Natalya

24:26Thank you. I'm a little, you know, I'm fancy. I like my Persian cats and I like my Louis Vuitton. But when I think about, I always say this, like, to my sisters and my mom, because I'm so close to my mom. And my mom actually lives with us. And so after my dad died, I just, like, my mom's my best friend. And my mom was spending so much time with us. And so I said to TJ, I was like, listen, you know I call the shots. I was like, and, you know, I'm joking, not really. But I was like, listen, my mom was with us 24-7. We're always traveling. We're always on the road. We just love for her to live with us.

25:02And TJ, of course, is like, you know, he's just the best. And so he was like, yeah, absolutely. So that's why we have eight cats because my mom had four and we have four. Oh, okay. That was actually something we were going to ask you. Big house full of cats. But I think of like my moments that really make me happy. Like what is it that really, really like what – when I think of happiness, like what is it? And I think sometimes it's just – it's usually all the time when I just have coffee with my mom in my kitchen in the morning. We talk about the same shit we've talked about since I was a kid.

25:32Usually it's something about my dad.

25:36And we just have this moment. We have these moments together over coffee. We just talk and we bond. And I'm like, that makes me happy. In my pajamas. You know, I will stay in my pajamas as long as I can, by the way. Oh. And I have no shame. And okay, what are the pajamas? They just have to be comfy, oversized, cotton pajamas. One time for Christmas, TJ got me a pair of extra small satin, like, longer seagulls. And I was like, TJ. The guy buying it. The man knew what he was doing. And I remember when he gave it to me. oh my gosh TJ I love TJ to death but he's not the greatest gift giver and I'm calling him out on that I was gonna ask if they were Louis Vuitton well the pajamas yeah well he he will he'll he'll he'll he'll strive to get I I have to I hold him by the hand in Louis Vuitton by the way I'm like this is what I like you get that not the white ruffled blazer that I'm gonna get spray tanner all over but TJ got me this really tight little pair of satin pajamas, no stretch I'm like TJ, I'm a lady wrestler I need stretch, I need to breathe, I need room I need all of that and then he got me one of those Roomba vacuums which, listen, TJ goes I thought you loved vacuums not as a present just buy that this is the funny thing you're going to laugh your ass off about this so I do love vacuums and I did want it as a present It was on my natty wish list, but I wanted to have one that I held in my hand.

27:05And TJ goes, yeah, that's because you're a control freak. And I was like, well, I might be, but I don't want the Roomba. I want the handheld Dyson. And if you want this carpet vacuumed, you're going to give me what I want. Exactly. So it was just so funny because it was a playful, joking conversation. But I was like, he gets me this Roomba and he's like, you don't have the vacuum. You can do, you know, it does it all for you. And I was like, I need. What did I tell you? I can't control that. I was like, I can't control the damn Roomba. I want the handout. You know, maybe they make like a remote control one.

27:34I do, but it doesn't always listen to you. No, it doesn't listen. You hit the home button, it just keeps zooming around. And if you want it done, you just got to do it yourself. That's true. That's true. Amen. But DJ's the best. Other than his gifts at Christmas, he's the absolute best. I love him. That's awesome. Big news, WWE and sports fans. The world's number one sports fan festival, Fanatics Fest, is making its return to New York City. Fanatics is bringing you closer to the leagues, teams, superstars, and athletes you love across four action-packed days in July. Meet your favorite WWE superstars, get your hands on exclusive merch, catch live podcasts, and interact with the biggest names in sports.

28:18Tickets go on sale November 13th, and fans of the show can get a 10 % discount by using Steph10 at checkout. That's S-T-E-P-H, the number one, the number zero, at checkout. Want to wear the gear of WWE's most iconic legends? Head over to WWE Shop and check out all the official Legends merch collection. From classic tees to iconic gear featuring your favorite Hall of Famers, it's all there. Don't wait. Grab your piece of WWE history now at WWE Shop and Fanatics. Want to feel like a champion? Step up your game with an official WWE replica title belt. Perfect for collectors and fans alike. Available now at WWE Shop and Fanatics.

