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WWE Star Speaks on Trauma and What Has Changed After Owen Hart's Death

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Steven Harrison | Last updated Oct 23, 2025 8:10 PM ET

WWE veteran Natalya was 17 years old when her uncle Owen Hart tragically died inside a WWE ring. When asked by Chris Van Vliet if she remembers where she was watching Over The Edge 1999, Nattie said:

I was at my uncle's house. I was at British Bulldog's house, Davey's house. TJ was there with me. We were watching the pay-per-view. That day...I'll never ever forget. We were in Davey's living room, and we were just watching the show...and my grandfather lived right below Davey. My grandfather had gotten a call from Vince. That's when we knew Owen was not okay."

How Did Owen Hart Die?

Owen Hart died from an equipment error that resulted in him falling 90 feet from the top of the Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri, to the ring mat. Hart was playing a superhero character, The Blue Blazer, which involved him parodying other wrestlers. That night, Owen was supposed to parody Sting, who would enter "from the rafters."

Hart was scheduled to face The Godfather for the Intercontinental Championship. As the pre-match video package was playing, Hart landed chest-first on the top rope.

What Happened After Owen's Death?

After Owen was rushed to the nearby Truman Medical Center, Over the Edge paused for roughly 15 minutes. Vince McMahon made the decision to continue the show. About an hour later, Jim Ross announced on air that Owen had died.

Shedding more light on the impact of Owen's death on her family, Natalya shared:

That was the hardest thing my family ever went through.I think it just caused this domino effect of chaos. My grandmother, Helen, I don't think she ever got over it. I do believe she died of a broken heart. It was very hard on my grandfather because she was his everything.

Hart's widow, Martha, sued the WWE, and after 18 months of litigation, accepted a settlement. The relationship between Martha Hart and WWE remains strained, and it is unlikely Owen will ever be officially recognized by the WWE in the Hall of Fame.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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