Natalya Neidhart Reflects on Her Early WWE Struggles and Achievements
Natalya Neidhart's Journey in WWE
Despite her prestigious training at the Hart Dungeon, Natalya Neidhart faced significant challenges in the wrestling industry. She gained fame during the Divas era, a time when female wrestlers had limited opportunities to demonstrate their skills. Her path to success was fraught with difficulties before she achieved recognition in WWE.
Prior to the rise of the Women's Evolution and the launch of the Total Divas series, Natalya had already earned a championship title in WWE. However, it is crucial to note that the compensation for female wrestlers was considerably lower than that of their male counterparts.
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In a recent interview with Chris Vin Vliet on Insight, Natalya reflected on her early experiences in WWE. She shared that while her initial salary was decent, it was essential for her to understand the business side of wrestling.
“I was only making in my first year in WWE $500 a week. So, of course that’s not terrible by any means, when you’re just getting started, but when you have to pay for ring gear and your hair and your makeup, and you have to pay taxes on that. In some ways it was less money than I was making as a waitress. But for me, it was about getting my foot in the door,” stated Natalya Neidhart. (quotes courtesy Sescoops)
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Natalya Neidhart's WWE Debut in 2007
Natalya Neidhart began her WWE career in 2007, initially assigned to Deep South Wrestling after signing a developmental contract. She made her main roster debut on SmackDown in 2008 and has since become a staple in the women's division, setting numerous records. As a seasoned veteran, she has played a significant role in mentoring many young wrestlers at the Hart Dungeon.
In 2010, she captured the Divas Championship, and in 2017, she became the SmackDown Women's Champion, making history as the first and only wrestler to hold both titles across different eras. Additionally, she was a main cast member of the Total Divas reality series from 2013 to 2019.