29:08I did want to get back to your book and your dedication. And as you were saying, you know, the stories with your mom typically are about your dad. and I'm actually going to throw to Elise for this one because she was so moved you know when she read it it struck something very personal with her obviously it did with me too but I'm gonna I'm gonna throw to Elise for this yeah I am I was listening to you talking about it on the Bella's podcast and about it being what for those who haven't read the the your dedication to your father and so you shared how um basically that you know you loved him more than anything but he also hurt you yeah um and how writing it down was liberating and it helped you heal and it was freeing and i instantly started crying um because my mom is she has been sober for 20 years now um but and and she and i have talked about it and you know every year we celebrate the anniversary with the number of years on the cake and we're you know i call her my hero for doing what she did when she did but i was 16 when it started and it's very hard sometimes to forget what those days felt like yeah um you know when she asks if i can ever forgive her and i i try harder than everything anything um and you just sharing like that you can love someone so much but also feel hurt by them two things can be true uh it moved me so much and i it felt like if i talked about it you know it would help me feel a little bit of healing and so i i thank you for sharing and every time you've said people are like in tears they're laughing you you're healing me in some way you know just being able to say like I love you more than anything but you did hurt me and I can't I can't let that go and that's just that's why I had anxiety about writing the book because I was just having these sleepless nights about like even though my dad is you know had his is gone I was thinking like oh he's gonna he's not gonna like that I'm saying this or that I'm sharing this or that I'm talking about this, but like growing up, I just had a very volatile childhood.

31:39Um, because this is a great conversation and it's not always easy to talk about this kind of stuff or to go there, but it's just that my dad, you know, he, he, he really struggled and, um, he struggled with addiction. He struggled with mental health. He struggled with, with anxiety. And it wasn't until after he had passed away that we understood more of what was going on. Right. And so when you're a kid growing up, you know, you don't realize like what you just you just feel that the volatility. And so one minute my dad would be on TV working for your dad and doing great. They'd be on top of the world.

32:17They'd be the tag team champions. And everybody at school would know that my dad was famous. He was a wrestler. And they thought we had a lot of money. And we did until the next day when my dad would, you know, he would do things that would cause him to lose his job. And he would act out and he would misbehave and he would, you know, miss shows. And he just was, he was very volatile all the time throughout my whole, pretty much my whole life up until the very end. And as a kid, I just, it was so hard because I, the book, writing the book really helped me forgive my dad. And that's why I dedicated the book to him because I loved my dad more than anything in the world.

32:56But he hurt me a lot. He hurt me and it affected me my entire life to where I did want to be perfect. I wanted to be so the opposite of my dad. I didn't want to say no to anything. I didn't want to let anybody down. I wanted to be everything that everybody wanted of me. Wow. And even in working in WWE, working for your dad, I just wanted to show your dad that I could be everything that my dad wasn't. To the point of, like, trying to be perfect isn't normal or healthy. And I just realized a lot of it stemmed from my childhood with my dad and his addiction and him having a brain injury. And just us as kids, you know, we just had money.

33:36Then we would lose. My dad would lose it all. And sometimes it's worse to have it. You know what I mean? You get a taste of it. And it's like you get a little taste of it as a kid and we felt like, you know, special. And then it would all be gone. We lost our home. We lost our, you know, our car was repossessed. Thankfully, my grandfather opened up his home to us. And so we left. And I write about that in the book. And that was a hard chapter to write because for two years, my mom and my sisters and I shared a bed at my grandfather's house because he had one room left. And my dad was destitute.

34:10and people again think you know he's a big famous wrestler he's been on tv is it and it's like yeah but my dad's falling apart and we thank god had my grandfather so my mom and my sisters and i shared my mom's old bedroom when she was a little girl growing up that was her room at the house wow at the heart house so we luckily had that room and we had the love and the warmth that my grandfather gave us but i remember for two years we shared that that bed and right outside my mom's bedroom from when she was a little girl was a wrestling ring in the yard. Wow. And I remember, yeah, I just, I remember like when I was a little girl, just looking out into the window and it's just like, there was the ring, you know, from the window.

34:51Like, it's just, I knew something down there. I knew there was like, some salvation was down there. Couldn't quite put it together when I was a kid. And then I realized that like wrestling is the North star of my family. It's the anchor. It brings everyone together. You know what I mean? And like we we have a very I have an amazing family just like you do. You know a lot about legacy, but legacies are complicated. And but but they don't say they're complicated. They're messy there. But like at the end of the day, like because I know that I know the kind of person you are. You're very compassionate.

35:28You're an empath. I think you're, you're an empath to the, to the, like, if you, if there's a word empath in the dictionary, you're an empath. You're very, you're very, like, even with, you know, I remember the very first time Connor was backstage, Connor Mihalik, I was there. And Stephanie was, I remember like you just gravitating towards this little boy and just like, I love that little boy. And, but at the same time, as much as you were gravitating towards Connor, there was a million people coming up to you and staff, staff, staff. You talk to everybody, know everybody's name, make time for everyone.

36:01I don't know everyone's name. Well, I find it. I do talk to everybody and I do listen. So I remember stories and things that people have said, but I'm actually terrible with names. Well, you just make time for people. And so I know that even in my own experiences, it's just you always make time for everyone. You make everyone feel like they matter. Even with my dad's funeral. You know, I remember wanting to do the funeral really fast when my dad passed away. And I remember just I told my mom, I was like, I just want to get it over with. I just want to get past this. I just want to move on, you know, because I didn't want to drag it out.

