Veteran WWE Superstar Natalya is set to unveil a dramatically transformed and aggressive persona, “Nattie Neidhart,” for her highly anticipated NWA World Women’s Championship match. She will challenge the reigning champion, Kenzie Paige, at the prestigious NWA Crockett Cup event this Saturday, May 17, 2025, in Philadelphia.
A former SmackDown Women’s Champion, Natalya re-signed with WWE last year. However, she has experienced limited television time in recent months, leading her to explore unique opportunities outside the company.
She competed at Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport event against Miyu Yamashita over WrestleMania week, wrestling under the name Nattie Neidhart and showcasing a raw, intense fighting style different from her WWE character, even using Rage Against The Machine for her entrance music.
While this version of Neidhart has yet to appear on WWE television, she is fully embracing it for her upcoming NWA title opportunity. Natalya signaled this shift with a powerful video posted to X, where she symbolically stripped away her familiar WWE attire to reveal more legitimate-looking fight wear.
In the voiceover, Natalya declared a profound change. “I am not this. I made this, I built this, I did this, to survive,” she stated, referring to her long-established WWE image. “But underneath, there’s a part of me that craves violence. The side that loves to leave behind the predictability and the security of my life.”
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Addressing her opponent, Kenzie Paige, directly, she continued her intense promo. “You see, I was born fighting, Kenzie. Somewhere along the way, I was domesticated. And that’s why my life doesn’t fit right now.”
Natalya then articulated her raw motivations. “Some people get fast cars or drugs or a piece on the side, just to feel alive. But me, I just need the taste of blood in my mouth, the feeling of bruises underneath my clothes, and the rush of ‘kill or be killed’.”
She concluded with a chilling promise to the NWA Women’s Champion. “I don’t need to get something else to feel alive, Kenzie. I need to be someone else – someone who is going to come to your house and beat your a–. And smile while doing it.”
Accompanying the impactful video, Neidhart added a revealing caption. “Stripping down to who I am is the most thrilling thing I’ve ever done in this business. #NWA #CrockettCup,” she wrote.
This transformation adds a significant layer of intrigue to her championship challenge at the NWA Crockett Cup. The event, taking place at the historic 2300 Arena, will also feature the Crockett Cup tag team tournament and Thom Latimer defending the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship against fellow WWE veteran Rhino.
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