Natalya is today’s Daily Diva at WWE.com and they have posted a brand new picture of her to boot! Hopefully there will be a full photoshoot soon:

Natalya weighs in on Michelel McCool’s Divas Championship win today, in a new edition of Diva Dish. Read below:

Making Divas history
When Michelle McCool became the first-ever Divas Champion Sunday at The Great American Bash, WWE’s history books changed forever.

“I’m on top of the world right now. My mindset was, win, lose or draw, history was going to be made. The victory was even that much sweeter. Not only did we make history, I became the first Divas Champion, ever,” McCool said.

“It still hasn’t really sunk in. I’ve said it before – I’m addicted to success, failure is not an option. I knew it would be a tough battle. I left all my blood, sweat and tears out there and came out on top. It feels great,” the Divas Champion said.

While Natalya was obviously disappointed by the outcome of the match, the third-generation Diva said timing is everything, and her time to win will come, and it will be “bigger, better and bolder” than McCool’s win.

“It really is going to drive me now to a totally different level. It’s one of those moments that yes, I would have liked to be the first Divas Champion, but I really believe it’s one of those moments in my life that’s going to push me to the next level,” Natalya said. “This is going to make me fiercer, this is going to make me more driven. I’m going to come back with a vengeance.”

Natalya’s best friend, Victoria, admitted she was a bit jealous of her pal’s big match, but said if it wasn’t herself fighting for the Divas Championship, there’s none better than Natalya.

“Besides myself, I’d want her to win. I’m a little bit disappointed in the result, but I think she’ll get it. I have faith in her,” Victoria said of her BFF. “I think Michelle had luck behind her, and the ankle lock does catch you off guard. I’ve taken that a few times.”

After McCool captured the gold, she was congratulated by her fellow SmackDown Divas, Cherry and Eve. It’s no secret that Cherry has been one of McCool’s biggest supporters.

“I was so excited because I know Michelle has worked so hard. I know of all the heart and faith she has in her training – because she’s helped me out personally. I know how exciting that was. I didn’t get to win it, but I was there, as a friend, supporting her,” Cherry said.

SmackDown’s newest Diva, Maria, who hasn’t made her inaugural appearance on Friday nights just yet, told Diva Dish she doesn’t think enough emphasis has been made on the fact that McCool has made WWE history.

“Ten years from now, you’ll look at the first Divas Champion, and it’s going to be Michelle McCool. I think that’s something that she can always be proud of, and something she can always feel good about because she was able to be the first,” Maria said. “Hopefully, eventually, just like the Women’s Championship, I’ll have an opportunity to go after it, as well.”

Former Women’s Champion Beth Phoenix offered her congratulations to McCool – a Diva she’s previously challenged in the ring. Phoenix also gave the All-American Diva a warning.

“Kudos to Michelle for making history and becoming that first Divas Champion, but – and there’s always a but – having been a champion myself, I know what it feels like to have to bull’s-eye on your back, and Michelle better have eyes in the back of her head,” The Glamazon said.

“Now that the Divas Championship is up and running on SmackDown, it’s only going to be a matter of time before everybody comes gunning for that title. And you never know, The Glamazon looks really good in gold, so Michelle better watch out because one of these days, when she least expects it, I might be around the corner ready to snatch that away from her,” Phoenix said.

Finally, Women’s Champion Mickie James called McCool’s victory “awesome,” and said she’s happy the SmackDown Women’s Division now has its own title. However, James isn’t opposed to facing another gold-wearing Diva, no matter the brand.

“I’ve never turned down competition, so if she wants a challenge, I’m up for a challenge. I never say no,” James said with a smile.

Just minutes ago, Natalya joined WWE.com’s Fan Nation for a pre-Bash live blog! Read below:

7:22	Corey Clayton -Natalya is here everyone!!!

7:23	[Comment From *!~tiffany luvs matt*!~] hey natalya

7:23	[Comment From Romeo] Hi Natalya

7:23	[Comment From amanda m.] OH WOW! SHES EARLY

7:23	[Comment From Chris] WooT!

7:23	Corey Clayton -  Keep those questions coming for Natalya!

7:24	Natalya -  hey everyone! its great to be here! I am through the roof with energy waiting to answer your q’s!!

7:24	Corey Clayton -  We have tons of questions from the fans…. let’s get started.

7:25	Corey Clayton -  This one is on everyone’s mind….

Natalya wrote a new blog at her Fan Nation profile yesterday, check it out below:

Well, the Bash is just days away and I am thrilled to death. It is all hitting me now.

