When Natalya debuted in WWE, it seemed like she was one of the top in-ring talents, someone who wrestled a technical innovative style, and who got good matches out of less experienced opponents 




But now and for the past several years Nattie has declined, she seems super slow and sluggish, and puts on uninspired matches. I know her booking hasn't always been the greatest but her husband was someone who always seemed to try hard and add new wrinkles to his routine despite his booking.

Is this just a case of Natalya never being that good, to begin with?

 

May 22, 2018 5:10:30 GMT dex said:

but her husband was someone who always seemed to try hard and add new wrinkles to his routine despite his booking. 

Someone should start a petition to get Tyson to produce Nattie's matches - maybe he'd get her to do something interesting for a change. 

She's probably my least favourite diva now. She's like the female version of Randy Orton, was never really much fun to begin with but has now just been around for so goddamn long it's just utterly painful to watch them. 

It's the WWE style. Instead of focusing on the action of the match, it's about the nuances and showboating. As a WWE performer, she's grown leaps and bounds, but as a pure talent she just never took that next step.

In fairness to Natalya, I don't think the main roster has been kind to a lot of women. Unless you've got the personality of Alexa Bliss or Carmella, it's near impossible to get over as a worker in that environment.

For what it's worth, I've always enjoyed Nattie's matches with Charlotte.

May 22, 2018 5:37:43 GMT Big Pete said:

It's the WWE style. Instead of focusing on the action of the match, it's about the nuances and showboating. As a WWE performer, she's grown leaps and bounds, but as a pure talent she just never took that next step.

In fairness to Natalya, I don't think the main roster has been kind to a lot of women. Unless you've got the personality of Alexa Bliss or Carmella, it's near impossible to get over as a worker in that environment.

For what it's worth, I've always enjoyed Nattie's matches with Charlotte.

Sasha, Bayley, Charlotte, Ruby, Asuka, Becky, Ember, and even Naomi to a certain extent have not let wrestling in the WWE style cramp their matches on the main roster.   The WWE style doesn't force Natalya to move at a sluggish pace and never try anything new. 

But none of them have really stepped up their performances since leaving NXT either. It's just the style and since Nattie has primarily worked as a heel, she's going to take it slower than most.

May 22, 2018 5:48:04 GMT Big Pete said:

But none of them have really stepped up their performances since leaving NXT either. It's just the style and since Nattie has primarily worked as a heel, she's going to take it slower than most.

This match alone was better than pretty much any match Natalya has worked since being in the WWE.
The Charlotte vs Sasha series back in 2016 was better than anything Natalya has done in the WWE (Charlotte was heel in these)
Asuka carried Nia Jax of all people to better matches than anything Natalya has done.
The 2016 WrestleMania triple threat was better than anything Nattie has done. 

Are they all better than they were in NXT? In some cases no, but they have all produced fun and entertaining matches. Natalya has no excuse when you take in all of her training, for not being better than she is. 

I disagree with that, I've preferred her matches with Charlotte over that exhibition. You could have a point about other women being better, but I think it goes back to the WWE system. They really don't want their performers coming up with new tricks, so in cases like Natalya, we've been exposed to her a lot longer and she has mostly been booked as a utility wrestler as opposed to a star like Asuka, Charlotte, Nia etc.

May 22, 2018 6:12:10 GMT Big Pete said:

I disagree with that, I've preferred her matches with Charlotte over that exhibition. You could have a point about other women being better, but I think it goes back to the WWE system. They really don't want their performers coming up with new tricks, so in cases like Natalya, we've been exposed to her a lot longer and she has mostly been booked as a utility wrestler as opposed to a star like Asuka, Charlotte, Nia etc.

Posted the wrong match, edited in the right one.


Point still stands that other women have shown more than Natalya, even when not being pushed. See Sasha and Bayley's matches with Asuka on Raw. 

May 22, 2018 6:46:13 GMT dex said:

Point still stands that other women have shown more than Natalya, even when not being pushed. See Sasha and Bayley's matches with Asuka on Raw. 

and ironically Sasha and Bayley are getting called out around the place for coasting at the moment.

