'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
What’s the story?
Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Radio addressed Natalya’s rumored retirement, following her much-talked about promo at Clash Of Champions.
Expounding on the promo which was prominently highlighted at Sunday’s PPV, it was noted that Natalya will indeed stay with the WWE.
In case you didn’t know…
Natalya came up short in her quest to dethrone Charlotte Flair as the SmackDown Women’s Champion at the Clash Of Champions PPV this past Sunday night.
Natalya was interviewed immediately after her loss—a segment during which the veteran WWE Superstar broke into tears, while seemingly bidding adieu to the WWE Universe.
The heart of the matter
As we’d previously reported, ‘Nattie’ has since taken to social media so as to shut down speculation regarding her rumored WWE retirement.
Nevertheless, the professional wrestling community has been abuzz as to whether her emotional interview at Clash Of Champions was indeed an omen to her departure from the WWE. Veteran pro-wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer revealed that Natalya’s interview was in fact meant to simply draw a significant reaction from the fans, and isn’t necessarily indicative of her potentially leaving the promotion.
Furthermore, Meltzer also alluded that Natalya is unlikely to retire from the WWE and the sport of professional wrestling in the immediate future, and the entire segment was not meant as a “retirement promo”.
What’s next?
Natalya presently performs for the WWE’s SmackDown brand, and fans can expect her to return on WWE’s Tuesday night television broadcast.
With consecutive title losses to Charlotte Flair, it remains to be seen whether she’ll pursue the same feud or move on to another rivalry.
Author’s take
Natalya is perhaps one of the most under-appreciated talents in the sport today.
Nattie fans the world over can rest assured that the Hart family representative isn’t leaving the WWE or wrestling anytime soon, and will continue to amaze everyone with her otherworldly mat skills.
