Natalya just dropped a raw and emotional story about her late father, WWE legend Jim The Anvil Neidhartand its got people rethinking how the company treated its legends in the past.
During a live episode of Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Natalya opened up about her dads time on Total Divas and how the E! reality series gave him something WWE wasnt offering at the time: purpose.
He didnt always feel like he was wanted, Natalya admitted. WWE does so much more now to honor legends and to bring back people. But back then, they werent doing all of that. It was hard.
According to Natalya, The Anvil was deeply frustrated about his lack of recognition in WWE after retirementespecially being snubbed for the Hall of Fame during his lifetime.
When he was alive, he was pissed off that he wasnt in the Hall of Fame, she said. He was like, Why the hell was Hillbilly Jim in before me? Im just being honest! My dad loved Hillbilly Jim but hes like, Dammit! I should be in there before Hillbilly Jim.
Neidhart eventually got his due, posthumously inducted in 2019 alongside Bret Hart as part of The Hart Foundation. But for Natalya, it was Total Divas that gave him a second wind before that moment finally came.
He really felt like he got to be a part of something He loved the limelight, he loved the cameras on him and he loved all the attention, she shared. So thats one of the things I loved about Total DivasI loved having my dad included on that show, even if gummies were involved.
With the 2025 Hall of Fame ceremony just days away and Bret Hart set for his third inductionthis time for his WrestleMania 13 match with Steve Austinits hard not to reflect on how far WWE has come in honoring its past.
Do you think WWE waited too long to recognize legends like Jim Neidhart? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.