36:33I just wanted to like just have closure, what I thought was closure. And we did the funeral in like three days and Steph came down. She was like the first person there. And the hearts are always late for everything. I mean, when I say late, I mean, like if you tell Brett or my mom or my Uncle Ross to be there. They're going to be about two to three hours late. It's called hard time. Oh, okay. But Steph was there. She was the first person at the church, and she was there. I just remember you being there for that service, and I was like, because we did it on such short notice, but I will never forget you showing up for me, for my family, for my dad that day, because that was a hard day, and just being there.

37:15So yes, you are an empath. I'm circling back to that. Oh, thank you very much. But I'm so happy, at least, that you got something from the book as far as just healing. Because you can love someone and they can still hurt you. And you can still love them. And you can still talk about the things that they did that hurt you. But you can still love them. You know, it's because most of the best relationships are complicated. You know, and so. And don't you really have, isn't the more you love someone, the more they can hurt you? Yes, yes. Right? Because you're that. connected connected you're that vulnerable you give that much of yourself and I think there's something really great about forgiveness because that has helped me a lot too you know like there's a lot of forgiveness in the book not just with my dad but um you know just in other in other other stories in the book and so I just love being able to share that like through the good and the bad, like at the very end, you can't see stars without darkness.

38:18You can't see, you got to go through shit to really learn. Like, that's right. That's how you grow. And if you didn't - You don't grow in the easy times. You grow in the hard times. And sometimes when you're in the storm and it feels like a crazy storm, you're like, how am I ever going to get through this? But like every storm, it always passes. Yeah. You know what I mean? And it makes you, I was saying this to my dungeon students the other day. I was like, you can sink or swim or you can soar. And I didn't sink. I didn't swim. I soared. I soared past all of it. I wasn't, you know. And you still are.

38:54And it's a message. Thank you. And it's a message for everyone that like you can't wait for success to come to you. Nope. You got to chase it. It's not going to come knocking at your door. You have to work for it. Yes. And you have a great work ethic. You have a great work ethic. You know, especially because you guys are parents. It's, I mean, kids are a handful. Yeah, and it's all how you raise your kids too and the examples that are set for you. You know, work ethic was always a huge part of what I was raised with. And, you know, I always, not that I, you know, have ever wanted for anything, but I always had a job since I was, you know, 13.

39:29I was a camp counselor and then 14, I think I started working in the business, like answering phones and stuff like that. And when I was in high school, I'd go to the office. Like my parents worked their butts off to build this company and this business. Like, you know, that's what I saw as my example. You know, and also I had my mom was the CEO. Like I never thought women couldn't. I thought women were supposed to be the CEO. You know, that's just how I grew up. And your dad built everything, you know, from ground zero. Yeah, they did it together, you know, but it was my dad's vision, of course.

40:03But they really did do it together. And I think sometimes her story isn't told enough. What's her story? Can you give us a little? Oh, yeah. Well, so my mom grew up middle class in a two-bedroom home in New Bern, North Carolina. And her grandmother lived with her. And she had horrible facial cancer, skin cancer. So she was very, very, very disfigured. But she was wonderful. And my mom was a real athlete. She's the true athlete in our family. She played boys basketball, boys baseball, because oftentimes there weren't girls teams. And she was, you know, she says she was her mother's daughter and her father's son, only child.

40:47And she met my dad when she was 13 years old singing in the church choir. She and they got married at 17 when she was 17. My grandfather had to sign her away. Wow. Because she wasn't 18 yet. Yeah, she was almost 18. It was August before her October birthday. So she was close. She was, yeah. But she was a kid. Yeah. And she was going to go. She wanted to either be a French teacher or a pediatric surgeon. Oh. She could have done anything in the world. She's so smart. But she fell in love with this man and decided she was going to support him and help him build his business. And that's what they did.

41:28and my mom talks about even having to have, because they didn't have money, and having to debate whether or not they spent the$12 to buy the typewriter or should they keep renting it. Wow. You know, like that's, you know, and they were bankrupt and they've been through all kinds of stuff. The first WrestleMania though, they mortgaged that. Everything, yeah. My parents mortgaged everything they owned for the first WrestleMania. I was only eight, so I didn't really know what was going on other than there was very serious business happening. But they risked it all and they bet on themselves. Yes.

