Natalya explains why Bloodsport match was ‘so important’ to her

Wrestling at Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XIII was an important experience for Natalya as she looks to create more opportunities for herself.

Speaking on the Toronto Sun’s No Holds Barred podcast, Natalya said she can’t remember the last time she had as much fun as Bloodsport. The WWE star defeated Miyu Yamashita at the WrestleMania week show in Las Vegas, with this being Natalya’s Bloodsport debut and first-ever match for Game Changer Wrestling.

“That was one of the most fun times of my entire career. I said that to TJ [Tyson Kidd] when Bloodsport was done. I was like, ‘I can’t even remember the last time that I had that much fun.’ Like, I had so much fun,” Natalya said. “And this isn’t taking away anything from WrestleMania. Because, of course, I love WrestleMania. I have a world record for being in eleven WrestleMania matches. And being in WWE for, you know, this was my 18th WrestleMania that I attended. So I love WrestleMania, but Bloodsport — it was just something so different for me. It was a chance for me to create something completely from me. It was all just completely my vision of what I wanted to do.”

Billed as “Nattie Neidhart,” we saw a new MMA-inspired presentation for Natalya at Bloodsport. She said the presentation was all her vision, including having students who train with her at the Dungeon accompany her to the ring.

Natalya signed a new multi-year WWE contract in 2024. She told No Holds Barred that she’s grateful for the beautiful life she has because of WWE, but she isn’t content with just taking a paycheck. Natalya still feels pain-free at 42 years old and is hungry to show what she can do. Bloodsport was important to Natalya because it allowed her to do that.

“I just loved every second of it, and I felt like it was a side that was like I had to show everyone what I can do. Because I’m so hungry, I just love what I do so much, but I’m also not comfortable just taking a paycheck in WWE and being like, ‘Well, I’m here.’ I know there’s something to being patient, but I’m also to the point in my career where I’m like — I just need more, I want more, and I’m creating more opportunities,” she said. “I’m not waiting for them to happen, I’m creating them. And that’s why [Bloodsport] was so important to me. So that was like really the highlight of my week.”

Natalya chose Yamashita to be her Bloodsport opponent, and she’s hoping to see Yamashita signed by WWE.

“I hand-picked Miyu, because word on the street is that Miyu is the most dangerous unsigned woman wrestler in Japan,” Natalya said. “And we think about these greats like Asuka, and IYO [SKY], and Kairi [Sane], and Giulia. There’s so many incredible women that are now signed. WWE has scooped them up. Well, she is to me the very best that isn’t in WWE. The goal for me is to see Miyu get to WWE because she is that good.”

It won’t be long before Natalya has her next non-WWE match. WWE has allowed her to wrestle at the NWA Crockett Cup on May 17. At Bloodsport, there was an angle where Natalya got into a brawl with NWA Women’s World Champion Kenzie Paige.