Natalya Talks To Beth Phoenix About Her Mother’s Influence, Being The Youngest WWE HOFer, Her Vision For Women’s Wrestling, More

Natalya recently penned a new article for The Calgary Sun featuring an interview with WWE Hall of Famer Beth Phoenix.

You can read the full article HERE. We have included some highlights below.

Related: Natalya On The 1st Ever Women’s Rumble Match

On being a strong role model:

BP: I think it all goes back to the strong female role models I had growing up. I had my mother and my grandmother to set the template for myself as a woman. My mom raised myself and my brother as a single mom for the majority of our youth. She worked two jobs. She volunteered and served at my school so that we could get assistance to attend private Catholic school. She cooked healthy meals for us every single night after working long days. She spoiled us on birthdays and Christmas, even if it meant sacrificing many other things throughout the year. My grandmother was my teacher, a mentor, a care-giver, a matriarch. She taught me to cook, to sew, to have pride in my heritage, to sing, to value class and your own integrity above all. I grew up hoping one day I would be able to demonstrate to others (like my mother and grandmother did for me) that you need to work hard for the things you want and more importantly, what it means to know and love yourself for the things that make you special

On being the youngest member of the WWE Hall of Fame and her vision for the future of women’s wrestling:

BP: My vision is simple. Let’s keep moving forward. I realize that literally an army of women came before me and paved the path for the opportunities I received. The work they did opened doors for me to be considered for the WWE Hall of Fame. I am so proud of the page in the history book that contains the words “Beth Phoenix” because good, bad or ugly, in the words of old Blue Eyes, Frank Sinatra, “I did it my way.” My vision for the women is that they continue to “do it their way.” Never believe in limitations or glass ceilings or boxes that people put you in, because you are better than that. I am so proud of the direction that society is heading in regards to women in WWE and culture in general. Equality is there for us if we continue to demand it. Like my grandmother once said to me, ‘Don’t waste a minute thinking about what you could do. Life is short. The time to live is now.’ Amen Gramma. Thank you.