WWE star Natalya overcame family opposition to become a trailblazer in women’s wrestling
Natalya, a second-generation wrestler, faced opposition from her family when pursuing a career in professional wrestling. Her father, Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart, a two-time WWE Hall of Famer, discouraged her and her sisters from entering the wrestling world. Neidhart’s reluctance stemmed from the male-dominated nature of the industry in the 1980s, with few prominent female wrestlers at the time.
As women’s wrestling gained popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Natalya’s interest in the sport grew. Inspired by wrestlers like Trish Stratus and Lita, she began training at “The Dungeon,” her grandfather Stu Hart’s famous wrestling school. Despite her enthusiasm, Natalya encountered further resistance from her maternal grandfather, Stu Hart, who held traditional views and was against women in the family becoming wrestlers. Despite these challenges, Natalya persevered and became the only girl in her family to pursue a wrestling career.
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