It goes back to what I was originally saying. As a WWE performer, Nattie has definitely grown but as a pure wrestler they have a way of minimizing the action and creativity. I still stand by those series of matches with Charlotte being good, so I find the criticism a touch harsh.

I hope now with Rousey and Asuka on board, the WWE allows the women some more leeway in the ring, but given the travesty that occurred at Backlash I'm far from convinced.

May 22, 2018 7:39:42 GMT Big Pete said:

It goes back to what I was originally saying. As a WWE performer, Nattie has definitely grown but as a pure wrestler they have a way of minimizing the action and creativity. I still stand by those series of matches with Charlotte being good, so I find the criticism a touch harsh.

I hope now with Rousey and Asuka on board, the WWE allows the women some more leeway in the ring, but given the travesty that occurred at Backlash I'm far from convinced.

?
They get tons of leeway, Natalya just has not utilized it whatsoever. 

She's vastly over-rated.

Maybe a " Good " wrestler, but Jesus Christ, the girl has zero personality. No sorry, what she does have, is painfully awkward to watch. Being a good hand or a good mechanic means little, if you can't get people to invest in what you're doing. Or at the very least care.

The entire package is tired. I could not care less if her uncle is Bret Hart. Jesus, her Dad must feel great about her banging on about Bret so much. And that translates to the ring, she's been coasting on this notion she's " technically " good in the ring, because of her family.

She'd probably make great impact as a basic trainer. But if they're banking on Nattie teaching Rousey to be more than a novelty act with basic ring skills and Ronda appearing on camera appearing little more than a Mule with a spinning wheel. Bad New Barrett has some bad news for you.

May 22, 2018 8:15:51 GMT dex said:

May 22, 2018 7:39:42 GMT Big Pete said:

It goes back to what I was originally saying. As a WWE performer, Nattie has definitely grown but as a pure wrestler they have a way of minimizing the action and creativity. I still stand by those series of matches with Charlotte being good, so I find the criticism a touch harsh.

I hope now with Rousey and Asuka on board, the WWE allows the women some more leeway in the ring, but given the travesty that occurred at Backlash I'm far from convinced.

?
They get tons of leeway, Natalya just has not utilized it whatsoever. 

Compared to when Natalya first came in, sure. But we're still in an era where the women barely have more than one angle going per show and the women being pushed are usually the least talented in the ring.

You’re right. When WWE threw her a bone with the SD title, she still did the bare minimum with her wrestling. Her in-ring peak was right before Total Divas when she’d do the delayed vertical suplex with the squats. That was the last time it seemed Nattie tried really hard to to be innovative. Her programs with Charlotte were a good effort but have no replay value IMO. I don’t think her stagnancy discounts her talent though. She’s always a reliable hand with decent name value.

Well I don't think there's a bigger Natayla/Nattie fan than myself on the board currently. I think she's a steady hand and technically solid so makes a good trainer, but has issues with charisma and her acting skills are often subpar. She is deathly afraid of heights which is why you will see her do more of the power moves over the high 'spots'. That doesn't mean it's bad, to me it means she's wrestling smarter and safer which has afforded her the luxury of working longer over the years with minimal injuries. However, nowadays fans like more fast paced, high octane matches and that just isn't her. She is older now, willing to take less risks and I think that hurts her in the long run, especially with younger talents willing to put it ALL on the line and work a faster paced match which she just doesn't do.

May 22, 2018 7:39:42 GMT Big Pete said:

It goes back to what I was originally saying. As a WWE performer, Nattie has definitely grown but as a pure wrestler they have a way of minimizing the action and creativity. I still stand by those series of matches with Charlotte being good, so I find the criticism a touch harsh.

I hope now with Rousey and Asuka on board, the WWE allows the women some more leeway in the ring, but given the travesty that occurred at Backlash I'm far from convinced.

What was the travesty you're referring to?

The awful match quality, mostly brought on by incompetent women being booked in positions they're not cut out for.