For wrestling fans, Natalya Neidhart better known simply as Natalya has long been synonymous with WWE’s Women’s Division. A veteran with over 15 years in the company, she boasts reigns as both Divas Champion and SmackDown Women’s Champion. Yet, behind her in-ring achievements lies a story of perseverance through adversity, one Natalya herself recently revealed in candid detail. Contrary to popular belief, her lineage the legendary Hart wrestling family didn’t open doors for her. In fact, it nearly shut them.
The Hart Family’s Complicated WWE History
Natalya’s struggle to break into WWE wasn’t just about talent or persistence it was inextricably tied to her family’s tumultuous relationship with the company. Speaking on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Natalya explained how the infamous Montreal Screwjob in 1997, which saw her uncle Bret Hart’s controversial departure from WWE (then WWF), left a lasting rift between the Harts and WWE management[1][2]. “When I was trying to get hired by WWE, it took me over five years to get hired. I was sending in tapes, I was sending in my promo pictures, I was doing whatever I could to make headway,” Natalya recalled. “My family, when I was trying to get hired by WWE, my family was estranged from WWE… there was a lot of tension between WWE and the Hart family.”[1]
That tension wasn’t limited to Bret’s exit. The tragic death of Owen Hart Natalya’s uncle in a WWE ring in 1999 further fractured the relationship. While Bret has since reconciled with WWE, Owen’s widow, Martha Hart, remains estranged, even partnering with AEW for the Owen Hart Cup tournament[2]. “There was just a lot of baggage with the Hart family,” Natalya said. “I think there were times that they were like, ‘Stay away from the Harts a little bit, we got the stuff with Bret going on.’ It was complicated.”[3]
The Reality of “Pulling Strings” in WWE
Natalya is the daughter of Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart a key member of The Hart Foundation and the niece of Bret Hart. Outsiders might assume such connections would ease her path to WWE, but the opposite was true. “I wish so much that I had somebody who could just make a phone call, that would have been so much easier than what I had to do. But I didn’t have anybody to make a phone call,” she said[1]. “Bret’s not going to call anyone up, because he’s not on speaking terms with the company back then.”[3]
According to a WWE insider, the backstage perception of the Hart family during that era was mixed. “There was definitely a sense of ‘proceed with caution’ when it came to the Harts,” the source said. “Personal relationships were strained, and that affected business decisions. Natalya had to prove herself twice over once as a talent, and again as someone who wasn’t going to bring ‘drama’ backstage.”
Persistence Pays Off: Natalya’s Long Road to WWE
Despite the obstacles, Natalya’s dedication never wavered. She kept submitting tapes, attending tryouts, and refining her craft. “I kept sending in tapes. I kept trying,” she said[3]. Her efforts eventually paid off when she signed with WWE in 2007, debuting during the “Divas Era” a time when women’s wrestling was still fighting for legitimacy in the company.
Her early WWE years were far from glamorous, marked by creative frustrations and gimmicks that didn’t always highlight her in-ring ability. One infamous example was the “Nattie Neidfart” gag, an idea pushed by Vince McMahon himself to make the “serious wrestler” more “entertaining” in his eyes[6]. “He came out of the production meeting and just kept saying over and over again, ‘This is not my idea, but this is Vince’s idea, and he really loves this idea,’” Natalya recalled[6]. Yet, even through these challenges, Natalya remained a locker room leader and a bridge between eras as women’s wrestling evolved.
A Champion Despite the Odds
Natalya’s resilience eventually led to championship gold. She became the third-ever Divas Champion and later won the SmackDown Women’s Championship. Reflecting on her first title win, Natalya said, “It wasn’t something that Vince agreed to right away, but we did it. And you know, that was my first little taste at being the champion.”[5] Her journey wasn’t just about personal triumph it was a testament to overcoming institutional hesitation rooted in family history.
Natalya Today: Writing Her Own Story Literally
In 2024, Natalya’s WWE journey took another turn: her most recent contract renewal included a unique clause. “One of the things that I really wanted I was like, ‘I got some new goals.’ One of them was I want to do a book, and so, that was one of the things I brought to WWE… I really need the company to give me your blessing on it, if we’re gonna move forward and I’m gonna continue to work here,” she told Chris Van Vliet[4]. WWE not only agreed but granted her access to archives and titles for the project a sign of both her stature and the company’s evolving relationship with the Hart legacy.
Legacy Beyond the Ring
Natalya’s story is more than a wrestling comeback it’s about navigating the complexities of family, business, and personal ambition in a cutthroat industry. For aspiring wrestlers, her experience serves as a reminder: a famous name can be as much a burden as a blessing, and success often depends on persistence, adaptability, and the courage to redefine your own legacy.
As the women’s division continues to evolve, Natalya remains a vital part of WWE’s present—and its history. “There was plenty of hardship during those early days that made the former WWE Women’s Champion so grateful of the journey that she’s been on in the last 15 plus years,” she reflected[3]. “Families can be complicated. So it was just challenging for me to get hired. But I kept trying.”[3]
Backstage Perspective
A veteran WWE producer, speaking anonymously, put it bluntly: “Natalya had to work twice as hard as anyone else to get half the credit. The company was wary of the Hart history, but she earned her spot through sheer will and work ethic. That’s why she’s still here she’s indispensable.”
Conclusion
Natalya’s journey to WWE stardom is a study in perseverance. Far from riding her family’s coattails, she climbed over the barriers her name erected, proving herself as both a wrestler and a person. Her story is a reminder that in wrestling as in life legacy is something you earn, not something you inherit.