Natalya Didn’t Consider NXT Return As A Step Down

Natalya has been one of the mainstays of WWE’s women’s division ever since her debut back in 2008. Being a veteran, both fans and peers alike respect her for her accomplishments in the business so far. She also returned to NXT a couple of times and it appears Natalya never looked at returning to NXT as a step down.

While The Queen of Harts is always training to keep herself sharp, things have certainly changed for Natalya lately in terms of her WWE storylines. There is no doubt that she remains loyal to Vince McMahon’s company no matter what.

The former Smackdown Women’s Champion appeared on NXT television last year, as she feuded with Cora Jade. While speaking to Bill Apter of WrestleBinge, she was asked about going to NXT again. Natalya made it clear that she never saw returning to NXT as a step down.

“Anytime I’ve ever been presented with going to NXT, I never look at it as a step down. One of the most significant matches of my entire career was when Triple H asked me to go to NXT to work with a newcomer named Charlotte Flair. That was 2014 and truly, besides the match I had with Lacey (Evans) in Saudi Arabia, the match that I had with Charlotte in 2014 was my WrestleMania moment. It was the most special match of my career because I was able to show what I could do in the ring, along with taking a brand new woman that nobody really knew or nobody really believed in yet and say, ‘this is what she is capable of, but look what I’m capable of.’ That match against Charlotte was one of those matches that went down in history that today, people still talk about it in the same way they talk about Bret Hart vs. Roddy Piper or Bret Hart vs. Mr. Perfect or Kurt Angle vs. Rey Mysterio. That match with Charlotte was so special and it happened at NXT. I had an awesome rivalry with Cora Jade last year. Shawn wanted me to come down to wrestle Cora. To me, it’s an honor to go to NXT.

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This past week, I was on Main Event. Somebody said, ‘Oh you’re on Main Event, don’t you want to be on Raw?’ There is no area in our company that I feel I’m above. Whether I get asked to do Main Event, NXT, SmackDown, whatever quarter it is, WWE is very special. To me, I just have to go through a rebuilding phase within myself. It’s not even like I feel I’m in competition at this moment with Rhea (Ripley). I actually feel I’m in competition with myself. I have to prove to myself that I’m okay. It’s important to talk about this kind of stuff because, so many times, we’re programmed and conditioned that we have to be strong at all times. We have to look like we’re in control and on top and very much company people. I didn’t last 15 years by being a dummy. I’m also smart enough to recognize that this was a down moment for my career and we have to find a way to rebuild.”

WWE is also planning a career-defining case for Natalya. We will have to wait and see whether the company will be able to redeem Natalaya, as she clearly hasn’t been booked very well lately.

What’s your opinion on what Natalya said? Do you think she will get another push in WWE? Let us know in the comments!