WWE Superstar Natalya “Nattie” Neidhart—the longest-serving female wrestler in WWE history—invites readers inside her extraordinary journey, from her upbringing in the legendary Hart family home through her more than two decades in wrestling
While most children grow up running around with their friends, Nattie Neidhart was schooled in the Hart family Dungeon, in the shadow of her grandfather Stu Hart, father Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart, and legendary uncles Bret and Owen Hart. With every body slam and piledriver, Nattie fought her own way into pro wrestling—the first and only woman in her family to do so—to become a two-time women’s world champion and one of the most visible, titled, and world record-holding Superstars in WWE.
In this raw, unwaveringly honest memoir, Nattie opens up for the first time about her life as the legacy of the Hart family dynasty, candidly sharing untold details
Her chaotic childhood in the boom-and-bust world of professional wrestling, including her family’s brush with homelessness Her father’s battles with addiction and other effects of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, leading to his eventual sudden death, and how they shaped her Her struggle to navigate the complex dynamics between the Hart family and WWE in the aftermath of the Montreal Screwjob, Owen Hart's tragic death, and her husband TJ Wilson’s near-fatal, career-ending, in-ring injury Her front-row seat to the rise of women’s wrestling and the resilience it took to thrive as a female wrestler at a time when what you looked like on screen was more important than how talented you were between the ropes From heart-pounding glory to devastating loss, The Last Hart Beating pulls no punches when it comes to the drama, hilarity, and outright mayhem of life inside the ring and out.
This is an awesome book by Nattie. I am a huge fan of her uncles Bret, Owen, and Davy. One of the things that got me back into wrestling was the announcement of the Hart Dynasty.
Having the last name Hart, you would think Nattie would be treated like wrestling royalty. However with the family history with Vince the last name might have been more of a curse. Not to mention breaking out of her legendary family's shadow.
This is an awesome and honest book, about hardwork, persistence, and climbing the ladder one rung at time only to be knocked down or passed over for someone who looked the part more.
The gender difference is also a huge part of this book. As crazy as it is to belive Nattie is the first woman from her family to enter wrestling business as an actual wrestler. Partly because at the time women's wrestling was more about models having bra and panty matches.
Nattie was one of the pioneers of women actually wrestling. As much as she loved the business and her family. There was a darkside to both. Nattie show the struggle her and her peers had to go through. The grime as well as the glamour of the wrestling business.
There are so many lessons of persistent, believing in yourself, self worth, loyalty, betrayals and even from mistakes Nattie made that can be used in everyone's life.
What a fantastic memoir! I grew up idolizing Bret “The Hitman” Hart, Owen Hart and Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart - The Hart Foundation was larger than life in my house. My brother and I used to copy their moves, and tried to pull off a Sharpshooter half as smooth as Bret’s and channel “The Anvil’s” wild energy. So naturally, I’ve always had a soft spot for Nattie Neidhart. But my admiration for her goes far beyond her family name. She’s an incredible wrestler in her own right - technically gifted, passionate, and one of the most underrated talents WWE has ever had.
This memoir shows a side of Nattie that fans rarely get to see. She writes candidly about her struggles to stand out in a male-dominated industry, where women were often valued more for looks than wrestling skill. She opens up about trying to please Vince McMahon, battling insecurities about her body, and constantly feeling like she didn’t fit the “Divas Division” mold. Through it all, she never gave up and ultimately became the backbone of the women’s division, by helping make everyone she worked with look like a star. It’s incredibly admirable to have that kind of love and patience for the business while relentlessly chasing your dreams.
Beyond the ring, Nattie also shares deeply personal stories about her family, her father’s battles with addiction, and her love for her husband TJ Wilson. The chapters about her husband (Tyson Kidd) and the horrific neck injury that nearly took his life are absolutely gut-wrenching. I had no idea about the full extent of his “hangman fracture” until reading this book - it’s a miracle he survived, and even more moving to see how they both rebuilt their lives afterward.
The Last Hart Beating isn’t just another wrestling memoir, it’s a story about perseverance, identity, and staying true to yourself in a business that constantly tries to define you. Nattie’s honesty, humor, and resilience make her story unforgettable. She carries the Hart legacy with grace, strength, and authenticity - and reminds us why she’s truly the heart and soul of women’s wrestling. With this book, Nattie proves she can still steal the show and put on a five-star performance, inside and outside the ring. I highly recommend reading this!
"If you want to be the first anything in this family, be the first to leave without being broke or broken. Be the first of us to beat the f*cking House."
This was such an easy read. I think Nattie did a great job of telling her story in a well-structured way that flowed seamlessly from one chapter to the next. It felt polished but not sanitised. I didn't feel like I was being fed a politically correct and surface-level version of her story.
