Natalya has spent over two decades in WWE, but she’s not just coasting on her legacy—she’s still learning from the best. And when it comes to sharpening her mental game and creative instincts, she says Paul Heyman is her go-to mentor backstage.
During a recent appearance on Busted Open Radio, the former SmackDown Women’s Champion revealed that even though she’s never been presented as a “Paul Heyman girl” on TV, she regularly turns to Heyman for advice and guidance behind the curtain.
“Listen, I might not be a Paul Heyman girl on TV, but a lot of our work gets done backstage … I try to pick his brain as much as I can because I think he’s very good at what he does.”
Natalya said Heyman has taught her that success in WWE is about more than being good in the ring—it’s about constant reinvention, knowing how to sell yourself, and staying mentally sharp.
“You got to be as creative as you are athletic in the ring. Then as athletic as you are in the ring, you have to be thinking constantly about what your next step is, what your next move is. What is it that makes people want to pay money, part with their money, to watch you?”
She credited Heyman with instilling the idea that talent has to be their own biggest advocate.
“You have to be your biggest advocate, and I learn a lot of this. Paul Heyman is a great example of that.”
But what really sets Heyman apart, according to Natalya, is his willingness to help anyone—regardless of their position on the card.
“Also he doesn’t give a s* whether you’re at the top of the card or the bottom. If you go to Paul Heyman for advice, he will sit down, he will take the time, he will be honest and he’ll give it to you. That to me, it’s priceless.”*
Heyman’s influence can be felt all over WWE—most recently in his involvement with the Bloodline saga and his current on-screen shift toward aligning with Seth Rollins’ new faction. But it’s his work backstage that continues to leave a lasting mark on talent like Natalya.
With Heyman in her corner, Natalya is proving that even after 25 years in the game, she’s still evolving. That’s the kind of mentality that separates survivors from legends.
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