Natalya was always the traditional-style wrestler but knew she had to get accustom to the WWE mold at the time.
Natalya has been a part of World Wrestling Entertainment dating back to 2007 and coming off the independent scene which she had spent seven years on, she graduated from WWE's developmental system and made her way onto the main roster. Learning from the likes of Bret "The Hitman" Hart, her father Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart and training with various members of her wrestling family, Natalya was prepared to hit the main roster to show what she could do in the ring.
At the time, WWE was in the mist of the Divas era and there were not many opportunities for women in the company outside of ten minute matches and specialty bouts. There was one individual in the form of now-WWE Hall Of Famer Beth Phoenix, who felt the same way that Natalya felt about women's wrestling in WWE at the time and during a recent interview with Muscle & Fitness, Natalya shared the advice she received from "The Glamazon" all those years ago.
"When I debuted, WWE was doing the Diva Searches and hiring models, and I’m like your traditional lady wrestler,” she says. “I’m not skinny and I can’t dance. I remember Beth [Phoenix] saying: ‘Nattie, you’ve just gotta fake it 'til you make it. One day they’re gonna be ready for us.’ ”
Natalya and Beth Phoenix challenged for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships at WrestleMania 35 and Beth will be returning to the company for the RAW side of the upcoming European tour.
