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  • BIRTH 27/12/1969
  • DEATH 20/04/2016
  • Country United States
  • SHOWS 8
  • MOVIES 30

Joanie Laurer

Joan Marie Laurer was a former American professional wrestler, actress, bodybuilder and pornographic film actress who was under contract to Vivid Entertainment. Chyna first rose to prominence upon debuting in the professional wrestling promotion WWE in 1997, where she performed under the ring name Chyna and was billed as the "Ninth Wonder of the World" (André the Giant was already billed as the eighth). A member of the stable D-Generation X, she held the WWE Intercontinental Championship (the first female wrestler to do so) and WWE Women's Championship, and was the first female wrestler to participate in the Royal Rumble and King of the Ring events. Since leaving the WWE in 2001, Chyna had wrestled sporadically, most notably with New Japan Pro Wrestling in 2002 and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling in 2011. Laurer had a strained relationship with her family. She last saw her mother at the age of sixteen, and she claimed that her father never got over her decision not to join the FBI. She also alleged that her father took out several student loans in her name and without her knowledge, leaving her with $40,000 in debt. On an episode of Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew in 2008, Laurer claimed to have a bad relationship with all of her family members, including her siblings. In September 2010, Laurer was hospitalized after overdosing on sleeping medication. As of February 2015, Laurer had reestablished a good relationship with her mother; her father died in May 2014.

Laurer taught English in Japan.

On February 9, 2015, during a WWE Network podcast with Steve Austin, Triple H mentioned that Chyna deserved to be in the WWE Hall of Fame but that problems with children Googling her prohibited it. After being in contact with Vince Russo she claimed in an interview that Triple H had hit her, which he later called a false statement.

Death

On April 20, 2016, Laurer was found dead at her home in Redondo Beach, California. She had been taking medication for anxiety and sleep deprivation. An official statement was posted to her Twitter account, saying "It is with deep sadness to inform you today that we lost a true icon, a real life superhero ... She will live forever in the memories of her millions of fans and all of us that loved her."

Joanie Laurer

Shows (8)

Sabrina, the Teenage Witch
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch
Mary Jo Ponder
Relic Hunter
Relic Hunter
Natasha Tripova
WWE Raw
WWE Raw
Chyna / Chyna (archive footage)
WWE SmackDown
WWE SmackDown
Chyna
3rd Rock from the Sun
3rd Rock from the Sun
Janice
Whose Line Is It Anyway? (US)
Whose Line Is It Anyway? (US)
Self
WWE Tough Enough
WWE Tough Enough
Chyna
MADtv
MADtv
Self

Movies (30)

Untold: Crime & Penalties
Untold: Crime & Penalties
Self - WWF Superstar (archive footage)
White T
White T
Psychic
WWE WrestleMania X-Seven
WWE WrestleMania X-Seven
Chyna
Alien Fury: Countdown to Invasion
Alien Fury: Countdown to Invasion
Ava Zurich
WWE Rebellion 1999
WWE Rebellion 1999
Chyna
WWE Royal Rumble 2000
WWE Royal Rumble 2000
Chyna
Urban Assault
Urban Assault
WWE: Monday Night War Vol. 1: Shots Fired
WWE: Monday Night War Vol. 1: Shots Fired
Chyna
WWE No Mercy (UK) 1999
WWE No Mercy (UK) 1999
Chyna (Ringside)
WWE WrestleMania 2000
WWE WrestleMania 2000
Chyna
WWE In Your House 15: A Cold Day in Hell
WWE In Your House 15: A Cold Day in Hell
Chyna (Ringside)
WWF Fully Loaded 2000
WWF Fully Loaded 2000
Chyna
Hunter: Back in Force
Hunter: Back in Force
Brandy Rose
WWE Fully Loaded 1999
WWE Fully Loaded 1999
Chyna
WWE King of the Ring 1999
WWE King of the Ring 1999
Chyna
WWE Survivor Series 1999
WWE Survivor Series 1999
Chyna
WWE No Mercy 1999
WWE No Mercy 1999
Chyna
Cougar Club
Cougar Club
Teddy Archibald
WWE Armageddon 2000
WWE Armageddon 2000
Chyna
WWE Unforgiven 1999
WWE Unforgiven 1999
Chyna
Losing Control
Losing Control
Barb
WWE King of the Ring 1997
WWE King of the Ring 1997
Chyna (Ringside)
WWF: D-Generation X
WWF: D-Generation X
Chyna
WWE Backlash: In Your House
WWE Backlash: In Your House
Chyna (Ringside)
Beyond the Mat
Beyond the Mat
Self
WWE St. Valentine's Day Massacre: In Your House
WWE St. Valentine's Day Massacre: In Your…
Chyna
WWE SummerSlam 1997
WWE SummerSlam 1997
Chyna
WWE Rebellion 2000
WWE Rebellion 2000
Chyna
WWE In Your House 16: Canadian Stampede
WWE In Your House 16: Canadian Stampede
Chyna
WWE Armageddon 1999
WWE Armageddon 1999
Chyna