Nattie Neidhart, performing as her signature WWE character, marked a profound milestone by debuting this persona at the Royal Rumble event held in Saudi Arabia. This appearance revisited an important chapter in her career, recalling the groundbreaking first women’s WWE match in Saudi Arabia in 2019. The Royal Rumble Saudi Arabia debut signifies a full circle moment for Neidhart as she continues to connect with the passionate WWE fanbase in the region.
Reflecting on Introducing Her Character at a Global Stage
Speaking on Wrestling Life Online, Nattie described the experience as remarkable, highlighting her long history with the Royal Rumble event.
“It’s so crazy. It’s so crazy that like we were — you know, this was my ninth Royal Rumble. Liv and I tied for doing the Rumble now nine times, all of them. And I was the first woman to ever wrestle in Saudi Arabia. So to to be a part of debuting the new character in Saudi, it was amazing. It was so cool because it was a very full circle moment. And I love our Saudi fans. You know, Nikki was talking about that, but Nikki and I did a lot of meet and greets backstage. And like, the fans there are so passionate. And of course, WrestleMania attracts like a global audience, but I want the women in WWE to get as much visibility as they can over in Saudi Arabia,”
she explained.
Progress in Women’s Wrestling Visibility Over the Years in Saudi Arabia
Neidhart recalled how much the landscape has evolved since her landmark 2019 match. Early on, the conditions required her to wear conservative attire and ensure the match content was carefully controlled.
“From 2019 when I had the very first match in Saudi Arabia till now 2026, in six years we’ve seen so much more visibility for women. I had to wear this really long shirt to wrestle in [in 2016] and [be] fully covered, and the match had to be very, very — you know, it was it was our first time there. So we wanted to make a great impression. It couldn’t be too violent, it had to be extremely — like we had to make the best impression ever, and and we did.”
Expanding on the change, she added,
“But you just see now it’s like, the last show that we did in Saudi — not Rumble, but the one before that — we had three women’s matches there. And I remember being like, ‘This is just extraordinary.’ It’s just really extraordinary. I think WWE in a big way has helped bring more visibility for women in their culture. So we’re not going to try to change them overnight, but it’s nice to see that positive things are happening over there, that like make me feel very excited about going back to Saudi Arabia.”
The Enthusiastic and Vocal WWE Audience in Saudi Arabia
Nattie emphasized the strong connection WWE talents have with the Saudi fans, noting their passionate and expressive nature. She remarked,
“I love going to Saudi. All of us do. I just enjoy it. The people are very kind. Our fans are very passionate. They’ll let you know if they love you, They’ll let you know if they hate you. Um but they’ll let you know they care. And so I think that’s the biggest thing, is that people are making noise. They give a s**t.”
This engagement creates a special atmosphere for performers, enhancing their experience during events held in the country.
Looking Ahead: The Impact of WWE’s Growth in Saudi Arabia
Nattie Neidhart’s reflections underscore WWE’s evolving presence in Saudi Arabia, highlighting both the cultural shifts and increased opportunities for women wrestlers. The expanding lineup of matches featuring women and the enthusiastic reception from local audiences point toward a promising future. As WWE continues to invest in this market, it will likely play a key role in further increasing visibility for female wrestlers and fostering greater inclusivity within professional wrestling in the region.
