Natalya has sung the praises of current on-screen rival Nia Jax saying the former Raw Women’s Champion has stepped up in a leadership role on the red brand.
Natalya and her tag team partner Tamina have been involved in a feud with Jax and Shayna Baszler dating back to WrestleMania 37. On Night One of that event, Natalya and Tamina outlasted four other teams to earn a match for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Title on Night Two. Then in that contest, champions Jax and Baszler came out with the win and their championship.
That was only the beginning of things however as the feud between the four women continued onto SmackDown. It was there on May 14th that Natalya and Tamina finally got the best of their rivals and won the tag titles for themselves.
Speaking to Renee Paquette on her Oral Sessions podcast, Natalya discussed her title rivals, sharing an admiration for both women.
Natalya stated:
“Shayna and I have a magical chemistry. I love her journey and I love her passion. I feel the passion from Shayna. Every time I lock up with her, I feel this passion for pro-wrestling. Shayna and I knew each other before she came to WWE. I would train with Shayna, Marina, and Jessamyn. That’s how I got to know Ronda [Rousey] and started training privately with her. Also working with Nia, she doesn’t want me to reveal this, but in the last 6 months, Nia has become someone I love working with. She has stepped up in a leadership role, especially on RAW. I can’t tell you how much she gave to me and Tamina. She is a big part of why we are where we are today.”
Nia Jax had previously come in for criticism from some quarters for injuries to other women that happened in matches or fights involving her. Most famously Jax threw the punch that broke Becky Lynch’s nose that sparked the iconic image of ‘The Man’ standing defiantly covered in her own blood.
Natalya and Tamina also discussed whose idea it was to put them together as a tag team in the first place, with their backgrounds as part of wrestling families playing a part.