18-Year WWE Veteran Reportedly Returning With New Name & Character
WWE is allegedly planning to reinvent an 18-year veteran soon.
Natalya has long been recognized as one of WWE’s most skilled veterans, with a career spanning nearly two decades and countless matches across all major brands. Despite her technical prowess and impressive records, her run has sometimes felt underwhelming due to repetitive booking and a lack of consistent title runs after her initial championship wins.
In recent years, she often played supporting roles in alliance storylines or was used to elevate newer stars rather than being positioned as the face of the division. Many fans and critics feel that this has limited her presence and influence in the Stamford-based promotion, but this is about to change soon.
In 2025, Nattie shifted toward the independent scene, where she competed under her real name, Nattie Neidhart, debuting at Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XIII on April 17. This marked a major change in her wrestling style and overall persona.
At Bloodsport, she ditched WWE’s polished format in favor of a fierce, shoot-style approach. She has a no-nonsense attitude and edgier style, and the Stamford-based promotion intends to bring this new version of Nattie on TV.
Natalya Set To Undergo Character Reinvention in WWE
According to Natalya’s uncle, Ross Hart, who recently spoke to Wrestling Life with Ben Veal podcast, the Stamford-based promotion is planning to reinvent her character on TV, pushing her Bloodsport persona in front of the fans.
“She’s been performing recently on some of these blood sports shows. It’s definitely more of a hardcore situation. It’s more real wrestling and grappling than what you’ll see on on the bigger promotions. And she sort of found a new identity with that.”
“So, I’m not sure what the storyline they’re doing right now in WWE, but it looks like they might be reinventing her, and she might be coming back under a new name.”
Hart also praised Natalya for earning the Lou Thesz Award at the 59th Cauliflower Alley Club reunion, highlighting that she achieved it through hard work rather than showy gimmicks or theatrics.
“The Lou Thesz award, I think, recognizes grit and hardness and real wrestling ability, and not someone who’s just too flashy or has a gimmick of some kind, but just someone who’s a hard worker and can go the distance, and I think she’s very deserving of that award.”
“She’s been there, I believe, I think, over 20 years now, or very close to that. She’s had the longest run of any woman in the WWE and still going strong. You know, probably we could go another five years.”