42:05You know, and I think that's one of the messages always is that you have to work ethic is incredibly important. You don't give up, but you have to believe in yourself because other people might not. They might shoot you down. In fact, more times than not, they're going to think you're, oh, that's a crazy idea or what are you thinking? or, you know, you have to believe in yourself. Yes. And they did. And luckily, it was a huge success. And it was the beginning of everything for WWE. And I think our industry, you know, as a whole, this crazy growth that's happened ever since the 80s. And, like, I love that you've been through volatility.

42:46And I know you've been through volatility. But like I think there's something about going through that. It's actually been scientifically proven that it going through hard times actually makes like your brain gets conditioned to be able to overcome more. For sure. If you can come out the other side. Yes. Some people can't. I mean I believe everyone can. But not everybody does. Under the right circumstances. But not everybody does. And there's other factors always involved. Yes. You know it's you know but it's hard you know and you have to keep fighting for yourself. And but having conversations like this, it's really great because somebody else might be feeling like they can't come out on the other side, that they don't know how they're going to do it.

43:24That's right. And it's like, you know, when I think about you and I think about legacy and legacies are so important because legacies are sometimes they're only as good as how we like keep them alive. You know, and you as a woman have done such a great job of keeping your family's legacy alive and also within your daughters. You know, I saw your girls at WrestleMania when Hunter was getting inducted. inducted. These girls, you know, when I see kids that are just well-rounded, amazing, strong people, the first thing I think of is like their parents did a great job. And so you see these girls are just beautiful.

43:59They're just poised. They're sitting in the audience. I mean, they're just, they're so confident. That has a lot to do with how they were raised, the way that they were surrounded, the, you know, how they were nurtured. So much love. Love they're surrounded by, but also like they've probably been surrounded by volatility, which teaches them how to be stronger. You can't be, you can't be a well-rounded person by just smooth sailing. Well, life is hard no matter who you are and no matter what your circumstances are. And it's harder for some than for others, you know, but it's always going to be hard.

44:30And you got to be, I think it's also what helps you appreciate all the things that really do matter is going through the hard times you know it's when I almost lost Paul it that's my husband yeah that's my everything and it just really reframed my whole perspective on what mattered and I don't really care if he takes out the trash or not yeah it's been enough time now where I'm starting to you know get annoyed again but I was gonna ask how long it lasts you need to have TJ and Paul have a little talk with No, but you're, I mean, and what he, the type of situation that he had with his heart is usually not good.

45:12It's usually fatal. It's called the widow maker for a reason. And so it's, you know, you realize how lucky you are. You realize how blessed you are. You realize that. And I am blessed with my husband and with my three girls. I mean my children are like thank you for saying it's it's good parenting and I hope we've done and continue to do the best job we possibly can but we are blessed we have the most incredible children they just really are and they have such big kind hearts yes and they're all so different I mean and they're all so smart like just we are truly blessed so it's who they are yeah also yes And it's first and foremost, it's nice, too, though, that they've seen like, you know, they've seen their parents come out of hard situations, you know, and it makes them stronger and they see how you lead and they see how, you know, it's like it's important for kids to see that.

46:08Like my dad's situation, it did make me a stronger person. But you're you're right in saying like, you know, not everybody comes out stronger. Like there's some stuff with my dad, like, you know, from from growing up that we like stuff we still haven't healed from. But we talk about it. We work through it. That's why, again, I circle back to the episode you did with Randy. I just love seeing those conversations. They're really valuable. And it just shows that you see Randy on TV and you're like, this guy, you know, he's a superstar. He's got it all together. Yeah, exactly. And then you hear people talk about what's really going on and you're like, oh, like it just it helps people.

46:43These types of conversations help people, you know, realize like life is short. Tomorrow is not promised to anybody. What is real? What is real is how we treat each other. What is real is, you know, like finding little things to be excited about. Like I said, having coffee with my mom in the morning is like my favorite thing ever. Like I just love doing that. You know, just finding the little things are usually always the big things. And then even just forgiveness. You know, the book. Forgiveness is a big point. Yes. You know, what is it? To err is human, to forgive is divine. But when you truly do forgive in your heart, it is freeing.

47:22And, you know, it doesn't mean you don't have to recognize the hurt to forgive. You know, because also, well, there's many different situations. Yes. Right? Yes. But I think it's such an important point is forgiveness. And I think that when you hang on to hate and negativity, it grows in you. It hurts you. It hurts you. Yeah. And it Dr. King has a great quote that he chooses love because hate is far too great a burden to bear. And it's true and it's heavy and it's dark. And if you can let that go and choose love. That's the best place you can be. Absolutely. And it's just like, you know, and I wrote about this in the book too.

