Smark Out Moment

In FIVE MOVES OF DOOM, we break down a particular wrestler's moveset and examine the five signature maneuvers that they perform on a regular basis.

These are the moves that fans watch out for during a match and are usually in a sequential pattern, building up to and including their finishers that typically get the biggest pop of suspense from the crowd each and every week.

This edition will highlight "The Queen of Harts" and former Divas champion Natalya. The former Hart Dungeon trainee has been wrestling for WWE for nearly ten years now and is one of the few women from the Divas Era to still be with the company. With nearly a decade in WWE under her belt, Natalya has accomplished quite a bit. She won a title, managed her real-life husband, and teamed up with the likes of Beth Phoenix and The Hart Dynasty.


1. Abdominal Stretch

This hold begins with Natalya facing her opponent's side. She straddles one of the opponent's legs, then reaches over the opponent's near arm with the arm close to the opponent's back and locks it. Squatting and twisting to the side, she flexes the opponent's back and stretches their abdomen. Natalya uses this move to weaken her opponent and prepare for the Sharpshooter.


2. Michinoku Driver

Facing her opponent, Natalya reaches between her opponent's legs with her right arm and reaches around the opponent's neck from the same side with her left arm. Then she lifts the opponent up and turn them around so that they are held upside down, as in a scoop slam before dropping down into a sitout position, driving the opponent down to the mat neck and shoulder first. Natalya usually goes for a pin after this move.


3. Slingshot Atomic Drop + Basement Dropkick

Natalya's version has her going behind her opponent and puts her head under her opponent's shoulder and lifts them up. She then bounces them off the top rope before dropping them into a sitdown position on the mat. Natalya then slingshots herself off the ropes for a running start and stomps on the seated opponent's back. Then she slingshots off the opposite ropes and nails her opponent with a low front dropkick to the face. Sometimes Natalya skips the atomic drop part of the move.


4. Nattie By Nature

Natalya's discus clothesline is used on oncoming opponents most of the time. She spins around for more forward momentum and then clotheslines them with her forearm. She falls forward as the opponent goes down for more momentum to drive them to the floor.


5. Sharpshooter

This move was adapted by Natalya from her uncle Bret "The Hitman" Hart, who she trained with at the Hart Dungeon. She first approaches an opponent who is flat on their back. She lifts their feet up and bends the knees back towards the opponent's face. Her dominant foot is her left, so she puts her left leg through the opponent's leg and places it on their left side. She then crosses the opponent's legs at the shins and holds them there. She swings her right leg over the opponent, which flips the opponent over and Natalya's back is now to them. To apply pressure, she sits down and pulls. This is Natalya's go-to finisher.