 23, 2019, interview with fansiteWrestleZone, Natalya confirmed hervoluntary childlessness, stating, "I’ve never wanted to have kids. I was very close to my parents, I’m very close to my sisters, I even have a very maternal instinct in the locker room with the girls that I work with. But I don’t want my own kids… I don’t think anyone should be a parent unless they really are fully committed to it."[324]
^Csonka, Larry (April 5, 2020)."411MANIA".Csonka's WWE WrestleMania 36 (Part II) Review.Archived from the original on April 10, 2020. RetrievedApril 6, 2020.
^"411MANIA".Natalya On Being Eliminated By Tegan Nox In Royal Rumble: 'She's Finally Getting It'.Archived from the original on January 28, 2024. RetrievedJanuary 28, 2024.
^"Tyson Kidd".Slam! Sports.Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on July 18, 2012. RetrievedApril 3, 2011.And, since 2001, he has been in a relationship with Nattie Neidhart
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