Natalya has revealed that Vince McMahon was the only person who pushed for her inclusion on Total Divas when the show was being developed in 2013.
In her new book The Last Hart Beating: From the Dungeon to WWE, Natalya detailed how Triple H first approached her about the project.
“There’s this new show that we’re doing and it’s going to be about the life of female Superstars in and out of the ring, and it’s going to be called Total Divas,” Triple H told her. “We think you’d be great for it, and want to put you forward for the show.”
Despite being selected, Natalya said she later learned her inclusion was far from universally supported.
“Honestly?” he replied. “Nobody wanted you on the show, Nattie. Nobody from WWE and nobody from E!. There was one voice in those meetings who insisted it be you, and that was Vince.”
She admitted she was confused by McMahon’s backing, noting that she was not positioned as a central figure in the division at the time.
“But he did seem to see me as an ambassador, someone he could trust to put the division’s best foot forward in public,” she wrote.
Natalya also recalled her meeting with producer Jeff Jenkins at the E! offices, where she had a memorable encounter upon arrival.
“I nearly dislocated both my eyeballs to find out as I kept my head forward but ordered my eyes to dart to my extreme right,” Natalya wrote. “And yes, it was her striding out as I was walking in. This caused me to have two further thoughts: That’s cool. And. Oh, I could easily suplex her.”
Jenkins was immediately impressed following their meeting.
“You’re fascinating. You’re open, you’re honest, and you clearly have a unique life story,” he said. “I love, love, love the energy you brought. We absolutely want you on the show.”
Natalya also opened up about the pressure she felt to meet WWE’s expectations during that period of her career.
“I worked harder, traveled more, trained anyone they’d ask me to, and tackled any segment or character I was given with everything I had,” she wrote. “I tried to be kinder, more considerate, more available. More sizzle than steak. I changed how I looked, got breast enhancements, Botox, lip injections. I watched my weight, had standing appointments at the hair salon, trained other WWE Superstars on my days off. I tried, and tried, and tried to be what I thought WWE, and Vince, wanted me to be.”
She noted that the original cast included The Bella Twins, Naomi, Cameron, herself, and newcomers Eva Marie and JoJo Offerman.
Producer Jenkins told the group the show would begin with a pilot.
“If it does well, then we’ll do more, but you guys have to hit a home run with this,” he said.
The series exceeded expectations early, with E! expanding the first season to 14 episodes before it even premiered.
The Last Hart Beating: From the Dungeon to WWE is available now through major retailers.