I have been visualizing this match over and over in my head. My uncle Bret told me that in his match against Davey Boy Smith at Wembley Stadium, for the IC Championship, he visualized every bit of it and It helped prepared him for “battle.” In this case, I can see it all unfolding and I am trying to find my focus for what I intend to be an all out war. There is no doubt, that McCool is one hell of a fighter. I am going to have to pull out all the stops if I want to walk away victorious.

This is not the first time I have endured a struggle as a Diva. It brings me back to the many other challenges I have faced in the past few years in this industry.

I look back on my time training in the dungeon. You would think that since my family was there, it would have been easier, but it wasn’t. They pushed me even harder. I had to break down all the barriers of being a women, and learn how to survive in a man’s world.

Wrestling in Japan, and competing against the toughest, most brutal women wrestlers on the planet. Not only were they fierce, but they made me fight for my “life” every, single night. I was forced to grow and be strong, even when I was scared…

…and I am always reminded of an injury I got in the land of the Orient. I had to take off a year of wrestling to repair my left knee and rebuild my confidence from the ground up. I learned I wasn’t invincible and that we are actually more fragile (physically and mentally) than we know.

That leads me to now…and I am still fighting. It never gets easier, I am just learning how to dodge the bullets a little better. In fact, I feel it is those moments of despair and hardship, that bring out the very best in us. They make you look within yourself, and ultimately, rise to the occasion. Sometimes, you find something you never knew you had.

Natalya and other Divas weigh in on the new Divas Championship in this article at WWE.com, read below:

After nine years of battling without a title, the Divas of SmackDown finally have their golden opportunity — the newly-created Divas Championship.

When SmackDown General Manager Vickie Guerrero, referring to herself as “the woman in power in a male-dominated world” introduced the new title, she made history. Now, only one question remains: Will it be Natalya or Michelle McCool who will join the GM in carving her name into the history books as the first to wear the Divas Championship crown?

Third-generation Diva Natalya became the first contender in line for the honor after reigning victorious in a Golden Dreams Match against six of the Sexiest Women on Television. In that match, she managed to plow through her best friend Victoria, as well as Michelle McCool, who she will face one-on-one at The Great American Bash for the title.

“It felt amazing to win. I accomplished something very big for myself, especially being on SmackDown for only a few months,” said the dominant beauty. “All my years in The Dungeon, training ruthlessly, and all my hard work has paid off. We finally have a title to compete for and I am more than a contender. I see myself wearing that gold.”

More after the cut: Continue…

Natalya and Victoria’s friendship is once again the subject of Diva Dish this week, read below:

Celebrating friendship
When SmackDown BFFs Victoria and Natalya headed Down Under recently on WWE’s tour of Australia and New Zealand, the Divas were inseparable. From shopping for matching Uggs to wear with their matching “Best Friends” shirts and necklaces, to backing each other up in the ring, Victoria and Natalya were never apart. The Divas immortalized their trip together with a special drawing – a unique piece of artwork they shared with Diva Dish.

“I saw an artist sitting down. What better way to capture our friendship, our memory, than to get our caricature done?” Victoria said, pointing out the silly wine glass in Natalya’s hand (she doesn’t drink).

“It could have been sparkling water with a twist of lime,” Natalya laughed.

“Absolutely, because you do it with style!” Victoria smiled.

“What was so touching about it was that we were in a moment where we were overseas, we were in another country, and we were still able to embrace our relationship and really capture that love, honesty and truth of our friendship with this caricature,” Natalya said.

“You could really just feel the energy around us. People gathered around us to watch this picture being drawn. I’ve never felt that way about a friend before.”

Natalya interviewed the lead singer of American Bang, Jaren Johnston ahead of the Great American Bash this Sunday. The band will be providing the theme song for the pay per view. It’s a pretty fun and kooky interview, check it out below:

In the latest Superstar to Superstar, SmackDown Diva Natalya talks to Jaren Johnston, lead vocalist and guitarist of American Bang. The Nashville, Tenn., band’s single, “Move to the Music,” is the official theme song of The Great American Bash. This Sunday at the Bash, Natalya will take on Michelle McCool in the first-ever Divas Championship match, live and only on pay-per-view.

Natalya: Hi Jaren, this is Natalya.

Jaren: How are you?

Natalya: I’m great. I’m so excited to be doing this!

Jaren: I saw you on TV the other day. I think you kicked the crap out of the other Diva.

Natalya: (laughs) That’s usually what I do best. It’s good too see that you’re watching SmackDown and watching the Divas in action.

