WWE veteran Natalya Neidhart has been breaking new ground in 2025 — not just inside the ring, but outside the WWE umbrella.
After nearly two decades under exclusive WWE contract, Nattie recently completed a high-profile independent wrestling tour, competing for several promotions across the United States. On a recent episode of Busted Open After Dark, the former Divas and Tag Team Champion explained her motivation, match experiences, and the emotional journey behind stepping away from the WWE spotlight.
Nattie’s indie journey began in April at Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport, a no-ropes, shoot-style event that has become a proving ground for legitimate fighters and technical wrestlers alike. There, she squared off against Miyu Yamashita in a hard-hitting bout.
“Bloodsport is really that dungeon style,” Nattie explained, referencing her family’s famous Hart Dungeon legacy. “That was my first show in 18 years outside of WWE — and I needed to do that.”
Next came an appearance for the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), where she battled Kenzie Paige, a top star in the company’s women’s division. Nattie called the experience a “dream come true”, noting that performing on that historic platform allowed her to channel a different version of herself.
Most recently, she headlined Booker T’s Reality of Wrestling “Heart and Soul” all-women’s event, wrestling Promise Braxton in the main event.
“She pushed me to my limit,” Nattie said of Braxton. “It reminded me how far I can still go. That match gave me more than just adrenaline — it gave me fuel.”
After 18 uninterrupted years under WWE contract, Nattie admitted she was driven to reinvent herself.
“I didn’t need another championship. I needed to f***ing be someone else,” she declared. “I don’t sleep well at night — I truly fear being mediocre.”
This internal struggle became the fire behind her decision to step outside the confines of WWE for the first time in her storied career.
Neidhart clarified that her tour was not a sign of separation from WWE — rather, it was made possible with full support from WWE executives.
“Triple H understands what my vision is,” she explained. “He gets that I need to build something outside to bring something new inside. Nick Khan supported it too. That meant the world to me.”
With her passion reignited and her confidence restored, Neidhart’s next step may be her most impactful yet — potentially bringing this renewed version of herself back to WWE’s women’s division, starting with this weekend’s Evolution 2 PLE.
