The wrestling world has lost an icon.
Joanie “Chyna” Laurer passed away on April 20th, 2016. Regardless of the last 13 or so years of her life, Chyna will go down as one of the most notable wrestlers in WWE history, a former WWE Women’s Champion, a two time (and the first ever woman to hold the) WWE Intercontinental Champion and the first ever woman to enter the Royal Rumble.
Trained by the legendary Walter “Killer” Kowalski in 1995, Laurer first burst onto the WWF scene in early 1997, by attacking Goldust’s manager at the time Marlena. Following this, Laurer became the bodyguard for Hunter Hearst Helmsley (later re-named Triple H) and later D-Generation X (a stable of which she is a founding member).
Chyna left D-Generation X in January of 1999, when she turned on Triple H and joined The Corporation. It was a couple of weeks after joining the corporation that she entered the 1999 Royal Rumble match, entering at #30, eliminating Mark Henry before being eliminated by Stone Cold Steve Austin with a time of just 35 seconds. Still, for a woman entering the Rumble, that’s a very impressive feat.
Chyna would only last a few months in the Corporation, leaving in late-April. Remaining by Triple H’s side for a few months before going their separate ways. In June of 1999, Chyna entered the King of the Ring tournament, becoming the first (and thus far, only) woman in history to do so. Defeating Val Venis in the first round before losing to Road Dogg in the second.
The tournament eventually went to former DX stablemate “Bad Ass” Billy Gunn. Following this, Chyna became the first woman to ever become #1 Contender for the WWE Championship, held at the time by “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Chyna DID however appear in that match, by accompanying Triple H to the ring.
On October 17th, 1999, Chyna would make history, defeating Jeff Jarrett for the WWF Intercontinental Championship, becoming the first woman to hold a male championship in WWE history. Following this historic win, Chyna would move on to, what some would say was, her best feud in her wrestling career, one of WWF’s hottest young talents Chris Jericho. At one point, both Chyna and Jericho co-held the Intercontinental championship. WWE doesn’t count this as a simultaneous reign, rather claiming that it’s part of Jericho’s second reign as champion, given that Jericho ended up winning the championship from his co-holder.
Following this, Chyna would enter into a storyline relationship with “Latino Heat” Eddie Guerrero. This was one of Laurer’s most entertaining angles in her career. The angle bore her second reign as Intercontinental Champion. Losing the championship to Guerrero within a fortnight. The angle came to an end in November of 2000. Chyna entered into a feud with the Right To Censor stable following her appearance in Playboy magazine. This angle went all the way to WrestleMania X-Seven in 2001, winning the WWE Women’s Championship in a matter of minutes from then champ and RTC member Ivory.
Laurer left the WWF in November of 2001. Circumstances regarding her departure are open to interpretation, Laurer claims she was fired but others including legendary announcer Jim Ross claim she left due to personal reasons. Those personal reasons were due to a real life relationship breakdown with then-boyfriend Triple H, who had begun dating Stephanie McMahon while romantically linked to Chyna.
Chyna enjoyed a short stint in New Japan Pro Wrestling in 2002, leaving the promotion and wrestling business as a whole in October 2002. She was not seen in a ring for 9 years.
Laurer made her return to the wrestling industry in 2011, debuting in TNA, she had a very short stint there, debuting on May 12, 2011 (taped on May 3rd) and leaving shortly after the May 15th Sacrifice PPV. Following this, Chyna retired permanently from the ring.
Chyna was found dead in her home on April 20th, 2016. Exactly 17 years after the death of fellow D-Generation X founding father, “Ravishing” Rick Rude. This death has left an impact on the wrestling industry.
A wrestler, an icon, the 9th wonder of the world.