Biography
Joanie Laurer is a former World Wrestling Federation superstar. She has a degree in Spanish Literature and was an ROTC member, her original ambitions to pursue law enforcement through the FBI or DEA. She is a former member of the Peace Corps, as well. However, after college, she competed in fitness competitions, which eventually led to an opportunity with the WWF.
Wrestling Career
Chyna has been dubbed the Ninth Wonder of the World because she has changed the face of television forever and is a pioneer for women in sports entertainment. Chyna’s success has been measured through her hard work and ability to captivate audiences in every field of entertainment, wherever she may go. In addition, Chyna has also been called the First Lady of Sports Entertainment. She has broken more barriers than any other individual in professional wrestling history. Her career successes has empowered many other women to pursue success in professional wrestling.
As Chyna, Laurer debuted as the stoic bodyguard for D-Generation X. She was the first woman in history to win the WWF Intercontinental Championship, as well as the first woman to enter and win the Royal Rumble, becoming the number one contender for the WWF Championship belt. After enjoying considerable success, she received breast augmentation and had some reconstructive surgery to gain a more feminine appearance.
After leaving the WWF, Chyna briefly performed for the independent circuit for promotions like Ultimate Pro Wrestling (UPW), and in more recent years, had a short-lived run with Total Nonstop Action (TNA) before retiring to perform other career paths (see below).
Personal Life
While working for WWF, Chyna appeared in two pictorals in Playboy magazine. A long-term relationship with fellow wrestler Paul Levesque, better known as Triple H, ended after he had an affair with co-worker Stephanie McMahon, which subsequently led to her leaving the WWF. Laurer was romantically involved with former fellow D-Generation X member Sean “X-Pac” Waltman. The two featured in a controversial sex tape, and dysfunction in the relationship came to public light. The pair has since split. Chyna was in rehab for a short period, and has since completely retired from professional wrestling. To make ends meet, she became a porn star for Vivid Video. She appeared as the She-Hulk in an X-rated Avengers parody, and later starred in her own spin-off film.
Joan Laurer was found dead on April 20, 2016 in her home in California. It was later stated that she was dead for several days before she was found.
In Comics
Chyna has starred in two one-shots published by Chaos! Comics. In her first one-shot, written by Steven Grant with art by documented wrestling fan Jill Thompson, Chyna is a bodyguard hired to protect a young woman from a death cult. “The Ninth Wonder of the World” ends up battling the cult’s high-priestess, Kassandra. In the follow-up, also written by Grant, but with art by Mike Deodato, Jr., Chyna has to protect a witness from the mob.