As a Nattie fan, I appreciated the insight into her career journey. Compared to some of the other wrestlers who have memoirs out there, Nattie is so underrated because she has not been afforded the same opportunities as the top stars in WWE. So, her perspective on all the backstage politics and how that interwove with her personal life at times, was very refreshing.
While Nattie's 2017 championship win is the perfect climax for her career, I wish that wasn't also where the book seemed to end. There's a good eight years between then and now that I wish were also reflected in the book. That would be my only gripe. Especially since Nattie also acknowledges that winning championships isn't the be all and end all for a successful professional wrestling career.
"I'm grateful for the early days of my wrestling career, being surrounded by people who knew that becoming a wrestler isn't about perfection, it's about perseverance."
Really enjoyed this audiobook. Nattie telling her story felt really honest and as a lifelong wrestling fan I loved hearing all the behind the scenes stories.
I’d like to start this by saying thank you to Simon and Schuster for giving me the opportunity to review this book before it’s release. It has been a true privilege not only as a reader, but as lifelong wrestling fan who grew up idolizing Nattie ‘Natalya’ Neidhart.
WOW. I had to take a second after I finished this book to just sit and think - specifically about the message that was clearly conveyed throughout each chapter, being ‘perseverance and believing in yourself is the key to success.’ The key to success in your career but most importantly the key to success in your personal life, and how you feel about yourself.
Nattie’s story is one that wrestling fans have been able to see through a lens, whether that be through WWE or Total Divas, but never really on a deeper level - and this memoir truly feels like Nattie’s way of controlling the narrative about herself and her family. A reoccurring theme I noticed is how Nattie told her life story by telling us the story of people IN her life, which I think speaks volumes about how much her family and friends have made her the person she is today.
On many occasions while reading I caught myself tearing up, because this memoir was written in a way that feels like a friend talking to a friend about their life, their happiness, their pain. It never felt like a celebrity talking to a fan, or an entertainer trying to entertain - it felt real, raw and personal. Nattie’s humour shines through in many chapters too, giving us another layer to herself as a person and not just the character we see on TV.
This memoir is carefully laid out, written in a mostly chronological way that makes it easy to read but also easy to see Nattie’s growth as a person. The stories she chose to share about the people in her life all have meaning, and being able to hear about how she felt experiencing it and what she learnt from those experiences made me self reflect a lot of my own experiences dealing with similar things. I felt seen reading this book, and I know a lot of other women who grew up watching Nattie would be able to say the same after reading this book. Thank you Nattie for sharing your vulnerable moments with your fans, you truly are a trail blazer - a genuinely strong woman who I can comfortably say I am proud to have idolized as a young girl.
This is the best wrestling book I have read. Nattie's is a great storyteller and this book is fully in her voice. Being famous can look so glamorous but her story is a reminder that it isn't an easy road and her life has had her share of tragedy. I felt like the book should have been (or maybe was intended to be) longer. There are so many good stories even hinted at within the photos that were not told - including the first women's match in Saudi or working with Rhonda Roussey. She did a great job of making this book about her - not gossipy, not scathing or dramatic. Nattie has had an extraordinary life and a hall of fame career. As a fellow Canadian, she has always been one of my favorites. Highly recommended this read if you have any interest in sports entertainment.
I picked up this book after listening to Nattie on a podcast. I have no experience watching wrestling but she spoke so passionately I wanted to read her book. She offers behind the scenes look at the world of professional wrestling from someone who was born into it. The story is good. She does a great job being transparent and authentic sharing the hard parts and the beautiful parts while keeping the people in her life held up with integrity and a positive light.
The Last Hart Beating is a fascinating memoir telling the story of Nattie Neidhart forging her way as a woman and a third-generation legacy in the men-dominated world of wrestling.
I listened to this book as an audiobook and I always appreciate when memoirs are narrated by the storyteller. Nattie told her story so compassionately and lively; I rooted for her from the first to the last word! Her passion and her resilience are admirable. You go, girl! Beat the f****** house!
I‘m not a huge wrestling fan, but I did like to watch it as a teen. I stopped because I got older and started to think about what these athletes did to their bodies and didn‘t agree with how the women in wrestling were portrayed. So when I saw this memoir, I was highly interested in the opinion of a woman who lived it firsthand. I‘m honestly impressed, because Nattie managed the perfect mix between highlighting her passion for and criticism of wrestling. You can hear that she lives and breathes wrestling, but she‘s also raw and honest about things and times in her career that made her doubt herself and her love for the sport. She got me so invested that her epilogue made me cry.
This book / audiobook is for you if you love wrestling or if you love stories about strong women who never give up. Thank you, Nattie, for sharing your story with us; you are truly inspiring!
