Groundbreaking female WWE wrestler Chyna dies at 46
Joan Laurer, better known as the larger-than-life female wrestler "Chyna," was found dead in her Redondo Beach, California, apartment Wednesday. She was 46.
"It is with deep sadness to inform you that we lost a true icon, a real life superhero. Joanie Laurer, aka Chyna, the 9th Wonder of the World, has passed away," read a post on her website.
A groundbreaking superstar in WWE who performed with the company during the height of its popularity in the late 1990s, Laurer was a pioneer in the industry as a cross-over performer who was so big, strong and dominant that it was a foregone conclusion she would dominate WWE's women's division, so she often competed against men instead.
Laurer was brought into the business by the legendary Wladek "Killer Kowalski," who trained her for just one year before WWE took notice of her unique talents and abilities in 1996.
After joining WWE in 1997, Chyna became a founding member of D-Generation X, where she was cast alongside Shawn Michaels and Triple H, two of WWE's most popular performers. The faction rose to prominence in the company and played a major role in WWE eventually evening out the Monday Night Wars with WCW and eventually overtaking the Turner-owned property to once again become the dominant player in professional wrestling.
Chyna became the first -- and remains the only -- woman to win the WWE intercontinental championship. She was also the first female to compete in the Royal Rumble and King of the Ring -- a pair of, to that point, male-only special events the company put on each year -- and be named the No. 1 contender to the company's heavyweight title.
Her career in WWE was a short one with Chyna exiting the company in 2001 following an on-screen romance with the late Eddie Guerrero and reign as women's champion.
She famously graced the cover of Playboy twice (once during her WWE tenure) and made numerous appearances on reality television, eventually taking a foray into pornography. Substance abuse problems were brought to the forefront of her life in the mid-2000s, and she had been an on-again, off-again public face since.
Though Chyna's in-ring and on-screen career make her a no-doubter for the WWE Hall of Fame, the company had resisted bestowing the honor upon her due to her life since leaving the company.
Former and current WWE superstars reacted to Chyna's passing on Twitter:
Triple H: "Someone who wasn't afraid to blaze her own trail & create a path for those who would follow. A pioneer whose star shined bright."
Shawn Michaels: "Just woke up to the news of [Chyna's] passing. So sad to hear, she was an amazing lady & I will miss her greatly!!"
Hulk Hogan: "Devastated over Chyna passing,she dated Brutus years before wrestling,such a beautiful soul and so kind ot my children,rip Joanie love u. HH"
Kevin Nash: "May the peace you were seeking put you at rest my friend. So sorry for not seeing the pain"
Natalia: "My prayers go out to Joanie Laurer and her family. It's very sad to hear the news. Chyna was revolutionary for women in wrestling."
SOURCE:MSN.COM
