In the mid-2010s, women’s wrestling revolutionized in WWE. The division can identify one match, including two second-generation wrestlers, as a key turning point, moving from the five-minute match and lingerie regulations at the beginning of the decade to the main event at WrestleMania before its end.
When WWE NXT was rebooted as the company’s new development brand in 2012, it didn’t take long to find its footing. The first WWE Network Streaming Special arrived in NXT in early 2014 and was followed up with NXT Takeover in May. NXT’s early stars included Sami Zayn, Neville and Seth Rollins, but soon a new wave of women will change the face of the brand.
Natalia Natalt, daughter of Jim “Anville” Nadart and nie of Brett and Owen Hart, is already on track for her WWE career, previously hosting the company’s Diva Championship several years ago. Natalia was booked for the tournament to win a new NXT women’s champion after Page was forced to vacate the title as the company was planning its first NXT takeover.
At the same time, Flair was still an early age of WWE’s career, but her status as Ric Flair’s daughter ensured that she would have a prominent position on the company’s roster, even if she studied ropes. She and Natalia set up a match for their first acquisition and advanced to the end of the tournament.
Looking back, Natalia recalls being given free reins to put together all sorts of matches they wanted. This includes not being able to progress as a main event, but not being given a time limit. The two wrestled for 17 minutes, writing in the 2019 Calgary Sun production that Natalia has a goal of wearing a “masterpiece.”
Natalya & Charlotte Flair pulls out all stops for NXT takeover
In the match, both women were accompanied by company legends. Rick Flair is on Charlotte’s side, but Bret Hart was there to support Natalia. However, when the bell rang, the woman was in the spotlight (except Rickflare doing Rickflare outside the ring). At a level of technique that is not often featured in women’s matches up to that point, the title match served as a preview of what comes to the “Women’s Revolution” officially launched the following year.
Things started with the two performers coming and going as Natalia played the babyface and burning his heels. The two formed a shared status as legendary families, exchanging provocations and familiar moves.
In the end, Flair won and became the second WWE NXT women’s champion. She remained with the brand until 2015, but Natalia immediately returned to the main roster after the acquisition.
Flare, along with Becky Lynch, Sasha Banks and Bailey, became known as one of the “Four Horse Women” in WWE. She currently has enough world championship reign to compete with her father, but she remains a divisive figure among her fans.
Meanwhile, Natalia has been steadily approaching for 20 years in WWE, but the veteran performer is still looking for ways to reinvent herself. Not at all satisfied with her use in WWE, Natalia set an agreement between WWE and several independent promotions in 2025, where she can wrestling outside the promotion for the first time since 2007. It remains to be seen whether this momentum will lead to her presence in WWE.
