'%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?
In a recent interview with Planeta Wrestling, Current SmackDown Women's Champion Natalya shed light on if she liked playing a heel. The Queen of Hearts then went on to explain why her match for the vacant NXT title against Charlotte in 2014 was so special.
In case you didn't know...
The champ has been playing her role as a heel with aplomb on SmackDown so far. She recently retained her title against Charlotte at WWE Hell In a Cell 2017 via disqualification.
The match she recollected in the interview took place in NXT three years ago and ended with Charlotte having the belt wrapped around her waist.
The heart of the matter
When asked if she prefers to play a heel or babyface, the top heel on the blue brand said that although playing the 'good guy' comes naturally to her, her current role is more fun.
Here's what the champ had to say,
"Being a good guy is much easier for me because I feel like it's much more natural for me to be a babyface and have to be smiley and taking selfies with the fans and getting everybody into it, being vulnerable when I need to be," Natalya said. "But being bad is really, really fun. I really like being bad and I like the challenge of making the audience boo me. It's just really fun, I quite enjoy it."
She then went on to say why she felt her NXT match with Charlotte in 2014 was like main-eventing Wrestlemania.
"For me, the Takeover match at NXT, it was only in front of 200 people and that live crowd, it was insane to think that those 200 people could give me a WrestleMania moment. I say that because that match with her was just as special to me as main-eventing WrestleMania.
Natalya then went on to explain what made it so special.
"It really embodied everything that I am about, as far as women's wrestling: working hard and paying it forward. I've been wrestling since I was 18 years old, and I was able to take all the skills that I've learned from my family, and from my experiences around the world, and help pay it forward to somebody that needed it. Charlotte was up-and-coming, she had yet to prove herself and was still learning. So for me to be able to pass on my knowledge and then to also elevate myself, I think it opened everyone's eyes to the fact that there's an art to being able to protect yourself and being able to help build new talent. So that was very, very special for me."
What's next?
Natalya is certain to continue her role as a heel on the blue brand but is certainly going to have a hard time holding on to the belt in a hyper-competitive division.
Author's take
Natalya and Charlotte put on a masterclass everytime they go at it in the squared circle. The match she refers to in the interview is certainly a good one but what's just as certain is that the duo has several great encounters ahead of them.
Send us news tips at [email protected]
