What’s the story?
Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter stated a theory as to why Natalya hasn’t gotten over as a heel despite being one for nearly a year now.
In case you didn’t know...
Natalya turned heel at Money In The Bank 2016 when she turned on her fellow tag team partner Becky Lynch. Since then, she hasn’t exactly had a successful run as a heel, as she hasn’t gotten the heat that a heel usually gets.
Natalya in prior interviews even admitted that she hasn’t gotten the desired reaction as a heel. She’s also well loved by the fans, and is also very active on social media, being out of character most of the time.
She recently formed a faction on SmackDown Live involving the returning Tamina, Carmella, and James Ellsworth. Together, they hijacked the SmackDown Live main event this past week, taking out both Charlotte Flair and Naomi, turning Charlotte face in the process.
The heart of the matter
Dave Meltzer stated his theory on the Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Natalya has been pushed as the leader of the new heel group and is the best wrestler on the Smackdown women’s roster. She and Charlotte have done programs before. Their NXT stuff really helped change the face of the women and put Charlotte on the map in many ways. Their Raw stuff was a disappointment due to some bad finishes and cut times of the big bouts. Now the roles are reversed, which is okay. But the problem with Natalya is still the people who watch Total Divas like her. It comes across that she’s this nice pretty woman always struggling with her position in the company and hoping for a break. That makes her someone people can relate to, and is being told to play a bad guy in an attempt to do something with her and is struggling with getting over in that role. That’s not exactly a heat getting heel role.
Meltzer brings up a big point about the Total Divas viewers. While the fanbase of Total Divas is underestimated, it definitely has an impact on the reception towards her. So far, the only thing Natalya has done to get heat is to try to be a blatant rip-off of her uncle Bret Hart.
What’s next?
Natalya will lead this new heel women’s faction(and James Ellsworth) to a feud against possibly Charlotte, Naomi, and Becky Lynch. With Nikki Bella visibly absent, the odds are in the favour of the heels.
Author’s Take
Natalya is a very likeable person on social media, and even more so on Total Divas. For those who have seen the struggles that she goes through, it does indeed bring about relatability to viewers.
After the heel faction storyline concludes, Natalya should flip over to the babyface side. She deserves a run with the SmackDown Women’s Championship.
Send us news tips at [email protected]
