Natalya Neidhart
Professional Debut: 2000, WWE Debut: 2008
Debut Match: Natalya Neidhart vs. Cherry (SmackDown!, 04/25/08)
Brand History: SmackDown! (2008 - Present)
Achievements: NWA SuperGirls Champion (1), Stampede Women’s Pacific Champion (2), Maple Flag Tournament Winner 2004, Spelvin Elimination Tournament Winner 2004
Second, third and fourth generation wrestlers are common amongst the males of professional wrestling. Rarely though do fans get to witness a female wrestler with ties to the business from the moment she was born. Natalie Neidhart was born as the daughter of Hart Foundation member Jim ‘The Anvil’ Neidhart, and the granddaughter of the ‘father of wrestling’ Stu Hart.
The name though was not something Natalie wanted to use as a means of instant success. Instead she wanted to make a name for herself as a respected and enjoyed female wrestler. On her journey to becoming a professional wrestler Natalie Neidhart received training in both amateur wrestling and mixed martial arts - two wrestling styles which are witnessed inside of the squared circle.
Wrestling work did not come easily for Natalie. Her first major gig was as a ring announcer for Eric Bischoff (WCW and WWE fame) in his 2000-2001 MatRats youth-promotion. Being a descendant of the Hart family meant she was able to later find work with Stampede Wrestling. It was during this time that she was able to develop her wrestling style. Whilst in the promotion she spent a lot of time feuding with Belle Lovitz, later ending the feud when she joined the Myers Family in 2005.
Her wrestling training was globally influenced. The American MatRats promotion enabled her to grasp the basics, she would later receive further training at the Hart Dungeon from her Uncle Bruce and Ross Hart. As if that was not enough Natalie travelled to Japan where she trained with Joe Daigo of New Japan and Clive Lewellin.
By the time 2005 came around Natalie received bookings that were a lot further than her native Canada. She wrestled in Britain late-2004, and under the alias of Nadia Neidhart she competed in a two-month tour of Japan. The experience allowed her to return as a heel to the Stampede promotion. The time in Japan allowed her character to rate herself above everyone else. This consequently trigger the ’Nasty Nattie’ persona.
The international tour would be her last stint inside of the ring, or at least for six months. In early 2006 Natalie suffered a serious knee injury. Her return though was nothing short of memorable. Upon her return in October 2006 she tasted gold when she defeated former WWE Women’s Champion Ivory (under her real name Lisa Moretti) for the SuperGirls Championship. Shortly after this Natalie found herself part of the all-female SHIMMER promotion. She joined them for their Volume 7 and 8 recordings wrestling Sara Del Rey and Ariel respectively. Shortly after this she scouted by World Wrestling Entertainment who signed her to a developmental contract resulting in her reporting to their Deep South Wrestling territory and later Florida Championship Wrestling.
By joining the WWE she became the first female third-Generation wrestler to sign a contract with the organisation. Whilst in the developmental territories Natalie began using the name Nattie Neidhart. She mixed between wrestling and managing. Her clients were family members Teddy Hart and Harry Smith. When Teddy was released from his contract many fans of Nattie began fearing for her future what with the Hart Foundation re-birth being stopped.
Months went by with Nattie remaining to appear on the shows of Florida Championship Wrestling. In 2008 fans of Neidhart were able to breathe easy. Under the new name of Natalya Neidhart, the third-Generation diva debuted on the SmackDown! Brand in April 2008. She attacked Michelle McCool and Cherry. The following she aligned herself with former Women’s Champion Victoria making note of her history in the business as a daughter of a Neidhart.
Her time under the WWE umbrella has been short, and her time on WWE television has been even shorter. However her alliance with Victoria is definitely something that we should all keep our eyes open for.
