NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 25: WWE wrestler Natalya Neidhart discusses “Total Divas” at Build Studio on October 25, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)
Former WWE Smackdown Women’s Champion Natalya has penned a new article for the Calgary Sun titled “Natalya Neidhart: Tribute To The Troops Puts Everything In Perspective”.
We have included an excerpt below. You can read her full article HERE .
Related: Natalya On How Setbacks Can Become Victories
I spoke with a soldier named Eddie right before I was about to go out for my match. He told me he loved my father and my uncle, Bret Hart , when they were The Hart Foundation back in the 1980s, and that they were his all-time favourite tag team.
Eddie said that, as a kid, he grew up watching WWE and his love for our industry carried on with him later in life all the way to the “Attitude Era,” where he grew to love Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock. When times were hard in his life, Eddie would turn on Monday Night Raw each week and find himself jumping out of his seat to boo, cheer and escape whatever it was he was going through in life.
Eddie thanked me and all the WWE Superstars for coming to Naval Base San Diego to perform for him and his fellow soldiers. I stopped him and said “you shouldn’t be thanking me, as we are here to personally thank you and everyone else who gives so much. This is the least we can do to give back!”
Thank you, Eddie, and all of those who sacrifice their lives for our freedom. That is a huge reason I love to perform.
Natalya Summer Rae Alicia Fox Naomi Renee Young Lana Alexa Bliss Maria Menounos
WWE Tapout Work Out
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 19: (L-R) WWE on-air personality Renee Young, professional wrestlers Natalya Neidhart, Summer Rae, Lana, Naomi, Alexa Bliss and Alicia Fox, and tv personality Maria Menounos attend the Tapout Fitness WWE Special Event at Tapout Fitness on August 19, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Monica Schipper/WireImage)
WWE Tapout Work Out
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 19: (L-R) WWE on-air personality Renee Young, professional wrestlers Natalya Neidhart, Summer Rae, Lana, Naomi, Alexa Bliss and Alicia Fox, and tv personality Maria Menounos attend the Tapout Fitness WWE Special Event at Tapout Fitness on August 19, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Monica Schipper/WireImage)
WWE Tapout Work Out
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 19: Renee Young, Natalya, Danielle Moinet " Summer Rae, Catherine Joy Perry "Lana", Naomi, Alexa Bliss, Alicia Fox and Maria Menounos attend Tapout Fitness WWE special event at Tapout Fitness on August 19, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images)
WWE Tapout Work Out
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 19: Natalya and Maria Menounos attend Tapout Fitness WWE special event at Tapout Fitness on August 19, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images)
WWE Tapout Work Out
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 19: Natalya attends Tapout Fitness WWE special event at Tapout Fitness on August 19, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images)
WWE Tapout Work Out
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 19: Renee Young, Danielle Moinet " Summer Rae, Catherine Joy Perry "Lana" and Naomi attend Tapout Fitness WWE special event at Tapout Fitness on August 19, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images)
WWE Tapout Work Out
Renee Young, Natalya, Danielle Moinet " Summer Rae, Catherine Joy Perry "Lana", Naomi, Alexa Bliss, Alicia Fox and Maria Menounos attend Tapout Fitness WWE special event at Tapout Fitness on August 19, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images)
WWE Tapout Work Out
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 19: Renee Young, Danielle Moinet " Summer Rae, Catherine Joy Perry "Lana" and Naomi attend Tapout Fitness WWE special event at Tapout Fitness on August 19, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images)
WWE Tapout Work Out
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 19: Renee Young, Natalya, Danielle Moinet " Summer Rae, Catherine Joy Perry "Lana", Naomi, Alexa Bliss, Alicia Fox and Maria Menounos attend Tapout Fitness WWE special event at Tapout Fitness on August 19, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images)
WWE Tapout Work Out
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 19: Renee Young, Danielle Moinet " Summer Rae, Catherine Joy Perry "Lana" and Naomi attend Tapout Fitness WWE special event at Tapout Fitness on August 19, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images)
WWE Tapout Work Out
