Natalya has heard the argument that second and third-generation wrestlers get opportunities because of their last names. Coming from the Hart family herself, she doesn’t see being born into wrestling as something that should be held against anyone.
While speaking with MuscleManMalcolm, Natalya was asked about the ongoing debate after names such as Zilla Fatu, Avery Styles and Sting’s son entered the conversation. Natalya admitted that some of her favorite wrestlers could technically be called “nepo babies,” but she believes what they accomplished after getting through the door matters far more.
“I think it’s great. I think the thing about being, like, I was saying this to my students the other day at the Dungeon. I was like, ‘I hate to say this, but my favorite wrestlers are nepo babies.’ Like, you think of Randy Savage, you think of Rey Mysterio, you think of Randy Orton, like Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns. Like, yeah, they were born into this, but they work their asses off. They have more than solidified their spots in this.”
Natalya sees the same thing happening much closer to home. She has been training Tatanka’s two sons from the ground up at the Dungeon, and their father’s name apparently isn’t what has been getting her attention.
“And I’m working with Tatanka’s kids. I’ve trained Tatanka’s two sons from the ground up. And they’re both, like, incredible athletes, but they’re, like, the standouts at the Dungeon.”
“And they are, like, I’m like every time I’m with them, I’m like, ‘Damn, these kids are good.’ I don’t think about their dad being Tatanka. I don’t think about it. I’m like, they’re just the standouts. They’re the dogs. They’re the dogs in the Dungeon.”
That’s ultimately where Natalya draws the line. A famous family might help someone get noticed, but she believes they still have to deliver once the opportunity arrives.
“So, if you’re good and you can back it up, I don’t care where, what your background is. You just got to be able to back it up.”
Natalya knows that criticism better than most. Being part of the Hart family has followed her throughout her WWE career, and she knows there will always be people willing to credit the family name instead of the person carrying it.
“Because if you’re coming from a family like mine, you’re going to have people say your entire career, ‘Oh, you only got this because of that,’ or, ‘You only are getting, you know, this opportunity,’ or, ‘Only getting your job in WWE,’ but you got to kick the door in.”
Natalya isn’t pretending a famous wrestling family means nothing. Her point is that the name only gets someone so far. Once the bell rings, they still have to prove they belong there, and she believes plenty of wrestling’s so-called “nepo babies” have already done exactly that.
Do you agree with Natalya that second-generation wrestlers should be judged by what they do with their opportunities rather than how they received them? Let us know in the comments.
This transcript was produced exclusively for Ringside News from the original recording. Republishing the transcription in full is prohibited. When using excerpts, provide prominent credit and a link to this article.
