Natalya Shocks Maxxine with Belfast Betrayal
Natalya turned heel during the January 19 episode of WWE Raw from Belfast, Northern Ireland, shocking fans by attacking her protégé Maxxine Dupri after costing her the Women's Intercontinental Championship.
The betrayal unfolded during Dupri's title rematch against Becky Lynch at the SSE Arena. Natalya had accompanied Dupri to ringside, ostensibly to prevent any underhanded tactics from Lynch. However, when Dupri appeared poised to secure a pinfall victory, Natalya placed Lynch's foot on the bottom rope, breaking up the count and allowing "The Man" to retain her championship.
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Following the match, Natalya repeatedly attacked Dupri in the ring despite the referee's attempts to restrain her, cementing a full heel turn in the process.
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The turn represents the long-awaited main roster debut of Natalya's "Nattie Neidhart" persona. Over the past year, the veteran has been showcasing a more aggressive, shoot-style character on the independent circuit, competing for promotions including GCW, NWA, AAA, and Josh Barnett's Bloodsport.
Fans had been clamoring for WWE to bring this harder-edged version of Natalya to television, particularly after vignettes showed her training Dupri in the "Hart Family Dungeon 2.0" throughout late 2025.
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From Mentor to Menace
Natalya had been serving as Dupri's mentor since late 2025, helping prepare her for championship-level competition. The relationship appeared solid even after Dupri lost the Women's Intercontinental Championship to Lynch on the January 5 episode of Raw in Brooklyn.
The Belfast betrayal adds another layer to the Women's Intercontinental Championship picture, with Natalya's motivations and future targets remaining unclear following the shocking attack on her former student.
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