Jaren: I had to get caught up when they told us we were doing The Great American Bash theme song. We all grew up with WWE.

Natalya: Do you remember the Hart Foundation?

Jaren: Yeah, yeah.

Natalya: My dad is Jim Neidhart. My uncle is Bret Hart.

More after the cut: Continue…

Natalya will be live blogging this Sunday at WWE Fan Nation, ahead of her Divas Championship match with Michelle McCool! Read the details below:

Natalya to Live Blog before Great American Bash
By: Corey Clayton
Written: July 15, 2008

Just hours before her attempt to become the first-ever Divas Champion at the Great American Bash, Natalya will answer questions from you, our worldwide fans, during a Live Blog on WWE Fan Nation.

Natalya will join the Great American Bash Live Blog at 7:30 p.m. ET Sunday night, and stay for a half-hour, answering your questions, about her championship match against Michelle McCool or anything else you want to bring up.

Then, at 8 p.m. ET, stick around as Howard Finkel and Josh Mathews bring you live results, commentary and breaking news during The Bash.

Fans are recommended to join the Live Blog early at 7 p.m. to submit their questions for Natalya in advance. The moderator will choose the best questions for the Q&A. Comments will be closed during the Q&A, but will re-open during the pay-per-view event.

In honour of Father’s Day, Natalya and other WWE Superstars spoke to WWE.com about their famous dads. Read what Natalya had to say below:

Smith’s third-generation SmackDown Diva cousin, Natalya, daughter of Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart, made her debut just three months ago and she is already in the running for the newly-created Divas Championship. Though dominant and fierce in the ring, the Diva has many light-hearted childhood memories of her father.

“The Jim Neidhart that people saw on TV was the Jim Neidhart we had at home,” she recalled. “When he spoke to us, like if we were lying to him, he would pull his beard.”

“The funny thing is, is that my dad has always loved spandex as long as I can remember,” Natalya added. “The one and only PTA meeting my dad ever came to, he came on his Ninja motorcycle, no shirt on, a helmet that said ‘Fat Chicks Rule,’ and spandex and knee pads.”

Natalya is once again featured in this week’s Diva Dish, read all about it below:

Divas Down Under
The SmackDown/ECW tour of Australia and New Zealand is in full swing, but before Natalya and Victoria took the long plane ride to the land Down Under, Diva Dish caught up with the best buds.

“The best part of our jobs is that we get to wrestle and entertain in front of our fans from all over the world. So I’m very curious to see what the Australian fans will be like, and feel their energy,” Natalya said.

The Diva planned to spend some of her limited free time sightseeing and doing a charity appearance.

“I’m really excited to go a hospital there – it’s the first time I’m going to one with WWE and visiting kids. So I’m looking forward to that because my family did a lot of charity work, and this is my first time,” the SmackDown Diva said.

Natalya’s BFF, Victoria, has been to Australia and New Zealand three times on WWE tours, but she’s never gone sightseeing. Natalya’s interested in seeing a wombat and a kangaroo, and Victoria, well, she’s interested in catching some other wildlife.

“I actually want to enjoy myself there, you know? I always enjoy myself, but I want to be able to relax and see some blokes 
 Isn’t that how you say boys?” Victoria said.

Check out photo coverage of the Australia and New Zealand tour now. Also read ECW Superstar Kofi Kingston’s tour blog.

Honoring Dad
With Father’s Day quickly approaching, we talked to the Divas about what makes their dads special. Who better to begin with than third-generation Diva Natalya, daughter of Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart.

“My dad has always been very much himself. My dad is very wild, he’s very crazy, he’s very charismatic, he’s very unorthodox, but he’s been very, very consistent in his character. He really is himself, whether people like or hate it,” the Diva said.

Natalya described her dad as loyal, private and a firm believer in relationships. While he was often traveling with WWE when the young Natalya was growing up, she said he always managed to find plenty of time to spend with his children. And although at first he wasn’t in favor of Natalya’s sports-entertainment dreams, he backs her 100 percent today.

“My dad has totally embraced it. He’s so excited for me because he sees how much I love it. He sees I’ve done my homework, which he taught me to do,” she said. “I’ve been disciplined, I’ve been true to myself and I have confidence in the ring, which was given to me, by him. He instilled a lot of his morals in me. Now he’s totally embraced it. He’s one of my biggest fans. I’m very, very grateful to have my dad in my life.”

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» CM Punk
» Kelly Kelly
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» Michelle McCool
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