Natalya is a true veteran in the realm of wrestling as a whole, but she has spent the past 18 years in WWE making her the longest tenured female on the roster.
Last week, Natalya as well as some other WWE talent, Shayna Baszler and NXTs Karme Petrovic, participated in GCWs Josh Barnett Bloodsport XIII event. Natalya won her match against Miyu Yamashita. She discusses this experience with the Toronto Sun.
WrestleMania week isnt just about WWE, its about the wrestling community coming together. We saw that at Bloodsport. That was one of the most fun times of my entire career. I said that to TJ [TJ Wilson] when Bloodsport was done, I cant even remember the last that I had that much fun. I had so much fun. This isnt taking anything away from WrestleMania, I love WrestleMania, I have a world record for being in 11 WrestleMania matches. Being in WWE, this was my 18th WrestleMania that I attended. I love WrestleMania, but Bloodsport was something so different for me because it was a chance for me to create something completely from me. It was all completely my vision of what I wanted to do. Everything down from my music to my outfit to the people walking with me to the ring, they are my students from the Dungeon that I trained from the ground up. I wanted them there, walking to the ring.
I hand-picked Miyu because word on the street is she is the most dangerous unsigned woman wrestler in Japan. When you think about these greats like Asuka, IYO [SKY], Kairi [Sane], and Giulia. There are so many incredible women that have signed, WWE scooped them up. She is, to me, the very best that isnt in WWE. The goal for me is to see Miyu get to WWE because she is that good. Ive never had anybody bring me to my limits like that. She was unbelievable. The match was so much fun. I loved every second of it. I felt like it was a side I had to show everyone what I could do because Im so hungry. I love what I do so much and Im not comfortable with just taking a paycheck with WWE. I know there is something to being patient, but Im to the point of where I need more, I want more, and creating more opportunities. Thats why Bloodsport was so important to me. (Transcript Fightful)
Natalya is preparing for her memoir to be released this October.
