Natalya reveals Maxxine pushed through sickness to face the WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion
Summary
– Natalya confirmed Maxxine Dupri wrestled while sick during her RAW match against Becky Lynch
– Despite losing her voice, Maxxine refused to pull out of the high-profile title match
– Natalya praised her toughness, comparing her mindset to top WWE stars like Cody Rhodes
Maxxine Dupri’s October 20 RAW match against Becky Lynch carried more drama than fans realized. While Lynch retained her WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship after intentionally getting disqualified, it turns out her opponent was battling more than just the champ—she was battling illness.
Speaking on The Joe Vulpis Podcast, Natalya revealed that Maxxine Dupri was seriously sick and had lost her voice before the match, but still chose to perform. Despite feeling unwell, she stepped into the ring for one of the biggest opportunities of her career. Natalya said Maxxine never complained or asked to be replaced, proving her professionalism and drive.
“She had a match against Becky on Raw—she had lost her voice, she was really sick, and she didn’t tell anyone,” Natalya said. “She sent me a message saying everything was going great, but she couldn’t talk. She just pushed through.”
The match ended with Lynch striking Dupri in the back of the head with the title belt, forcing a disqualification and sparking outrage among fans. Still, Natalya called the performance one of Maxxine’s best, adding that opportunities like facing a former WrestleMania main eventer can’t be passed up, even when sick.
“If you’re getting a match with Becky Lynch on RAW, you can’t tell Triple H you’ve got laryngitis,” Natalya explained. “The company would take care of you, but Maxxine didn’t want that. She didn’t want to lose her chance.”
Natalya also compared Maxxine’s determination to that of top names like Cody Rhodes, stressing that pushing through adversity often defines greatness in WWE.
Maxxine’s effort has earned her respect from peers and fans alike, showing the resilience and hunger that continue to shape WWE’s next generation of stars.
