Current WWE Women's Champion Charlotte is on the bill for one of the WWE's biggest events of the year.
On Sunday, World Wrestling Entertainment will present its annual "Extreme Rules" pay-per-view at The Prudential Center in Newark.
The event, which began in 2009, is one of WWE's wilder nights, with select matches featuring laxer rules, high-risk gimmicks and intense stipulations.
One such match -- and one of the premier matches on the show -- is the "submission match" for the WWE Women's Championship. The match will pit challenger Natalya trying to use her Sharpshooter submission against the champion Charlotte, who employs a moved dubbed The Figure 8.
The rivalry between Charlotte and Natalya has been intense and has played out over multiple episodes "Monday Night RAW" and WWE's last pay-per-view "Payback." The feud has also incorporated Charlotte's father "Nature Boy" Ric Flair, and Natalya's uncle, Bret "Hitman" Hart.
Offscreen, though, Charlotte has a healthy amount of respect for her opponent.
"Natalya put me on the map, and I will say that forever" the 30 year old champion told NJ Advance Media.
Nearly four years ago, when Charlotte first broke into WWE through its developmental system NXT, Natalya was one of her first opponents. It was an experience that helped put her on the path to her current superstardom.
"She's my wrestling sister," said Charlotte. "She trains with Ronda Rousey's girls, and technical wrestling is both our strong point."
Charlotte applies a submission move to Natalya, her opponent this Sunday at WWE's Extreme Rules. "This Sunday we're going to go at it, and that's not something you see often in women's matches."
However, it seems like matches like these will be happening more often, as the WWE is beginning to take a new approach with women's wrestling, and Charlotte is at the forefront.
On the July 15, 2015 edition of "Monday Night RAW," Charlotte, along with Sasha Banks, and Becky Lynch, were introduced to the WWE Universe by Stephanie McMahon, the onscreen WWE authority figure, and real-life Chief Brand Officer of the company.
In the introductory segment, McMahon called for a "revolution" in the then "Divas" division of the company, with an emphasis being put on in-ring competition. It's something that Charlotte, despite her relative short time in pro wrestling, excels at.
Since that segment aired, the WWE has rebranded the "Divas Title" the "Women's Championship" and stopped referring to female talent as "Divas" and as "Superstars" -- the same moniker given to the male performers.
"Changing us from 'Divas' to 'Superstars' puts much more emphasis and focus on the women as the men, it shows we're equal," said Charlotte.
According to Charlotte, the change seems to be motivated by a number of factors: societal events; the talent on the roster; and the attitude of the fans.
"[2015] was the year of women: Ronda Rousey, the U.S. Women's Soccer team, Serena Williams. Also the women had so much success in NXT, and with [the E! reality series] "Total Divas" for the main roster women."
Charlotte performs a moonsault at Wrestlemania -- an event she wants to headline at some point in her career. Charlotte points to her time at NXT, and being able to develop her character, that brought the fans around to her, and fellow "Four Horsewomen of NXT" Sasha Banks, Becky Lynch, Bayley.
"We have the opportunity to connect with the fans, and they're getting behind us. They're not looking at us and saying, 'Oh that's a model, that's a model, that's a model.' No, they're seeing us and they're getting behind the characters," she said.
Of course, being the daughter of an iconic pro wrestler like Ric Flair doesn't hurt in connecting with the fans either. However, Charlotte isn't about riding the famed coattails of "The Nature Boy."
"No matter where I go I will always be Ric Flair's daughter, not the 5'10" athletic blonde who can major butt." said Charlotte. "But, I want to make my own mark."
Bill Bodkin can be reached at bodkinwrites@gmail.com. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook.