Chyna

DOB: 1969-12-27

DOD: 2016-04-20

Joan Marie Laurer (stage name Chyna) 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."

Starred In

2007
Movie

TKO

2007
Movie

Illegal Aliens

2002
Movie

NJPW The Spiral

2021
Movie

Vice Versa: Chyna

2023
Movie

Biography: Chyna

2023
Movie

Superheroes 2

2003
Movie

Alien Tracker

2012
Movie

Losing Control

2013
Movie

White T

2022
Movie

Out in the Ring

2002
Movie

Brown Sugar

1999
Movie

Beyond the Mat

2007
Movie

Trantasia

1999
Movie

WWF: It's Our Time

2000
Movie

WWE Rebellion 2000

2000
Movie

WWE No Mercy 2000

1999
Movie

WWE Rebellion 1999

1999
Movie

WWE Over the Edge

2000
Movie

WWE Backlash 2000

1999
Movie

WWE No Mercy 1999

2004
Movie

1 Night in China

2011
Movie

Backdoor to Chyna

2011
Movie

YouShoot: Chyna

2011
Movie

TNA Sacrifice 2011

2007
Movie

Cougar Club

1997
Movie

WWE One Night Only

2001
Tv

Fear Factor

2001
Tv

Tracker

1999
Tv

Relic Hunter

2000
Tv

The Huntress

1995
Tv

MADtv

2020
Tv

Vice Versa

1998
Tv

WWE Heat

1999
Tv

WWE SmackDown

2001
Tv

Gary & Mike

1993
Tv

Raw

1998
Tv

WWE Heat

1984
Tv

AVN Awards

1996
Tv

Pacific Blue