48:12It's like for so much of my life I was waiting for my dad to say he was sorry. You know, I always wanted to hear that apology. I always wanted to like, you know, like I just, I was like hoping one day he would say he was sorry for all the things that we had, you know, he had. At least to acknowledge it. Yes. Right? And I realized that like he, you know, because he was struggling, he was like a lion that like an old lion that still wanted to roar. And he had so much pride still, but he didn't know how to say sorry. But like there was other things that I was like, I know that he like, again, it was just forgiveness.

48:44And my dad was just an incredible person. Like I write and this is I don't just write about the hard times. He was an amazing man. My dad actually, when he was 18 years old, was the number one shot putter in the United States. Yeah. Actually, I did know that. That's amazing. Yes. He was NIL before we... And that's just one example, right? Yeah, he was NIL before, you know, he was like a world-class athlete. So he was ranked number one in the U.S. And then he was number five in the world, which is why I am built in the front, stacked in the back. I mean, hallelujah. You know all about... She knows all about genetics.

49:20You're just muscle, you're thick. But my dad, I always had those Nidart genetics. I was like, fuck. but hey they've done you very well you you are gorgeous natty thank you you are but my dad was just like a little tank you know and he was just like you know he had this build on him so he was number one number one in the u.s when he was 18 and got a full scholarship to ucla um for track and field number ranked number five in the world and then he ended up playing for the dallas cowboys and the oakland raiders um ended up getting cut from those teams due to behavioral issues which is in the book you gotta read the book um and then got you know ended up meeting my grandfather and getting into wrestling my grandfather saw him my grandfather as a promoter you know uh my grandfather was an incredible wrestling promoter he saw my dad and he was just like this gym is just a solid son of a bitch and uh like love my grandfather loved my dad could do no wrong because he was like an athlete so my grandfather overlooked all these things that my dad did and my dad was just mischievous.

50:24He was a little Hellraiser. And like my grandfather taught. Very similar to the character. Yes. Yes. Very, very. Any promos of the anvil that you guys ever see, by the way, that was my dad all the time. Yeah. Pulling the goatee. I never had anybody ask me out on dates as a kid, like as a teenager. Like no boys would ever knock on the door. My dad, I think, he called TJ Guy for a long time. Like pal. Hey guy. Yeah, no, I've heard them all. I never I never even told my dad I was dating TJ for a long time I was just like this is just a friend he's like you know but my dad you know he's just such a character my grandfather loved him and so he ended up you know now he he's down in the history books as the you know a WWE Hall of Famer but my dad was an extraordinary person he was funny he was charming he was charismatic he could get himself out of like you know my dad just like he'd get pulled over for speeding and suddenly him and the cop were having a drink after at a bar.

51:21Like, you know, and like, like I always just say, he always just landed on his feet. He was just, he was, he was the best. I loved him. I loved, I loved, loved, loved all of our times together. And he really believed in me. Like he, he was the first person to tell me not to get into wrestling. And he's like, you're never, you can't do it, Natty. Like, it's just, it's going to be too hard for you. Why? Because you were a woman? He didn't want to see me get hurt emotionally because when my dad was wrestling back in the eighties, there just wasn't that many, like there was there was Miss Elizabeth there was Sensational Sherry there was Luna like there just wasn't that many women doing it and so of course when your parents tell you no then you want to do it yes and so I remember I was going to Japan it was my very first trip to Japan and my dad and I had this huge fight and he's like you're just you know nobody in our family is like this is gonna be so hard for you and like you know he was giving me good examples of people that you know Japan's tough it's a very you know it's a very gritty style and I told my dad I was you know, we had this huge fight and I ended with me in tears.

52:21I went to the airport and my dad and I, I did end up blowing out my knee in Japan. Oh no. And I was like, damn it. He was right. No, but, but he was, he was right. He was like, it's tough. It's hard. It's, you know, but I kept going. And then he ended up becoming like my biggest cheerleader, you know? And it was so cool because yes, he was right, but I was right too, because, you know, he had a point. And it's funny because like even his office, like, you know, when we were after my dad passed away, I was cleaning out his office. And I realized when I walked in there, I was like, it was like all of these moments that we had together.

52:59Like it was like this wrestling poster of like it was a cutout, like a big cutout of me that they had made when I won the Divas title. And like he had that on the wall. He had pictures of us from a show. We did a tag team match together went before I got signed with WWE he had all this stuff of us like he was just so I was like I didn't even realize how proud he was like and I just I love that he just he like held such a candle for for me and he and he loved my sisters as well like there we were all close to my dad but because we had that bond with wrestling I was so lucky to share that bond with him it made us it made our connection so different we shared that you know and so it was just like I just think of him all the time.

