Recently on Instagram Natalya revealed she wants wrestling to be stronger than when she debuted
Since debuting in the WWE in 2007 Natalya has has made several achievements with the company. She is a two-time women’s champion, winning both the Divas Championship and SmackDown Women’s Championship once each.
Following in her father’s foot steps, Hart Foundation member and Hall of Famer Jim Neidhart. The third generation WWE Superstar is even a one-time WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion with Tamina.
Recently Natalya took to Instagram, reflecting back on her wrestling career and what kind of legacy she wanats to leave behind. The “Queen of Harts” also opened up on how she wants to give back to the wrestling business.
She wrote, “This whole thing would collapse if you just go out there and think of yourself. It’s been my view my entire career to give back whenever I can. New talent, established talent, top of the card or not. I wanted to make sure the business that runs through my families veins, is there even stronger after I’m done with it.”
Achievements weren’t missed in 2022. Natalya was awarded for a very unexpected achievement. “This past year has been incredible. I somehow ended up with three @guinnessworldrecords. (And it wasn’t for having the longest fingernails or eating the most hot dogs in 10 minutes ) It was for a massive body of work in @wwe— 15 years of uninterrupted work. A whole lot of insanity!”
The Decision To Step Away From The Business Wasn’t Easy
Wrestlers often have tough decisions to make when it comes to age and injuries. Nattie shared her thoughts on her career and these decisions. “The hardest decision was to step away this November. Normally I’d work through anything. I always have. Injuries. Deaths. Tragedies. Emotional and physical pain. Taking a break for the first time gave me a chance to reflect on what this all means to me.”
She proceeded to say, “My time away has helped me see my own piece of a massive jigsaw puzzle. And it’s helped me define what success in our business is and what success in my own personal life is. Attaining longevity while cultivating the future is like the ‘pat your head and rub your stomach’ trick. Not many can do it, but I’m very grateful to be someone who can.”
Natalya Inspires Her Locker Room Peers
After Natalya posted on Instagram some of her peers in the industry shared their thoughts. Sasha Banks, Liv Morgan and Zelina Vega all to to the social media platform to reply to the post.
Sasha Banks: “The Hart of women’s wrestling. We couldn’t do it without you. undeniable unbreakable.”
Liv Morgan: “We love u Nattie.”
Zelina Vega: “I love you Nattie. Thank you for being such an amazing locker room leader, straight up professional and true friend. You inspire so many of us.”
There is no denying the impact Natalya has had on Women’s wrestling in the WWE and the industry as a whole. After 16 years in the WWE she still has goals.
“I’m excited to wrestle in 2023 and for women’s wrestling! I always want to make that my top priority, to continue to contribute as much as I can to women in this sport— to give back to all the women who gave to me. Women who inspire me to earn my spot every time I walk through the “curtain.” You never know which little girl you’re going to inspire.”
With WWE ever changing under the new Triple H regime Natalya’s experience and influence will definitely have value. Keep an eye on WrestlingRepublic.com to find out what the next steps for “The Queen of Harts” will be.
(H/T Credit – www.ewrestlingnews.com)
