It comes as no surprise that women’s wrestling is not on par with men’s wrestling and how numerous wrestlers have worked tirelessly to make the division a main attraction in WWE. Names like Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, and Sasha Banks are written in golden letters for leading the Women’s Revolution. However, there were some veterans who were forgotten; one such name is Natalya Neidhart, or simply Natalya.
She has been one of the longest-serving wrestlers in the women’s locker room and has been proudly carrying the legacy of the Hart Dynasty. Despite being on the sidelines and losing her last couple of matches in WWE, she has remained to reign in the hearts of the fans.
Recently, the former Divas Champion’s contributions inside the ring were recognized by the Cauliflower Alley Club, honoring her with an esteemed award.
Natalya wins the prestigious Lou Thesz award
In the trailblazing world of WWE, the name of the Hart Dynasty is known vividly for their rich history and their iconic submission move, ‘The Sharpshooter.’ The Hart Foundation has captivated the audience for several generations, with Bret “The Hitman” Hart being the most iconic of all. However, there’s an underrated legend who has consistently proved herself in the squared circle of WWE; she’s none other than Natalya.
For casual fans, she is a part-timer who rarely scores a win over her opponents, but fanatics who have been following the show know her immense contribution to the company. Thus, making the women’s division more than an attraction to its male audience. Her contributions have been recognized by the Cauliflower Alley Club, and it has decided to hand her the Lou Thesz Award, an esteemed honor for individuals who have used their skills for public service.
The CAC took to their official website and informed the world about the news and how she would be the first female pro wrestler to receive such a distinction. The honor is truly one of a kind, and recently, the WWE superstar opened up on the Busted Open podcast about receiving it at this year’s reunion. She said,
It really is so special because…I was elected to get this from the wrestlers. From legends, from a committee at Cauliflower Alley. There are so many incredible men that have got this award before me, so now to be the first woman to get the Lou Thesz award is just…and knowing what Lou Thesz stood for in the industry and what a pioneer he was. He helped build a foundation for professional wrestling.
She was elated with winning the award and emphasized that it was not just her but also how her fellow peers and colleagues had played a major role in helping her win the rare honor. But what makes this award more special for her is how her grandfather, Stu Hart, would often attend the annual wrestler reunions.
She continued that winning this award is just like “one of those full-circle moments,” which makes her believe that she is worthy of earning the award, as they put their body on the line for the fans. She said,
I feel like this is one of those full-circle moments where I really do feel worthy. It’s hard for me to say that because I talk a lot about this with the girls backstage, like, we talk about sometimes we just feel like, ‘Maybe we don’t deserve all of this or maybe we’re not good enough.’ Those doubts creep up in all of our minds.
Nattie added that she felt elated upon receiving the call from the committee and felt that somewhere along the way, her late grandfather had played a role in it.
When they called me up and said, ‘Hey, we want to honor you with this award,’ it made me feel like my grandfather had a hand in it.
The award has been previously won by WWE Hall of Famers like JBL, Edge, Trish Stratus, and many more. But what makes her possibly distinctive from such big names is that she is an active pro wrestler and the longest-serving one, too, in WWE.
The WWE Universe is elated for Natalya’s newest achievement
Indeed, a “trailblazer in every sense of the word,” the former SmackDown Women’s Champion has been carving out a legacy for herself and has been making the Hart Dynasty proud. Her illustrious career is not only filled with iconic matches and achievements that make her a future Hall of Famer in WWE, but winning the Lou Thesz Award surely ensures that she’s the greatest women’s wrestler to influence the scene.
With that being said, the wrestling fans were ecstatic to hear Nattie earning such a rare distinction, leaving heartwarming comments on the X handle of CAC and how she deserves to be on top of the world. The users tweeted,
Congratulations Natty! You deserve even more recognition!!
— Tony D (@td0417) June 8, 2025
Mr Thesz would definitely approve. @NatbyNature is clearly the best worker on the rosters!
— Dirk Davis (@halloffamecav02) June 8, 2025
WOW‼️
If I were a wrestler, THAT is an award I would want SO badly ‼️‼️🫡
HUGE grats Nattie ‼️🤩
— Wrestling’s Biggest Fan ⭕️ (@WWENXTspot) June 8, 2025
Glad I got my ticket for this year! @NatbyNature is an icon in her own right!
— Dragonslayer Pro Wrestling (@Dragonslayer_pw) June 9, 2025
The legend just keeps growing 🙂👍
— Angie (@purp2172) June 9, 2025
Congratulations Nattie. You deserve it
— Rassling Fan (@RasslingFAN) June 11, 2025
Nevertheless, this honor would now not only convince World Wrestling Entertainment to give her a push for one of the women’s titles but also make a huge announcement for the women’s locker room that will be a massive step for women’s wrestling.
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