53:39I think of him every day. And I'm so grateful for all the lessons that he's taught me and even for the genetics. And Natty, he did show you because you got to see it when you walked in the office. Like, yes, that was his way. Without verbalizing it. Yes. Yes. And now, and now, you know, and you have that in your heart. It's just, it's, it was just, there's been so many things that have been like really great closure for me. And writing the book is just you know just writing it it was it was really a love letter to my dad it was a love letter to wrestling it was a love letter to tj and um it's also really funny too like and it's the book the book has people um the book has people laughing their asses off because i do and i know we have to wrap soon but i tell a story about the great colleague and i on a road trip oh oh my goodness I cannot even.

54:31I cannot even. Can I just give you guys a hiccup of the story real quick? Yes, please. So we're not, and we're, what, how much time do we have? Oh, good. This is, by the way, this is like the, I need a drink. Why does everyone say that? This is, I'm just kidding. This is so good. I got to tell this. I got to tell this story though, because it's, Steph's going to laugh for a ass off. You guys are going to love this, Elise. This is a good, really great story. So I have a picture of it as proof because people would not believe this story unless I had a picture. I knew that day I had to get a photo of it.

55:00So, you know, back when the great Khali was in WWE, there was, he couldn't drive. So people would, you know, sometimes like talent relations would say, hey, if somebody wants to ride with Khali, they'll get their car paid for and like they can drive them. But like, you know, you're like, it's like, remember when Andre had Tim? Yeah, yeah. And so, you know, because he was so big. So I jumped at the chance when I was asked. I was like, yes, absolutely. Because it was supposed to be TJ and Harry with me. We were the Hart dynasty. Right. But their opponents that were on the live event loop that weekend, one of them had gotten hurt.

55:30So TJ and Harry were pulled off the loop. But I said to Talent Relations, I still want to drive Khali because I was still on the loop. I was wrestling Layla. And so I was excited because Khali was always such a sweetheart to me. And for anybody listening who doesn't know who the great Khali is, what was he? Like 7 '2"? 7 '2". And he's from India. He's Indian. He didn't speak great English. And by the way, in India, he's like a god. He is like a god. And he's also just gigantic. He's a huge man. Gigantic and, you know, just... And very warm. Like the most loving guy. He's so great. I love the great Khali.

56:11But giant man. We love him. And I love that we preface that with we love the great Khali. No, we love him. He's a great guy. Khali, if you're listening, I adore you. And his wife. He's very cute and very little, which is cute also. Yeah. but so yeah so i i take on this task of you know i'm gonna drive cully i get the free car i get the hotel paint for because they're gonna get me a room this is a little extra money like so i pick hell yeah yeah i'll take free business woman so i i we i land at the airport i'm meeting him at the airport we do like a two-hour meet and greet at the airport because cully wants to take no no he doesn't want to take people everybody and their brother is recognizing him from wwe from the longest yard.

56:52Like I said, he's just like an attraction. Yeah. So I'm like, we're at the airport and Kali's doing a damn meet and greet. So I'm like, and I don't want to rush him because he wants to take pictures with everybody. So he was very gracious. So we get in the car and I'm like, let's get to the gym. We got to get to the live event. I want to get there early. I want to talk about things with Layla. I want to go over my match. I want to get... Kali says I'm hungry. So I was like, great. You know, like, I mean, I'm looking at a quest bar that I've got in my bag from 2018 and I'm like, This is why I'm hungry.

57:20Collie says I'm hungry. So he's got friends. He's got a friend here. I want to go to the restaurant. His friends own a restaurant in San Diego. So we go to the friend's restaurant. They make a smorgasbord of stuff for us. Like a crazy, like they just, Collie, it was like every type of food you could possibly eat. Now, granted, I was a little hungry too. So I had a lot. I had probably eight pieces of bread and some hummus. and I had all the Indian cuisine. It was great. It was amazing. A lot of different spices and the stomach was starting to turn a little bit. Oh, no. Kali decided we're going to, oh, yeah, we're going to pack it all up.

58:00So we had so much, so much food that there was some that we took to go and I was like, this is perfect because I'm about to explode and Kali might still be hungry after this and we don't have to go get food after. So we go to the live event. I tell Layla, listen, no hip tosses, no suplexes, no, I'm like, Like, I can't. And I'm wearing spandexes a lot thinner than people realize. And I was like, listen, I can't. And so we made that. And people were like, I was also starting to break out into a little bit of a sweat, too. Oh, no, no. Because there was spices that I wasn't used to. So I had a very awkward match with Layla.

58:35And thank goodness, like, Fit Finley was the producer. And I kind of pulled him aside. And I was like, Colleen wanted to do dinner prior to this. And like, I've eaten a lot. And Fit's like, just get through it. You know, so get through it. I see Kali in the parking lot. He's just swaying back and forth. He's seven foot two. And he goes, I'm hungry. And I was like, great. We've got the food in the car. Great. It's right here. He's like, no, I ate it. He ate it. Yeah, during the break of the live event, Kali ate the food. So he goes, I want to go back to my friend's restaurant. Well, their restaurant was closed.

