The rapid rise and tragic fall of wrestling icon Chyna

Joan Marie Laurer, better known as Chyna, was a groundbreaking figure in professional wrestling, breaking down barriers and paving the way for women in the industry. But her life was also marked by struggles with addiction, personal turmoil, and controversy. Let's look back over the highs and lows of one of wrestling's greatest pioneers.

Born in December 1969 in Rochester, New York, Chyna's childhood was marked by tumultuous family life, including her parent's divorce and her father's struggle with alcoholism. As a result, she turned to bodybuilding and fitness as a way to cope with her feelings of insecurity and pain. In a 2001 interview with People magazine, Chyna said, "I was always big for my age, and I got picked on a lot. Bodybuilding gave me a sense of power and control."

Her bodybuilding background led to her being discovered by professional wrestling promoter Vince McMahon in the mid-1990s. McMahon saw potential in Chyna's muscular physique and unique look and brought her into the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE) in 1997. Chyna quickly became a fan favorite, thanks to her incredible strength and athleticism, and her character was billed as the "Ninth Wonder of the World."

Image Credit: YouTube @WWE

Chyna thrived in the competitive wrestling industry, and was soon one of the main drawcards of each event. Throughout her wrestling career, she accomplished many firsts and held numerous titles. She was the first woman to qualify for the King of the Ring tournament and was the first woman to hold the Intercontinental Championship. She also held the Women's Championship, among others.

Image Credit: YouTube @WWE

Chyna's peak in the wrestling industry came in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when she became the first woman to compete in the Royal Rumble and won the Intercontinental Championship on two separate occasions. She also teamed up with the likes of Triple H and Eddie Guerrero to take on some of the biggest names in the sport.

Image Credit: YouTube @WWE

"She was in there not only wrestling guys but beating guys," former WWE announcer Justin Roberts told Vice of Chyna's in-ring work in 2017. "She was doing stuff that only guys were doing at the time, and that I don't believe any female has done since. What she did was incredible. She was really revolutionary in the wrestling business."

In 2000, at the height of her fame in the WWF, Chyna posed for Playboy magazine, becoming the first female wrestler to appear in the publication. The pictorial was a major milestone for Chyna, who had long been pushing boundaries and breaking down barriers for women in the wrestling industry. Chyna said she saw it as a way to challenge stereotypes and celebrate her body in a way that she had not been able to do before.

The Playboy shoot was a major success, with the issue selling over a million copies and helping to cement Chyna's status as a sex symbol. However, it also caused tension between Chyna and WWF, which was uncomfortable with the idea of one of its performers posing for a rival company. Chyna would eventually leave WWF the following year, in part due to the fallout from the Playboy shoot.

Despite her accomplishments, Chyna's time in the WWF was not without controversy. In 2001, she was released from her contract after a falling out with the organization. The exact reasons for her departure are still disputed, but it has been reported that her Playboy shoot, her tumultuous relationship with fellow wrestler Triple H, her struggles with addiction, and pay disputes all played a role in the dismissal.

Chyna attempted to pursue other career opportunities. She appeared on several reality TV shows, including "The Surreal Life," "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew," and "Botched," which documented her numerous plastic surgeries.

Chyna also attempted to revive her wrestling career outside of WWE. She appeared in several independent wrestling promotions, including New Japan Pro Wrestling in 2002, and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) in 2011, but her success in these promotions was limited. Chyna also made a brief return to WWE in 2015, appearing on the WWE Network's "Legends with JBL" show, but the company was not interested in bringing her back as an active wrestler.

According to a video interview with Vice Sports, she was not allowed to use the name Chyna, nor anything related to that character, which was her entire career. WWE owned the character of Chyna the same way comic franchises such as Marvel and DC, will own their characters, which made it difficult for her to build recognition outside of the WWE.

In 2004, Chyna's personal life was thrust into the public eye when a sex tape featuring her and then-boyfriend Sean Waltman (known as X-Pac in the wrestling world) was leaked online. Chyna later revealed that the release of the sex tape was a major turning point in her life and career, leading to increased scrutiny and judgment from both fans and industry insiders.

Unfortunately, Chyna's personal struggles only continued in the years that followed. She struggled with drug addiction and often made headlines for her erratic behavior and public meltdowns. In 2008, she appeared on the reality show "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew" in an attempt to address her addiction issues. In the show, she revealed that she had been struggling with addiction to alcohol and prescription drugs for years.

Between 2009 and 2011, Chyna stripped for cash and starred in five more adult films, which were released between 2009 and 2013, according to Vice. "It was like I was a monster," she told comedian Jim Norton of her problems during the 2000s. "There was no way out of it for me."

Despite her efforts to get clean, Chyna continued to struggle with addiction and her behavior became increasingly erratic. She was arrested multiple times for offenses such as assault and DUI, and her public appearances became increasingly rare.

On April 20, 2016, Chyna was found dead in her apartment at the age of 46. Her death was later determined to be caused by an accidental overdose of alcohol and prescription drugs. It was a tragic end to a life that had been marked by both incredible achievements and significant struggles.

Image Credit: YouTube @WWE

In 2019, Chyna was posthumously entered into the WWE Hall of Fame as a member of the D-Generation X stable, making her the first woman to be inducted as a part of a group or team.

Despite her tumultuous life and issues outside of the ring, there is no doubt that Chyna broke down a lot of barriers around women's wrestling. At the time, women in the wrestling industry were almost purely for 'eye candy' and Chyna helped change attitudes toward women's strength and athleticism in the industry, and proved that women could be major draws to the otherwise male dominated arena.

She is remembered fondly by fans of wrestling all over the world, though fellow wrestlers aren't often speaking on the record about their relationships with Chyna. One of her closest friends in the business, former WWE commentator Jim Ross has spoken openly about her influence in the industry over the years.

“She did things on a global level that no other female had ever done. These ladies – no matter what company they work in and the money they’re earning – they can look over their shoulder back at the legend of Chyna and say, ‘Thanks.’ She broke the ground that they’re now walking on,” he said in summarising her legacy on his podcast Grilling JR in 2020.