Natalya Talks Helping Kickstart WWE's Divas Revolution, Paying It Forward With Charlotte

As you're most likely aware of, WWE's women's division is changing. It's not the first time. Whether it's the Fabulous Moolah's hair pulling, the Jumping Bomb Angels' high flying, Alundra Blayze's technical style, whatever Sable was supposed to b, or the era where Fit Finlay trained and produced the division, there have always been shifts back and forth in the style and presentation of the distaff product. In the Full Sail University version of NXT, that hasn't been the case, at least so far. It's always been treated seriously, and the women have had good matches regularly from the beginning. When WWE Network launched with the NXT Arrival, Paige retained the NXT Women's Championship Emma had a very good match, clearly the best thing on the show other than the incredible Cesaro vs. Sami Zayn match.

In the time that passed before the next special, Paige got called up to the main roster, winning the WWE Divas' Championship in her debut and thus having to vacate the NXT title. A tournament was held, with the finals, Charlotte vs. Natalya, being positioned as the number two match on the first show to use the NXT TakeOver name. Everyone expected a good match; what they got was quite possibly the greatest women's match in WWE history up to that point.

"It meant everything to me," Natalya told me in an interview this past Thursday during an event at the Friskies Create and Taste Kitchen. " It was somebody actually believing in me and understanding that wrestling is not just in my blood. It's something that I think about constantly. I have a passion for it, I've studied the history of it, I've wrestled all over the world before I ever came to WWE. When you look at Nattie, the character is really just someone who embodies wrestling. So, for me, to be able to show the world a masterpiece like the match I had with Charlotte, it wasn't just about Nattie, it was about paying it forward."

Something like Natalya vs. Charlotte, or now Sasha Banks vs. Bayley is the standard to which the division is now aspiring to. Not just a great or even good match, but one that can but slotted in as a legitimate main event. something Natalya is clearly aware and proud of.

"Part of being considered a main event match is telling a story. It's not just doing wrestling moves, but telling enough of a story to make people care. That's part of being a main event player, it isn't just giving movs and doing spots. It's about making people care, making people feel something." When it all came together, 14 years after her first match, it was not just an incredible achievement, but a huge release.

"Part of that match I had with Charlotte was that it really embodied everything I was feeling in my wrestling career. So many people saying 'Nattie, you're so underrated.' and 'You haven't gotten to accomplish all the things you wanted in WWE.' A lot of people say that to me, it should've been this, that, and everything else. For the longest time I've always said how happy I was, and how grateful I am, and those things are the truth. At the same time, that match was the moment that actually allowed me to showcase my ability and reach my full potential. There's nothing worse than being a person that knows the ability that you have and knows talent that you have, and not being able to reach your full potential. That match was my WrestleMania moment. It really was."

Nattie's WrestleMania moment got the ball rolling on the NXT women's division having parity with the men. In turn, that led to the new "Divas' Revolution" on the main roster.

"I think it's something that's been long overdue," she said. "It's not like anybody ever intended for the Divas to have one minute matches before, but if you're silent and don't stand up for yourself and you don't have a voice and don't use your reach? You can get whomped on."

So, what's now that the women have used their voices...what's next?

"I think the girls will do a great job this year at SummerSlam, I think they'll really knock it out of the park."

Friskies, who arranged this interview, is donating 10,000 meals to kittens in need. A new donation is made for each person who votes in their Twitter poll to determine who reigns supreme in the battle between Grumpy Cat and Nala Cat. If you're a Grumpy Cat fan, use #TeamSaucy, while Nala cat fans use #TaamTender.