Last week I did something that was really near to my heart and actually made me feel nervous. And this is coming from someone who performs daily in front of millions of people around the world.

My sister, Muffy, who teaches at an elementary school, asked me to speak to her students about my career in WWE.  I often talk to kids because in WWE we are a part of so many different community outreach programs – such as WWE’s anti-bullying campaign Be a STAR and our WrestleMania reading initiatives, just to name a few.  But for this one, being able to speak in front of Muffy and her two kids made me a feel like I really needed to give the speech of a lifetime — so I could be the absolute coolest sister and aunt!

My sister went to school for years to be a teacher and she takes a lot of pride in teaching kids who could potentially be future teachers, leaders, police officers, doctors, firefighters, journalists, lawyers and so much more. I told my sister that her job was crucial as you never know what child you’re going to forever influence because of your example. Muffy is the kind of teacher who makes her students want to work harder and be better in every way. She is someone I look up to because of what she passes on to her students: that they can achieve anything they set their minds to.

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Source – Calgary Sun

October 31, 2019, was a day that I’ll remember forever. In front of a packed stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, I was able to take part in an incredible piece of history, as WWE Superstar Lacey Evans and I competed in the first-ever women’s wrestling match in Saudi Arabia. I had been dreaming of this moment for a long time, not just for myself, but for women around the world who also have a dream.

To have the opportunity to open up new doors for women in Saudi Arabia was one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. It was an honour to be a part of this journey and a moment that I keep replaying in my head. Competing in Saudi Arabia as a woman was something that had never been done before and I hope my contribution will help change the course of history for women in Saudi Arabian culture forever.

WWE has been travelled to the Middle East for over three decades and has hosted more than 40 events there. When WWE showcased its first Crown Jewel event, I immediately knew I wanted to be the first woman ever to wrestle in Saudi Arabia. When I was invited to Jeddah in May this past year, I had a great feeling that we were getting closer to the “first-ever women’s match” becoming a reality in Saudi Arabia.
Little did I know it would be just months later that I would be invited back to the kingdom, along with Lacey Evans, this time to Riyadh.

To read the rest of this interview/article go to source link below:

Source – Calgary Sun

Natalya recently sat down with Jim & Sam “faction talk” on Sirius XM Radio in New York and on Hot 97 with Peter Rosenberg. Below is a clip of Nattie on the Jim & Sam podcast and the full interview on Hot 97 – Nattie discusses her experience in Saudi Arabia at ‘Crown Jewel’, thoughts on her match against Lacey Evans, the progression of her career, women’s evolution, and what happened when WWE stars were not able to make it in time for Smackdown. Check out the interviews below.

t’s no secret the Hart family loves sports entertainment; but our other love is great food! My grandfather, Stu Hart, instilled in his children and grandchildren, that a hearty meal and a healthy appetite are essential for being strong.

Stu grew up poor and throughout his youth, he survived the frigid Saskatchewan winters, often at times having to hunt rabbits in the wilderness for food. To seek refuge and warmth, my grandfather discovered his local YMCA and took up amateur wrestling. His life evolved and he grew to be a successful man; but because of his childhood, Stu never took a good meal for granted.

Every Sunday my grandfather would have his “Sunday Dinners” at the Hart House in Calgary. It was not unusual to have 50 people attend dinner. My grandmother, Helen Hart, used to say that during Sunday Dinners, the Hart House resembled Grand Central Station. Everyone passed through, filling the house with positive energy and love. Every meal Stu served was special. My favourite dishes my grandfather cooked were spaghetti, prime rib, beef stew and meatloaf with his famous mashed potatoes. After dinner, Stu would make hot tea in his commercial kitchen and it was our families’ way of regrouping every week. Those were such special times that I’ll have etched in my heart forever.

To read the rest of this interview/article go to source link below:

Source – Calgary Sun

Now that fall is finally here and winter is quickly approaching, it’s getting dark earlier and temperatures are dropping. With the rush of Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas ahead, it’s easy to lose focus, drive and motivation. Throw in a busy travel schedule, and the ups and downs of everyday life, and it can be a miracle making it into a gym for a workout.

When the weather gets cold, sometimes I just want to stay in, watch reruns of The Golden Girls and eat ketchup chips on my couch in my pyjamas with my cats.  I’ve been there many times when it comes to needing a purpose to hit the gym and set new goals in my life. It’s easy to get stuck in a rut, but that’s okay as long as you don’t get stuck too long.

Some little tricks I’ve been using to keep myself motivated are easily attainable for anyone. Something that helps me find my focus is trying something new and finding a partner to do it with. For example, I can get really bored in the gym as I work out quite often and there are days where it’s hard to push myself. I can’t stay down long because I need to stay fit to perform in the ring. We only get one body, so we have to take care of it. When I try new things, the excitement of it being “new” brings me so much joy.  I recently joined two fitness classes in my area. One was a rowing class and the other was a cardio kickboxing class. I’d never done either but I had my sister join me and we dove in. Suddenly, working out is fun and fresh again and I looked forward to the classes as well as seeing results in my body. My sister Jenni, who is often my workout partner, helps keep me accountable. It’s a great way to not only get results but also for my sister and I to spend time together.

To read the rest of this interview/article go to source link below:

Source – Calgary Sun

October is one of my favourite months of the year. I love fall and everything that’s included, especially a good Pumpkin Spice Latte! I also love Halloween. It is probably my favourite holiday next to Christmas. I make it a point every year to decorate my house with spooky stuff and pick out my favourite Halloween candy to pass out to kids that come to my door. Let’s just say there’s a whole lot of Skittles and Snickers bars around my house, and not all of the candy makes it to the kids on Halloween! I make sure to have costumes for each one of my cats, too. They may growl when they’re being dressed up, but you know there’s going to be some really good Instagram photos! 2Pawz’s favourite costume was when he dressed up as WWE Superstar Shinsuke Nakamura. We’ve got the pictures to prove it!

There’s also a lot going on in WWE during the month of October. Besides the leaves falling and changing colours, there was also an exciting WWE Draft that took place last week. Many WWE Superstars switched brands and our recasted women’s rosters on Raw and Friday Night SmackDown presented some exciting new match-ups and reignited old rivalries. Last week was my first time on Raw, in the main event no less, performing against the incredibly talented Asuka and Kairi Sane. These girls, both from Japan, really pushed me to my limits. I loved the challenge and I crave the energy of exciting new storylines that the WWE Draft brings. On Raw, we also acquired Charlotte Flair, who I’ve had some of my best rivalries with. Maybe down the line we can be tag team partners and chase the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships since we both come from renowned wrestling families. A Flair and a Hart teaming up could be an unstoppable force! Hey, stranger things have happened!

To read the rest of this interview/article go to source link below:

Source – Calgary Sun