59:11And I was like, but of course, this is Natty's, the people pleaser. I was like, whatever. In my mind, I was saying, and in my mind, I was swearing and dropping profanity. And all that could come out was, sure, we could do that. Whatever you need, Kali.

59:30And I get in the car. I'm driving. His friend's restaurant's closed. He's like, he said I can come over to the house. They're going to get to the house. There's about 20 people there. And it's a chaotic scene because Kali is like a god. and everybody wants to see him. I mean, I can only imagine that his friend was calling friends that were calling neighbors that were calling. Walking to the house, it's like Khali is, you know, he's just, everybody loves him. And more food, more food, more food, more food. And I was trying to make conversations with people that didn't speak English. And I was like, you know, chatting with them and explaining about wrestling.

1:00:06And yeah, it's just, you know, it's really fun. We travel a lot and it's really, Khali speaks their language and he's just sitting there like, like Abraham Lincoln on this chair. And he's just like, and it was just, and I'm like, Kali, for fuck's sake, you speak, you speak, you know, Punjabi. I don't. And I'm making conversation. Can one of these people drive you home? Yeah, right. Yeah. So, and I'm thinking we got to get to the next town. It's a four hour drive. Like, we got to get to the next town. So, so I eat all more food. I'm like, I'm like already going to put on six pounds from this whole thing.

1:00:39So I'm eating, we're eating, Kali comes up to me. He hasn't said a damn word. And I don't even really know if he ate anything. But he just wants to be with these people because, you know, he's just so lovable. And he loves his friends. So he comes up to me and he's like, it's, you know, getting late. And I said, well, we should probably go. We've got a four-hour drive to, you know, the next town. And he's like, do you like this house? He's like, do you like these people? Uh-oh. He goes, tonight we stay here.

1:01:05and I all I could do was just like I was like oh my god I wanted to be like get the in the car right now all I could do is go sure I'd love to stay here the anyway colleagues the colleague got in his room I think the parents like they were like this is the kid's bedroom I slept in the parents room and the parents slept in the living room and that We were rotating. So not awkward at all. Not awkward. No. I was like, I called TJ. I was in the parents' bed. And they had given, yeah. And they had a little, they had a kid. Did they change the sheets for you? Oh, yeah. No, trust me. There was no sheets changed.

1:01:44I was like, I was scared to, I was like, I've got, I'm dealing, I'm dealing with these, this, all this cuisine, this different, like, my stomach is turning. I'm scared to go, like, listen, I've got a bit, like, this toilet better have a strong ass flush. you know like i better get that this because listen you the yeah so i was like i had all these emotions and i was like fuck i don't want to use their bathroom i called tj up and i was like whispering in this parent i go i don't know what he just what are you doing and i go tj i'm safe everything's fine i i love khali but i'm in this bed of this house of this these people tj goes how do you always get yourself into these tj tj's like he's always so like he's always got his shit together.

1:02:29He goes, you always get yourself into these situations. Why didn't you just say no? And I was like, because I love Collie and I didn't want to hurt his feelings that everybody loves him and he just wanted to visit and eat and talk and whatever. And they're giving me extra money. And they're giving me a free car. Yeah, they're giving me... They did give... I do have a free hotel room, but I can't use it. I can't get there. We had a room at the, you know, at a Marriott, but Collie wanted to stay with his friends. Stay with his friends. So we spend the night... That you don't know. Total strangers.

1:02:55And they're all sleeping on the floor. Collie's in their kid's room. I'm in the parents' room. He's in the kids' bed. That's also the best part. It was like... Oh, Kali's in the kids' bed. Well, Kali, because he's so big. Right? Sometimes, like, you know, at times I think he would sleep on the floor because he was seven foot two. Sure. Not all beds are going to be... For whatever reason, I ended up with the parents' room. And I... That's why I'm like, you weren't in the kids' bed? And they were the nicest people ever. But, like, I woke up in the morning and I start... It was like 7 a.m. and I woke up to these, like, more cooking, more cooking, more cooking.

1:03:25And I just found my voice. and this is a great part of the book and a great story in the book, but I was like, Kali's like, we have breakfast now. We're going to have breakfast. And I go, Kali, get the fuck in the car right now. We're going to the next town. And he, and he was just like, he was scared. He was scared, but I think he almost kind of liked it. Yeah. He was like, damn, Natty, this is kind of like, this is awesome. He got in the car and I was like, so proud of myself. I was like, I took control of the situation. Like I was fine. My stomach was finally settling down. And I was like, I found my voice.