Thank you to Nattie Neidhart and Brilliance Publishing for sending me an ALC. All opinions are my own.
natalya is very strong. i didn’t know her childhood was as difficult as it was. her home life and difficulties with her father really colored the rest of her life. i also didn’t know how hard the execs were on her.
i’m completely stunned by her farting gimmick. i knew about it but like … idk. the extent to which vince was championing it was wild. nattie is a real team player. and she never really gets rewarded for it (she deserved to be inaugural champion for the women’s ic belt)
i did get a little emotional at parts. i enjoyed the chapter about her match with charlotte flair at nxt takeover. reading about her husbands injury and recovery was sad. wwe did him so dirty! by the end of the book i was so emotional about her journey with her fathers health.
i think the book lacks a solid voice/personality and had times i felt like it couldve done with some edits to make it flow better.
If you love wrestling and especially the Hart family dynasty this is a nice quick read. There was a lot I didn’t know about her rough childhood and how it shaped a lot about who she is. The story of the Harts is full of triumph and tragedy and her life is no exception. I think it’s interesting to see how someone so loyal to the company still, writes about what I believe was a lot of mistreatment both in her career and how they handled TJ’s injury. With that being said the book can be very funny and you can definitely hear Nattie’s voice throughout. I loved hearing about the filming of Total Divas and would loveee for an oral history of the show to be written at some point.
The stuff on her dad and on TJ was really good. She wrote a book here that was very open and vulnerable, so definitely worth a read for people interested in her career. It had some interesting portrayals. It was quite glowing or at least always understanding on Vince, when he clearly doesn’t deserve that. It also made the Bella Twins seem super friendly.
Wow…I’ve been a fan of Natalya for several years now. I was so excited when she announced she wrote a book, and October 28th seemed to take forever to get here. Nattie Neidhart is the definition of persistence, grit, determination, kindness, and grace. I literally felt like I was on an emotional roller coaster as I listened to the audiobook. From laughter to tears to feeling angered on her behalf and then repeated several times over, Nattie’s story is one that reminds us that never quitting is what makes us strongest. This book is raw, powerful, and a beautiful tale of what it took to get where she is. I’m so glad that Nattie decided to write this book because it gives you insight into her incredible work ethic. The message of positivity even in the face of familial and professional struggles is so real. Congrats, Nattie, and may you be the first to “beat the house.” 🩵
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5/5 !! This book was incredible !! Such an inspiring and immaculate read. So nostalgic, so heart tugging, so funny, such an incredible book by Nattie. I recommend this to all wrestling lovers ! Such a great book !!
As a second generation Hart/Neidhart fan, this book was a no brainer for me get.
I loved reading about Nattie’s live and her love of professional wrestling. Considering she’s already one of my favorites, earned a new level of respect for her as well.
And just when I thought there was no possible way I could love Nattie more! There was so much of her story that made me feel so seen and reaffirmed why I will always love and support her!
It was very good and I learn a lot about Nattie's family, but still wish there was more. More on the Harts and what went down in the family with the deaths or Owen and others. She did a great job on letting us in behind the curtain but wish she cover more in detail about maybe Shana Blazler and other friendship and just more. Need another book just to cover all the details and last observation it's crazy how wrestlers still make excuses for Vince and still won't talk bad about him
Good read for wrestling fans, but don't expect in depth revaluations.
Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for access to this audiobook.
This is a well constructed and thoroughly entertaining audiobook. I did not grow up a wrestling fan but am familiar with the Hart family as my dad was a big fan of Bret ‘The Hitman’ Hart. Being Canadian the mentions of Saskatchewan, IGA, Smiley’s Buffet etc. was nostalgic.
What impressed me most about Nattie in this book was her capacity for nuance. She showed compassion and appreciation for various people while acknowledging how their behaviours hurt her. Hearing about the uphill battle she climbed for women’s wrestling and female athletes in general was inspiring. It was frustrating hearing about how often the women out worked the men for little to no pay off.
Lastly, the analogy of how in wrestling and in the entertainment industry in general you’re “playing against the house” and nobody wins against the house really hit home.
Recommend for anyone who likes memoirs or wrestling and recovering people pleasers.
Couldn't put it down. Loved the family history, the WWE intrigues and backstage politics, and the story of her husband's career-ending injury and its aftermath. Nattie is in fact the last Hart still beating; here's hoping she beats the House.
Now THIS was a great wrestling memoir. Candid, vulnerable, funny and great insights. My only negative was that it ended too soon. Congrats to Nattie, you did your big one on this one!
Very good, just could have done with being longer. Really interesting discussions about her dad, her struggles with Vince & wwe’s creative team, TJ’s injury, her perspective on the women’s revolution, the hart family. I have even more respect for Nattie now.