Bret 'The Hitman' Hart to join niece Natalya at 'WWE Payback'

LONDON, April 20 (UPI) -- WWE Hall of Famer Bret 'The Hitman' Hart is set to accompany his niece Natalya in her match against WWE Women's Champion Charlotte at Payback.

Natalya announced Hart's return to the WWE Monday on Raw, as a way to even the odds against Charlotte who has consistently relied on her father, WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair, in order to win matches and retain her title.

Payback will be Hart's first appearance since announcing he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in February. The legendary grappler has already undergone successful treatment.

Speaking with ESPN following Raw, Natalya noted how special it is to have Hart be in her corner during the match. "Bret is a survivor, he is a hero, and he embodies everything that we look up to in heroes. To have him with me at Payback in my corner, it just means the world to me," she said.

WWE Payback takes place May 1 and will also feature Roman Reigns taking on challenger AJ Styles for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.