Natalya has spent years occupying virtually every role available to a WWE veteran: dependable in-ring presence, locker-room leader, mentor to younger talent, championship challenger, tag-team competitor and a familiar face capable of working with stars from multiple generations. Now, while she continues presenting the grittier Nattie persona seen most recently around WWE NXT Heatwave, the Hart family standout has made clear that she would embrace a dramatically more villainous direction if the opportunity arrives.
Speaking on Busted Open After Dark, Natalya discussed the current state of her character and the possibility of eventually leaning into a bitter, controlling veteran role. Her answer was emphatic. She said she wants to become the kind of heel who believes the entire division belongs to her, invoking the image of a modern-day version of Fabulous Moolah.
“I would love more than anything in the world to be the biggest b**** heel imaginable,” Natalya said on Busted Open After Dark. “I absolutely would love that more than anything in the world. Because, who doesn't want to be a modern-day heel Fabulous Moolah? Where, ‘I run all of this, I control all of you. I'm the biggest b**** in the world.’ I would love to be a mega, mega, mega heel.”
The comparison is notable given Fabulous Moolah’s complicated legacy in professional wrestling. A WWE Hall of Famer who was also a promoter and trainer, Moolah remains a controversial historical figure. Natalya’s point, however, centered on the character concept: a veteran with enough standing, experience and confidence to declare herself the authority over everyone around her.
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It is a role that could make natural use of Natalya’s unique place in WWE. Her association with the Hart family and the Dungeon is a foundational part of her on-screen identity, but so is the length of her own career. Natalya has remained a consistent presence through major changes in WWE’s women’s division, from an era in which women’s matches were often limited in time and importance to the current landscape, where female performers routinely headline premium live events and compete across Raw, SmackDown and NXT.
That longevity gives her a believable foundation for an antagonistic character built around seniority. Rather than simply portraying a wrestler who insults the audience or cheats to win, Natalya could present herself as someone who thinks younger talent has failed to properly acknowledge the path she helped build. That would put a sharper edge on the mentorship qualities that have long been associated with her, turning advice and guidance into demands for loyalty and respect.
Nattie Is Not Framed as a Traditional Villain
For now, Natalya stressed that the current Nattie character is not meant to fit neatly into either the babyface or heel category. The character is instead rooted in passion, intensity and a desire to be understood. That distinction matters because it leaves room for the character to evolve without immediately abandoning the traits that define her.
Natalya described Nattie as the woman who began in the Dungeon and wants to help others find their own way in wrestling. At the same time, she wants people to remember exactly who she is and what she has accomplished. There is an urgency behind that outlook. Natalya acknowledged that she will not be around forever, making the desire to establish her identity and leave an impact especially important.
That tension could be central to a compelling future storyline. A wrestler can sincerely want to support the next generation while still resenting how quickly audiences, management or fellow performers move on from those who came before them. Natalya’s comments suggest she sees both sides of that emotional conflict. The Nattie persona can be a guide, but it can also carry the frustration of someone who believes her body of work has earned her more authority than she is being granted.
The character’s recent use in NXT also creates an intriguing setting for that type of story. NXT is filled with emerging talent seeking a breakthrough, and Natalya has the credibility to be portrayed either as a valuable teacher or as a gatekeeper who decides who is worthy of advancement. A more hostile version of Nattie could insist that prospects pass through her before they can claim a place in the wider WWE women’s division.
Creative Alignment Would Be Essential
Natalya also made clear that a full-scale heel transformation would require more than her own willingness. She said the people involved would need to be fully aligned on the presentation, noting that the character’s substantial equity makes the situation more difficult to execute without everyone coming together behind the idea.
“The thing is, is that we need all hands on deck to do that, because Nattie’s got the most equity of any woman that’s ever worked in the industry,” Natalya said. “So that gets very hard if we can’t all come together to do that.”
That is an important reality for any major change involving an established performer. Natalya is not starting from scratch with a new name, a new look or an untested premise. She has spent years cultivating recognition tied to her family heritage, technical wrestling ability and reputation as a reliable professional. A successful heel turn would need to preserve the aspects of the character fans already recognize while redirecting them into something more threatening and self-serving.
It would also need consistent follow-through. A “mega heel” presentation cannot thrive if the performer is positioned as ruthless one week and supportive the next without a clear story explaining the shift. Natalya’s own comments show she understands that the concept requires commitment from the wider creative process. If that commitment is not there, she indicated that she simply returns to the established Nattie identity.
That fallback is hardly a weakness. Nattie has enough flexibility to work as a fiery competitor, a respected veteran, a mentor or an uneasy ally. But Natalya’s comments reveal an appetite for a more definitive character swing—one that could place her at the center of a major division story rather than simply serving as an experienced hand within it.
A Veteran’s Perspective Could Drive the Story
The most effective version of this potential direction may not require Natalya to reject her past. In fact, it could be stronger if she weaponized it. The Dungeon background, Hart family name and years of WWE experience are all sources of pride. A villainous Nattie could argue that every newcomer benefits from standards created by wrestlers like her, then demand that gratitude be shown in ways her opponents refuse to accept.
Such a character would have a built-in motivation beyond generic arrogance. She could claim that she has given too much of herself to the industry to be treated as an afterthought. She could view younger wrestlers’ confidence as disrespect, interpret fan support for new faces as betrayal, and see every challenge as proof that people are trying to erase her. Those are recognizable emotions for a longtime competitor, especially one who has watched the division change around her over many years.
There is also a clear contrast available between Natalya’s stated desire to help others and her wish to become an imposing heel. The character could initially believe she is offering necessary guidance, only to grow increasingly controlling when that guidance is questioned. That would give the audience a reason to understand her perspective even while rejecting her methods.
For the moment, the grittier Nattie presentation remains rooted in passion rather than outright villainy. Yet Natalya’s remarks leave little doubt about her interest in testing a darker, more authoritative version of herself. If WWE chooses to make that move, it would not be a simple cosmetic adjustment. It would be a chance to build a character around legacy, insecurity, leadership and the question of what a veteran does when she believes she has not received the respect she deserves.
And if the necessary creative support is in place, Natalya appears more than ready to make that character as big—and as merciless—as possible.
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Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.