It may be hard to imagine but Natalya has been in WWE for nine years now. The only female graduate of the Hart Dungeon has seen her fair share of ups and down since her 2008 arrival but one thing can not be denied: She’s always been loaded with talent and the drive to succeed.
Even harder to imagine is it’s been six years since the Queen of Harts last held a championship. Her one and only reign thus far came in November 2010 to January 2011 and lasted for 70 days. Ironically it tied her with her rival’s sister for the 53rd longest out of every female champion in the company. Since that time, Nattie has simply kept plugging away both as a valet to her husband Tyson Kidd (leading him and Cesaro to tag team gold in 2015) as well as singles action.
She gave then-Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair a good run last spring but outside forces kept her away from attaining further championship glory. Feeling underappreciated and overlooked, Natalya scanned the landscape and landed on the one person she feels is most responsible for her career drought.
Nikki Bella.
While Nattie worked her tail off training to be the very best, Bella was simply in the right place at the right time. She caught the eyes of WWE officials alongside her sister Brie and has really been a focal point of anything to do with the women of the company. From arm candy of guest general managers of Monday Night Raw to competing inside the ring, she held the Divas Championship twice (the second setting a then-record of 301 days) and been involved in key stories featuring the likes of Stephanie McMahon, AJ Lee, and Charlotte Flair just to name a few.
To Natalya, it all was simply handed to her based on her looks and choice of significant other in John Cena. Furthermore, the portrayal of the two on the E! reality series couldn’t be any different. Nikki is the stunning beauty expanding the Bella brand (including a spinoff series Total Bella) and rarely is seen in a bad light. Meanwhile Nattie is the cranky veteran obsessed with cats. It was inevitable everything would boil over and it did so back in November.
After losing to Nikki in a match to name the Smackdown Live Women’s team captain against Raw‘s squad, Natalya seemed content to serve as the “coach” of the ladies in blue.
That is until Bella was mysteriously attacked right before her entrance and ever so conveniently Nattie was right there to take her spot. Originally thought to be Bella’s lead rival at the time, Carmella, it was revealed weeks later it was Natalya all along. No longer having to deny it as she had, she unleashed a verbal tongue lashing years in the making.
She echoed the sentiments many fans have about Bella. Though she has strived to become a serious wrestler, the stigma remains that her looks and Cena afforded her opportunities many simply never received. According to Natalya, the looks will fade and Cena would follow; this would leave Nikki to “die alone.”
Ever since that rant transpired, the two have been at each other’s throats ever since. They have brawled backstage in halls, in the ring, at a merchandise stand, all the while verbally shredding one another.
Like Becky Lynch‘s feud with Mickie James, Nikki has had to settle for in-ring victories in six women tag team action. However her thirst for revenge remains unquenched since Naomi is the one who scored the winning fall against her rival Alexa Bliss.
On the February 7 edition of Smackdown Live, both ladies fired final verbal warning shots at one another. On the Talking Smack that followed, Nattie added fuel to the fire with an attack on Nikki as she spoke to Renee Young and GM Daniel Bryan.
Their match at Elimination Chamber isn’t likely to be a technical masterpiece, but rather an all out brawl and hard hitting.
Natalya has the edge in experience and submissions, so her key to victory is to use Bella’s emotions against her. Doing so provides a window to pick apart her legs and back to set up the Sharpshooter. Her deadly discus clothesline is also something to keep an eye out for.
Bella will have to keep her focus on victory rather than simple retribution. She has trained with brother-in-law Bryan in upping her own ground techniques and could pull out a surprise or two.
If Natalya grows too overconfident, she may wind up humbled in more ways than one.
Main Photo: WWE.com
