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Natalie "Nattie" Katherine Neidhart[1] (born May 27, 1982)[1] is a Canadian professional wrestler currently working for World Wrestling Entertainment on the SmackDown and ECW brands under the ring name Natalya.
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[edit] Professional wrestling career
[edit] Early career
Neidhart received formal professional wrestling training in the infamous Hart family "Dungeon" from her uncles Ross and Bruce Hart.[6][7] In addition to her professional wrestling career, Neidhart has received training in amateur wrestling and mixed martial arts.[3][8] Neidhart is the first third-generation female wrestler in the world.[7] In late 2000 through 2001, she served as the host and ring announcer of the Eric Bischoff led youth-promotion MatRats.[9] 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, including a match for the Prairie Wrestling Alliance, where Neidhart teamed with her father, Jim Neidhart, against Lovtiz and Apocalypse.[10] In 2005, however, they joined forces against the Myers Family.[1]
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.[6] When she returned to Canada she promptly turned into a viallainous character, 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.[11] In November 2005, Neidhart damaged her cruciate ligament while wrestling in Japan, and underwent surgery in early 2006.[12] She was sidelined for six months while she recovered.[3][12] 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.[13] She had her last match for Stampede Wrestling on January 26, 2007, after she had signed with WWE, defeating Veronika Vice.[14] During the show, she also gave a speech thanking the fans for their support.[14]
[edit] World Wrestling Entertainment
[edit] Development territories
Neidhart at a FCW event in 2007
On January 5, 2007,[1] Neidhart signed a deal with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE),[15] making her the first third generation female wrestler in the history of WWE.[16] Upon signing she was assigned to their "developmental territory" Deep South Wrestling for the first half of the year before being transferred to Florida Championship Wrestling when it opened in June.[17] 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.[18] In October she, along with the rest of the Hart Foundation, were moved to Florida Championship Wrestling.[19]
[edit] SmackDown and ECW
She made her main roster debut as a villain, under the name Natalya Neidhart (later shortened to just Natalya)[20] on the April 4, 2008 episode of SmackDown!, coming out of the crowd to aid Victoria in an attack on Michelle McCool and Cherry.[21] Her televised in-ring debut came two weeks later, in a win over Cherry.[22] When SmackDown General Manager Vickie Guerrero announced the creation of the WWE Divas Championship on June 6, Natalya was the first Diva to qualify for the title match.[23] At The Great American Bash on July 20, however, Natalya lost the match to determine the inaugural champion to McCool.[24] For the rest of the year she competed mainly in tag team matches, sporadically wrestling singles matches.[25][26] Allied with Victoria, she was also involved a feud with The Bella Twins.[27][28] She made appearances in FCW in late 2008, managing TJ Wilson and DH Smith (Harry Smith) to the FCW Florida Tag Team Championship on October 30.[29]
She made her debut for the ECW brand on February 10, 2009, managing her real life boyfriend Tyson Kidd (TJ Wilson).[30] In her ECW in-ring debut, on the March 3 episode, Natalya defeated Alicia Fox.
Contents [hide]
<LI class=toclevel-1>1 Professional wrestling career <LI class=toclevel-2>1.1 Early career <LI class=toclevel-2>1.2 World Wrestling Entertainment <LI class=toclevel-1>2 Personal life <LI class=toclevel-1>3 In wrestling <LI class=toclevel-1>4 Championships and accomplishments <LI class=toclevel-1>5 References |
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[edit] Professional wrestling career
[edit] Early career
Neidhart received formal professional wrestling training in the infamous Hart family "Dungeon" from her uncles Ross and Bruce Hart.[6][7] In addition to her professional wrestling career, Neidhart has received training in amateur wrestling and mixed martial arts.[3][8] Neidhart is the first third-generation female wrestler in the world.[7] In late 2000 through 2001, she served as the host and ring announcer of the Eric Bischoff led youth-promotion MatRats.[9] 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, including a match for the Prairie Wrestling Alliance, where Neidhart teamed with her father, Jim Neidhart, against Lovtiz and Apocalypse.[10] In 2005, however, they joined forces against the Myers Family.[1]
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.[6] When she returned to Canada she promptly turned into a viallainous character, 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.[11] In November 2005, Neidhart damaged her cruciate ligament while wrestling in Japan, and underwent surgery in early 2006.[12] She was sidelined for six months while she recovered.[3][12] 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.[13] She had her last match for Stampede Wrestling on January 26, 2007, after she had signed with WWE, defeating Veronika Vice.[14] During the show, she also gave a speech thanking the fans for their support.[14]
[edit] World Wrestling Entertainment
[edit] Development territories
Neidhart at a FCW event in 2007
On January 5, 2007,[1] Neidhart signed a deal with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE),[15] making her the first third generation female wrestler in the history of WWE.[16] Upon signing she was assigned to their "developmental territory" Deep South Wrestling for the first half of the year before being transferred to Florida Championship Wrestling when it opened in June.[17] 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.[18] In October she, along with the rest of the Hart Foundation, were moved to Florida Championship Wrestling.[19]
[edit] SmackDown and ECW
She made her main roster debut as a villain, under the name Natalya Neidhart (later shortened to just Natalya)[20] on the April 4, 2008 episode of SmackDown!, coming out of the crowd to aid Victoria in an attack on Michelle McCool and Cherry.[21] Her televised in-ring debut came two weeks later, in a win over Cherry.[22] When SmackDown General Manager Vickie Guerrero announced the creation of the WWE Divas Championship on June 6, Natalya was the first Diva to qualify for the title match.[23] At The Great American Bash on July 20, however, Natalya lost the match to determine the inaugural champion to McCool.[24] For the rest of the year she competed mainly in tag team matches, sporadically wrestling singles matches.[25][26] Allied with Victoria, she was also involved a feud with The Bella Twins.[27][28] She made appearances in FCW in late 2008, managing TJ Wilson and DH Smith (Harry Smith) to the FCW Florida Tag Team Championship on October 30.[29]
She made her debut for the ECW brand on February 10, 2009, managing her real life boyfriend Tyson Kidd (TJ Wilson).[30] In her ECW in-ring debut, on the March 3 episode, Natalya defeated Alicia Fox.
