Natalya Defends Vince McMahon’s Booking Amid Career Shift

Natalya is embracing creative freedom like never before—but she’s making it clear she’s not turning her back on her past, especially when it comes to Vince McMahon.

While speaking on Busted Open Radio, the longtime WWE veteran opened up about how her 18-year run with the company has been shaped by childhood trauma and a lifelong need to play it safe. She explained that a lot of that came from watching her father, Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart, lose his job with WWE multiple times. Wanting to avoid that fate, she focused on being reliable—but that also led to her being creatively boxed in.

“When I think about my life and how the last 18 years have been for me in WWE, a lot of it is centered around tightly woven childhood trauma. It was like… I just didn’t ever want to be like my dad,” she said. “He wasn’t always reliable. He lost his job in WWE many times. And like, five different times my dad was fired… I just wanted to be the complete opposite.”

But while she’s now stepping outside the box—appearing in shows like Bloodsport XIII and NWA’s Crockett Cup—she made it a point to shut down any assumptions that this shift is a shot at Vince McMahon or the old regime.

“Yeah, and that’s the thing. Like, you know, I’ve had an incredible career in WWE and I actually had—I really had a great relationship with Vince. Like, Vince was always really great to me,” she said. “And I still am extremely grateful for all the things that I’ve had, you know, everything I’ve accomplished.”

That comment came right before she discussed how easily WWE approved her Busted Open appearance. She said that type of green light reflects the trust she’s earned over the years—and the way things are shifting under Triple H’s leadership.

Natalya has gone from playing it safe to stepping into uncharted territory, and she’s doing it on her own terms—with respect for her past and confidence in her future.

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