Natalya Opens Up About The Passing Of Her Father, Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart

Nattie opens her thoughts.

On August 13th the saddening news made the rounds that former two-time WWF Tag Team Champion Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart passed away. Local authorities responded to a call of a man who had suffered a fall and shortly after Neidhart succumbed to his injuries. The wrestling world joined forces from all positions to send their thoughts and prayers to the entire Hart family as “The Anvil” joined Stu, Owen and Davey Boy Smith Sr. high in the sky. 

Just six days after Jim Neidhart’s passing, his daughter and former SmackDown Live Women’s Champion Natalya showed face at SummerSlam to be in the corner of Ronda Rousey for the RAW Women’s Championship match. As Nattie made her way to the ring, she was showered in cheers and support from the WWE Universe as they came unglued for her during this rough time in her life. After SummerSlam was all said and done, Nattie sat down with Renee Young and spoke about walking down that SummerSlam entrance ramp with her father’s jacket on.

“I wanted to honor my dad so much at SummerSlam and it was a hard decision of even wanting to come because I wasn’t sure if I was gonna be ready because everything is… it was so fresh.” Nattie said. “It was literally six days after my dad had passed away so I wasn’t really sure whether I’d be ready to come. I just felt like I needed to do as much as I could to honor my dad. I wanted to keep his memory alive. I knew that was a huge stage to do that on. I told my mom, I said, ‘You know what? I think I’m gonna go to SummerSlam because daddy would want me to be happy’, and my dad would want me doing things that I love.” She explained. “He wants me… WWE is my family. I have the Hart family but I also have the WWE Universe. I have all of the talent backstage, all the superstars, all the women and men that I share the ring with.”

Natalya shared that after Ronda Rousey captured the RAW Women’s Championship and the motions began to slow down, she shared a special moment backstage with WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon when the two embraced and it brought Nattie to tears.

“I felt great. I felt really, really great. This was not my moment at SummerSlam as much as it was Ronda’s. It was her match, and she let me share in that spotlight which I’ll be incredibly grateful forever for but, after all the smoke settled and the dust cleared with her–celebrating her victory I just remember Stephanie McMahon coming up to me and giving me this huge hug and she just embraced me.” Nattie reflected. “Like that motherly embrace that she has. She’s really been wonderful and everybody’s just been so loving and I just remember I had this release of tears. I hadn’t cried all day at SummerSlam and then I hugged her and then I just like, waterworks, and I was like, ‘That’s what you do with family’. You could hug them, and just hugging her and letting…. I just needed to let it out.”

On a related note, a championship presentation was held for Ronda Rousey this past Monday on RAW which concluded in Stephanie McMahon’s arm being locked in an armbar for a third time by “Rowdy” Ronda.

If you are going to use the quotes above, please credit Fightful for the transcriptions.