During the 1980s and 90s, drug and alcohol use was prevalent among WWE performers as a means to cope with various mental and physical challenges. However, current WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Natalya notes a cultural shift for the better regarding mental and physical health within the organization, especially under the leadership of WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque.
Natalya expressed her appreciation for the resources available in WWE, stating, “The cool thing about working in WWE is that now we have a lot of resources.” She emphasized how the company actively supports wrestlers’ mental health needs. “If you’re having a bad day, or dealing with a loss in the family, I took a little time off this summer and the company was so great about it. They were like, ‘Take as much time as you need.’ It’s really changing so much in the best way, and the culture is so different now. Our boss, Triple H, he is such a cool boss.”
To illustrate this positive change, Natalya shared her recent absence from WWE television due to necessary eye surgery for an astigmatism, a condition that results in blurred vision.
Before scheduling the procedure, she discussed it with Levesque, who encouraged her by saying, “Go get your eyes fixed. Don’t even worry about it. Go take care of yourself.” Natalya expressed gratitude for his support.
Along with her eye surgery, Natalya recently signed a new deal with WWE, reportedly extending her time with the company for several more years. She made her return to WWE programming last week as a surprise tag team partner for Lyra Valkyria and Zelina Vega on “WWE Raw.”