From Banking to Wrestling: Natasha's Journey
A young wrestler from Glasgow, Natasha Swann, 23, has expressed her amazement after securing the chance to train alongside WWE stars at a wrestling workshop held in Las Vegas.
While working in a bank, Natasha has dedicated her weekends and evenings over the past two years to wrestling, actively participating in the sport.
On a spontaneous decision, she applied for a seminar designed for female wrestlers, hosted by WWE star Bayley, and was surprised to be accepted.
Following her travel to the United States, Natasha also attended Wrestlemania, a premier wrestling event, where she gained insights from some of the industry's leading figures.
Bayley, a former women's champion with over a decade of WWE experience, established the Lodestone Women's Wrestling Seminars to support female wrestlers.
"I saw some English girls I knew had gone over last year and it looked so cool.
Then I was talking to Isla Dawn, who used to be in WWE, and she was saying no Scottish girls had gone last time.
I thought what's the worst that could happen by applying?"
"In March I got an email and saw it said Bayley in the sender's name, and she said they'd love to have me over.
A few weeks later and I was in Las Vegas - it was all a bit crazy."
Workshop Highlights and Industry Legends
The one-day seminar featured appearances from several top WWE stars who contributed to the training.
Notable attendees included former world champion CM Punk, the iconic masked Mexican wrestler Rey Mysterio, and Irish star Becky Lynch, who inspired Natasha's initial interest in wrestling.
"I really liked Becky as a teenager, and it seemed so cool an Irish girl was over there having so much success," said Natasha.
"Getting advice from her at the seminar felt really full circle."
"It was so unbelievable, the whole day.
A few of us were staying in an Airbnb Bayley had booked us, so we all went along together. We walk in the door and we see Bayley, and CM Punk - who was main eventing at Wrestlemania a few days later - is standing next to her."
CM Punk addressed the group for about an hour, followed by a warm-up session led by Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins, another WWE star and Lynch's real-life husband.
The day's activities included fitness exercises and a series of brief matches, with participants receiving feedback on their performances.
The seminar also incorporated discussions on various aspects of wrestling.
Popular comedic wrestler Danhausen, known for his significant social media presence prior to joining a major wrestling company, spoke to the group about effectively conveying a character to the audience.
This experience was particularly valuable for Natasha, who competes in UK promotions such as Scotland's Insane Championship Wrestling.
"It's something you dream about, getting to meet these people and pick their brains. It's something you can't really fathom actually happening.
Danhausen told me that you need to 'full send' everything with your character, and make sure the audience knows you believe what you're doing."
Community and Support Among Female Wrestlers
Despite the excitement of meeting high-profile wrestlers, Natasha emphasized that the most inspiring aspect was the camaraderie among the female wrestlers present.
"The biggest part was how each girl there wanted to support each other. There was no cattiness or trying to pull each other down. It was like a wee community.
I was just so grateful to Bayley for doing all this."
Natasha describes her in-ring persona as an upbeat, positive character, and the supportive environment at the seminar reinforced her passion for the sport.
