Natalya Reveals that Beth Phoenix Once Said of WWE: “One Day They’ll be Ready for Us”

Muscle & Fitness recently interviewed WWE Superstar Natalya. Below are some highlights.

Natalya on being the first female in her family who wanted to wrestle: “I’ve been surrounded by wrestling my whole life, but I was the first female that wanted to do it. I was always very athletic, always very dramatic, very much like my dad. And once I started training in ‘The Dungeon,’ I was hooked. It was so much fun!”

Natalya on her style: “It made me stronger, because I was so much smaller. learned this really physical, gritty style—and that you get what you give. I still think of that time. I still remember that hunger.”

Natalya on advice she received from Beth Phoenix: “When I debuted, WWE was doing the Diva Searches and hiring models, and I’m like your traditional lady wrestler. I’m not skinny and I can’t dance. I remember Beth [Phoenix] saying: ‘Nattie, you’ve just gotta fake it ’til you make it. One day they’re gonna be ready for us.’ ”

Natalya on getting to be a part of the WrestleMania 35 card and women’s tag title match: “It’s just surreal, because I feel like my dad has played a big part in all these wonderful things happening, but I also feel like WWE understands how much I’ve contributed. That’s why this all feels so good now, being able to wrestle and perform with all these strong female competitors. And it goes back to, ‘Why do I love this?’ Because it makes me excited to get up in the morning and live my dream.”