1:03:58I spoke my mind. I stood up for myself. Good for you. Thank you. And then he wanted lattes at Starbucks. And I was like, whatever you need, Colleen. As long as it's on the way. But yes. And it really, like that story I tell in the book, it really helped me find my voice. And so that's like, I remember that situation. And I like, I was, it gave me confidence to be like, Natty, just say what you need to say and stop worrying about pleasing people. And so the next chapter in the book, it leads into me pitching. I get my courage up to pitch my first big storyline to Vince. So, yes. And Vince, it was funny because you guys got to read the book.

1:04:30But Vince, that's to everybody out there that hasn't bought one. If you read the book, you'll understand the story. And Cody Rhodes said, if anybody tweets about the book, he will follow you guys. So I'm just quoting. I didn't know that. But it was cool because I went and pitched after that incident with Kali that very next Monday at Raw. I went and pitched a storyline to Vince. And he was like, he said, he goes, this is, you know, he said, this is not a good idea. And I don't like. He goes, I don't like it. It doesn't make any sense. We're not going in that direction. But because you came to me, we'll go with it.

1:05:02And we went with it. And that's how the Hart Dynasty came about. Wow. And that's one thing with Vince is that he would listen. I would go and pitch and he would tell me why it didn't work. And then I would be like, you know, but he still liked people taking initiative. You know what I mean? Very much so. It was like with Kali, I really got my courage up. And so I think another great lesson in the book is just finding your voice. You know what I mean? Yeah. Like finding your voice and using it and, you know, not worrying about like making everybody happy, but being authentic to yourself. Yep. So.

1:05:36I love that, Natty. Thank you. And then, you know, I know that this, it's just a point that I wanted to make before. Very rare in life is anybody ever totally good or totally bad. Yes. Like we are all various shades of gray. Yes. You know, and it's when you think about the people that we love or even the most eccentric people. And I've had the privilege in this business, as have you, to be around some pretty eccentric personalities, maybe living very closely with them in some cases. But, you know, it is a fine line between genius and insanity. And oftentimes the people who make it to the top are the ones who have had it the worst.

1:06:18and I don't know what that is. I don't know why, but it takes very special people to break through. It really does. To be the leaders of a legacy, to be the ones that stand out for whatever reason in whatever way, it's a very special kind of person to be able to screw the rules and I'm gonna do it and do it. And I think for your father, for, you know, my experience, your mom, it's, you know, we're all just people. We all have various reasons why we are the way that we are. And we just have to try to be the best version of ourselves that we can possibly be and, and love one another and use our voice and be true to ourselves.

1:07:04And, and, you know, it's just all of these lessons in your book, Natty are so beautiful and so poignant and so well told and so funny. And it really is everything. Because you are everything. So thank you very, very much for coming and being on our podcast and sharing so much. This was so fun. It's been fun. I'm so sad that it's ending because I just, I was so excited about this. I know, me too. And just so everybody knows, I'm not kicking her out. She has a plane to catch. Well, I have to, yes, we can. Well, the thing is, is that like the traffic in New York can be a little crazy. It's true. But it's just this was an interview that I was so excited about because I just always love our conversations, you know, and it's just.

1:07:47Well, you know, I love you, Natty. And I love you, too. And we relate to each other in a way that just people can't. Now, speaking of love, the Hearts and the McMahons have a very storied past. I think it's time for you and I to have a singles match. Oh, nobody will let me wrestle. Listen, I got the dungeon. I'm going to get you down there. We're going to get you training again. thank you so much thank you this is so great so great

1:08:21we just had natty on the show on our podcast and obviously we are partners with fanatics thank you very much fanatics for allowing this pod to exist um but fanatics wanted to give natty a blind ranking of the greatest Canadian athletes of all time. So we have one of our producers, Joan, is escorting Natty out as we speak. And let's hear Natty's ranking of the greatest, five greatest Canadian athletes. So here with What's Your Story, one of our partners, Fanatics, has a question for you. You're a proud Canadian, so we're going to give you Canadian athletes. So you're going to rank one through five.

1:09:03Okay. Ready? We'll start with Nancy Green. Four. Okay. Wayne Gretzky. Two. Wayne Gretzky's like, you know, he's just a goat. Speed skater and legend in her own right, Clara Hughes. Three. Boston Bruins legend, Bobby Orr. Okay. I'm not super-duper familiar with Bobby, so I'm going to say five. Don't be mad at me, Bobby. And last, Brett the Hitman Harp. Oh my gosh. You know I'm gonna go with them. Brett the Hitman Harp. Brett, you're number one. You're number one.