The only third-generation Diva in WWE history, Natalya has seen her fair share of ups and downs in her stint with the company. Debuting in the summer of 2008, she made an immediately impact and appeared destined to become the first Divas champion. She wrestled a solid, if unspectacular, match against Michelle McCool at the Great American Bash that year but lost. Rather than continuing to challenge for the title, she was left out in the cold as the more prototypical Diva Maryse took over as the top heel contender to McCool's title. It was not until 2009, when she was paired with DH Smith and Tyson Kidd in the Hart Dynasty team, that she gained more traction with viewers. She received her greatest exposure to date at WrestleMania XXVI when she helped her uncle, Bret Hart, defeated Vince McMahon. A month later, she managed Kidd and Smith to the tag titles. Still, her ring time was limited and there was no push to speak of for the talented in-ring competitor. In 2010, that all changed. For the first time in her WWE career, she was given a serious push. With Beth Phoenix by her side, Natalya feuded with LayCool, which consisted of Divas champion (and former foe) Michelle McCool and Layla. At the Survivor Series in November, she locked both women in the Sharpshooter at the same time and forced a tap out, securing her first Divas title. Despite delivering in the ring, the title was taken off of her just two months later when she dropped it to Eve Torres in a Fatal 4-Way. Again Natalya was left with nothing to do. Sure, she was Phoenix's partner in crime but the team was more or less a platform to showcase Phoenix. She would float around Raw and SmackDown, receiving the occasional title shot but never really getting anything remotely close to a push. To this day, her booking remains the same, the only thing saving her from irrelevancy being the stupid Total Divas reality show.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