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 19: Professional wrestler Natalya Neidhart attends the Tapout Fitness WWE Special Event at Tapout Fitness on August 19, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Monica Schipper/WireImage)
WWE Tapout Work Out
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 19: (L-R) Sports broadcaster Renee Young, professional wrestlers Natalya, Summer Rae, Lana, Naomi, Alexa Bliss, Alicia Fox and author/professional wrestler Maria Menounos attend the Tapout Fitness WWE special event held at Tapout Fitness on August 19, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Brent N. Clarke/FilmMagic)
WWE Tapout Work Out
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 19: (L-R) Sports broadcaster Renee Young, professional wrestlers Natalya, Summer Rae, Lana, Naomi, Alexa Bliss, Alicia Fox and author/professional wrestler Maria Menounos attend the Tapout Fitness WWE special event held at Tapout Fitness on August 19, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Brent N. Clarke/FilmMagic)
WWE Tapout Work Out
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 19: (L-R) WWE on-air personality Renee Young, professional wrestlers Natalya Neidhart, Summer Rae, Naomi and Alexa Bliss participate in the Tapout Fitness WWE Special Event at Tapout Fitness on August 19, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Monica Schipper/WireImage)
WWE Tapout Work Out
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 19: (L-R) WWE on-air personality Renee Young, professional wrestlers Natalya Neidhart, Summer Rae, Naomi and Alexa Bliss participate in the Tapout Fitness WWE Special Event at Tapout Fitness on August 19, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Monica Schipper/WireImage)
WWE Tapout Work Out
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 19: (L-R) WWE on-air personality Renee Young, professional wrestlers Natalya Neidhart, Summer Rae, Naomi, Alexa Bliss, Lana and Alicia Fox, and tv personality Maria Menounos participate in the Tapout Fitness WWE Special Event at Tapout Fitness on August 19, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Monica Schipper/WireImage)
WWE Tapout Work Out
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 19: Sports broadcaster Renee Young (L) and professional wrestler Natalya attend the Tapout Fitness WWE special event held at Tapout Fitness on August 19, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Brent N. Clarke/FilmMagic)
WWE Tapout Work Out
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 19: Author/professional wrestler Maria Menounos, professional wrestler Natalya and sports broadcaster Renee Young lead the class in an exercise routine during the Tapout Fitness WWE special event held at Tapout Fitness on August 19, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Brent N. Clarke/FilmMagic)
WWE Tapout Work Out
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 19: Professional wrestler Natalya leads the class in an exercise routine during the Tapout Fitness WWE special event held at Tapout Fitness on August 19, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Brent N. Clarke/FilmMagic)
WWE Tapout Work Out
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 19: Author/professional wrestler Maria Menounos, professional wrestler Natalya and sports broadcaster Renee Young lead the class in an exercise routine during the Tapout Fitness WWE special event held at Tapout Fitness on August 19, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Brent N. Clarke/FilmMagic)
WWE Tapout Work Out
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 19: Professional wrestler Natalya leads the class in an exercise routine during the Tapout Fitness WWE special event held at Tapout Fitness on August 19, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Brent N. Clarke/FilmMagic)
WWE Tapout Work Out
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 19: (L-R) Sports broadcaster Renee Young, professional wrestlers Natalya, Summer Rae, Naomi, Alexa Bliss, Lana, Alicia Fox and author/professional wrestler Maria Menounos attend the Tapout Fitness WWE special event held at Tapout Fitness on August 19, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Brent N. Clarke/FilmMagic)
WWE Tapout Work Out
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 19: Professional wrestler Natalya leads the class in an exercise routine during the Tapout Fitness WWE special event held at Tapout Fitness on August 19, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Brent N. Clarke/FilmMagic)
WWE Tapout Work Out
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 19: Professional wrestler Natalya leads the class in an exercise routine during the Tapout Fitness WWE special event held at Tapout Fitness on August 19, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Brent N. Clarke/FilmMagic)