Natalya Wants More Conversations About Mental Health After WWE Stars Speak Out

Natalya has praised Randy Orton and Charlotte Flair.

In recent days, two certified WWE legends have opened up about their mental health struggles and the challenges that come with having a career in the public eye.

During an interview with Stephanie McMahon, Randy Orton admitted he’d been overwhelmed by anxiety and suffered panic attacks while away from the ring. He added that he was placed on antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication to manage the issue, but confirmed he stopped taking them a few months ago.

Meanwhile, Charlotte Flair laid bare her struggles with life in WWE. In an article that highligted her vulnerability and honesty, Flair admitted to being rattled when booed by the crowd, sometimes feeling that the boos are for “Ashley” not Charlotte. She added that she was left devastated by Tiffany Stratton referencing her latest divorce in a promo ahead of WrestleMania 41.

Natalya Calls For More Openness Around Mental Health

During an appearance on Busted Open Radio, Natalya spoke up about the importance of having such frank conversations around mental health. With regard to Orton, she said having someone so physically imposing be so open can only help others in the long run.

“You look at Randy Orton, he’s just so physically imposing… he looks like a Greek god,” she began. “And then you hear him talking about depression, and you hear him talking about anxiety, and he’s saying, like, ‘I’m waking up in the middle of the night and I can’t sleep’… it just like, hit me like a ton of bricks.

We need to have those conversations. More people need to be having those conversations about mental health. Because if somebody like Randy Orton can open up about that and show like, ‘Hey, it’s okay to feel that way’… if he’s going through it, it makes people feel good talking about it.”

Natalya added that she loved Flair’s Players Tribune article because it showed the reality of life in the spotlight.

“I loved her article because it was very vulnerable,” Nattie said. “Again, people see us, and we look larger than life, and then you see somebody open up and say, ‘When the crowd was booing… I felt like they were booing me as a human’… and like, it’s hard because it’s hard. It’s a lot of noise.”

The veteran also cited the late, great Eddie Guerrero, who dealt with anxiety for much of his career, even while he was World Champion.

“[He] was the champion, and he still didn’t feel like he was good enough,” she said. “He would beat himself up because he’s like, ‘I’m the champion, and we should have had a sold out house.’”

Natalya will be back in action when she takes part in the battle royal at WWE Evolution on July 13. The winner of the match will earn a title shot at Clash In Paris.

H/t to WrestlingNews.Co