Natalya



"For me, I think I'm in constant evolution. I have a lot of nicknames and Natalya really embraces my true inner diva. I'm a little bit naughty, a little bit nice, but I'm really 'Natalya by Nature,' so for me I've embraced Natalya and it's part of who I am now."

Natalie Katherine "Nattie" Neidhart is a Canadian wrestler currently working for World Wrestling Entertainment on the SmackDown! brand.

She is the daughter of wrestler Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart, himself the son-in-law of Stu Hart, making her a third generation wrestler. As a member of the Hart wrestling family she is cousin to Harry Smith, and cousin to Teddy Hart.

Latest News

 * At the beginning of December, Neidhart was spotted volunteering at Toronto's Daily Bread food bank along with Edge and Rocky Johnson. According to Neidhart "Coming here and doing this for the food bank is amazing because really we’re encouraging feedback from the community and leading by example... When I’m not busy, I’m kind of like ‘I don’t know what to do with myself.’ That’s why coming to the food bank and doing stuff here, whether I’m in the United States, Europe, or Canada especially -- I love coming back to Canada, it’s my home -- is amazing. It’s very rewarding."

Trivia

 * If Neidhart had her choice of opponents, she would wrestle against Trish Stratus.
 * Neidhart is a self-described homebody who loves to spend time at home or with her family (who she considers her best friends). She hates night clubs and doesn't drink or smoke. She also dislikes crowds and being in noisy places with people she doesn't know.
 * When Neidhart's father was 18, he was one of the world's best shotputters.
 * Neidhart is the first third generation female wrestler.
 * Neidhart counts her grandfather Stu Hart as the person who has helped her most in her career. Her other mentors were her uncles Brett, Bruce and Ross Hart, along with her father, Jim Neidhart, since they introduced her to Stampede Wrestling.

Quotes
"I'm the only female in the family to get into wrestling. It just seemed the natural thing to do. I was very athletic and had a flair for drama."

"Divas are involved in a business where they are always traveling, always have to look good, and always have to be on their game. People don’t realize how difficult it really is to get in that ring and wrestle. It’s challenging and the ladies are under a microscope. Trish Stratus pushed herself and became one of the best, and Maria is currently doing the same. All the Divas are fighting to prove that they can handle themselves, and I’m excited to add to that."

"Trish Stratus is obviously someone I really wanted to work with, and it is unfortunate that she is not wrestling anymore, but she could come back. Mickie James is so passionate and fiery about what she does, as is Victoria. These girls have characters; they have a zest about them and are so athletic. Victoria is a consummate professional and for someone who hasn't been wrestling that long she is fantastic. Some of these new girls like Maria, Candice Michelle and Ashley that have not been in the business very long at all have so much potential. When you look at Trish Stratus, when she started she was just a fitness model and she wanted to be more than that and had to take it to the next level. Trish left an impact on wrestling and will go down as one of the greatest women wrestlers of all time. She started out where these new girls are starting. Maria came to the Shimmer shows I did and was so focused and inquisitive and watched every match and was eager to learn. She is someone who is really cute and open to learning. All of those girls have potential they just have to want to take it to the next level. As much as I have been to different countries, we can learn so much working with these new people and they can teach us so much. I am looking forward to growing with them."

"People have a very mixed perception of the Harts. We have a lot to live up to but we've also had a lot of negative press and we've lost a lot of family members. Now it's up to us to get things going again. We're going to keep my grandfather's legacy alive. It's the least we can do after all he's done for us and after all he's done for wrestling."

"The Hart family is kind of like a little wrestling cult. We may be a little crazy at times, but I have an amazing family and I think Calgary played a big part in who we all are today. I feel I'm representing Calgary, representing women and representing my family."

"My wrestling style is aggressive, solid and real. I am a very physical person and I really like to get in the ring and just give it all I have no matter who I am with."

"In Calgary, no matter what I do, I will always be a baby face. I prefer to be a heel, because it is more natural for me to be like my dad. It is so fun and such a great stress release. Also, it is a good creative outlet to be an outrageuos character."

"My character is really just a division of me. I bring Nattie Neidhart to the ring and I just let my own personality shine through. I am a third generation female wrestler who is strong and powerful and still feminine. Sometimes I can get a little nasty though and a little bit of my dad comes out in me."

