WWE Star Undergoes Major Character Change

By Andrew Ravens‎

Contributing Sports Writer

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WWE fans have long clamored for Natalya to shed her polished television persona and embrace the "Low-Key Legend" character she has developed on the independent circuit. After months of anticipation, that wish appears to have been granted.

A vignette aired on "Monday Night Raw" depicted the newly crowned Women's Intercontinental Champion, Maxxine Dupri, undergoing a torturous bout of training. The segment culminated with Dupri being slapped to the ground by a grittier, no-nonsense version of the veteran, referred to as Nattie Neidhart.

Natalya has worked as Nattie Neidhart—complete with a Rage Against The Machine entrance theme—on the independent scene, while also displaying this more aggressive style during appearances in AAA and "NXT". This presentation has been well-received by fans and fellow wrestlers, many of whom have urged WWE to bring this iteration of her character to the main roster.

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The former Women's Champion had been briefly partnered with Dupri earlier this year but has not been seen frequently on WWE television in 2025. With Dupri recently dethroning Becky Lynch to become the Women's Intercontinental Champion, the storyline calls for tougher preparation. Neidhart appears to be taking on the role of a hard-nosed mentor, training Dupri into a fighting champion through agonizing sessions in her "Hart Family Dungeon 2.0."

The reaction to the vignette was immediate and overwhelmingly positive. Former WWE star Nikki Bella took to social media to express her excitement for the change in presentation.

"Woooahhh!! This is AMAZING!!!!! I have CHILLS!!!!! I need MORE!!! Damn that Dungeon 2.0! Love that everyone is finally seeing the Maxxine that I saw there and what I have always seen in Nattie," Bella wrote.

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Fans echoed these sentiments on X, praising the darker tone of the segment.

"Cannot begin to describe how excited we are by this SENSATIONAL vignette of @maxxinedupri being trained in the Dungeon by @NatbyNature. This version of Nattie Neidhart on WWE TV will be gold. Incredible work, here," user @WWEGP wrote.

This character shift allows Natalya to showcase an intense side of herself that resonates with audiences looking for "believable badass" characters. While she has often been used to elevate others, this repackaging positions her as a formidable force in her own right.

Dupri will need the training, as her first title defense has been set. "Raw" General Manager Adam Pearce made it official that Dupri will defend her championship against Ivy Nile. Meanwhile, the former champion Becky Lynch has boycotted "Raw" following her defeat at Madison Square Garden and the events of "Survivor Series," meaning a rematch is not currently on the table.

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