"I chose wrestling because wrestling makes me believe that I can do anything. It makes me feel empowered and confident. After I have a good match, I really feel I can take on anything and I just love the way I feel when I am wrestling. It's amazing to be a strong female who can handle herself."

"If you are weak, than you will not be able to handle wrestling. It is that simple. If you are strong willed and a warrior with a spirit that cannot be broken, then a "never say die" attitude is what you should carry with you in life, even if you are not a wrestler. If wrestling were easy, then everyone would be doing it. It's not, and that is why the weak are weeded out. This is not a sport for weak people."

"Wrestling is not for everyone. I realize now, more than ever how real this sport is. So many people want to get into wrestling for the wrong reasons. They want to prance around, or they think it is easy to gain fame and fortune, or they are just big wrestling fans. That is fine, but to actually want to get in the ring, and wrestle, it is very trying on your body. You also have to have a certain mind set, too. When you take a bump in a ring, it is like falling and getting the wind knocked out of you. It really hurts and you have to get over the pain fast. You have to be able to tell a story with your body and be in great shape to go, go, go. You need to be strong and you have to stay focused. If you are disciplined and you want to learn and you are athletic, then I would say to give it a try. You definitely need an open mind and a chiropractor."

"Everywhere you go you have to adapt. Japan, England and different parts of North America are all different styles and different locker rooms. A true professional can adapt to any style and roll with the punches of that territory."

Early Career
Neidhart received formal professional wrestling training in the infamous Hart family "Dungeon" from her uncles Ross and Bruce Hart. In addition to her professional wrestling career, Neidhart has received training in amateur wrestling and mixed martial arts. In late 2000 through 2001, she served as the host and ring announcer of the Eric Bischoff led youth-promotion MatRats. In 2003, she began working for the Hart Family's own Stampede Wrestling, beginning a long time feud with Belle Lovitz. The pair wrestled each other repeatedly until 2005, when they joined forces against the Myers Family.

Neidhart also began wrestling abroad, with the intention of honing her skill. In the summer of 2004 she accepted bookings for a tour in England, and in March 2005, started on a two month tour of Japan where she used the name Nadia Hart. When she returned to Canada she promptly turned heel, announcing that "Nasty Nattie" had been born. On June 17, 2005 she defeated Anna Marie, Belle Lovitz, and Ma Myers in a four way match to become the first Stampede Women's Pacific Championship, though she later vacated the title. On October 8, 2006, Neidhart won the SuperGirls Championship from Lisa Moretti at a Big Time Wrestling show held by NWA: Extreme Canadian Championship Wrestling in Newark, California, losing it to Nikki Matthews on October 27 in a three-way match that also involved Veronika Vice.

Development territories
On January 5, 2007, Neidhart signed a deal with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), making her the first third generation female wrestler in the history of the business. Upon signing, she was assigned to their "farm territory", Deep South Wrestling, for the first half of the year before being transferred to Florida Championship Wrestling when it opened in June. Neidhart debuted in Ohio Valley Wrestling in a dark match at television tapings on July 18, 2007. She debuted the next week as a member of the Next Generation Hart Foundation, accompanying her cousins Teddy Hart and Harry Smith for tag team matches. In October she, along with the rest of the Hart Foundation, were moved to Florida Championship Wrestling.

Smackdown
Neidhart made her main roster debut as a heel, under the name Natalya Neidhart (later shortened to just Natalya) on the April 4, 2008 episode of SmackDown!, coming out of the crowd to aid Victoria in an attack on Michelle McCool and Cherry. Her televised in-ring debut came two weeks later, in a win over Cherry. At The Great American Bash on July 20, Natalya lost to McCool in a match to determine the first WWE Divas Champion.



Wrestling facts

 * Finishing and signature moves
 * Nattie By Nature
 * Sharpshooter


 * Nicknames
 * "Nasty"
 * "The Natural"


 * Tag teams and stables
 * Next Generation Hart Foundation

Championships and accomplishments

 * Extreme Canadian Championship Wrestling
 * NWA SuperGirls Champion (1 time)


 * Stampede Wrestling
 * Stampede Women's Pacific Champion (2 times) (First)
 * Maple Flag Tournament winner (2004)
 * Spelvin Elimination Tournament winner (2004)

External links and references

 * Nattie Neidhart profile at CAGEMATCH.net