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.
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."
External links
Filmography (Movies)
Nothing Better Than Parody 7
Character:(archive footage)
Release Date:13/02/2024
Superheroes 2
Character:(archive footage)
Release Date:08/08/2023
Nothing Better Than Parody 5
Character:(archive footage)
Release Date:14/02/2023
Out in the Ring
Character:Chyna
Release Date:03/06/2022
Vice Versa: Chyna
Character:Herself
Release Date:17/06/2021
WWE Liv Forever
Character:Chyna (archive footage)
Release Date:29/11/2020
The Rock's Most Electrifying Matches
Character:Chyna
Release Date:26/05/2020
WWE Hall of Fame 2019
Character:Chyna
Release Date:06/04/2019
Then, Now, Forever: The Evolution of WWE’s Women’s Division
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:26/06/2018
WWE: Monday Night War Vol. 1: Shots Fired
Character:Chyna
Release Date:07/07/2015
WWE Greatest Wrestling Factions
Character:Chyna
Release Date:27/05/2014
White T
Character:Psychic
Release Date:20/05/2013
She-Hulk XXX: An Axel Braun Parody
Character:She-Hulk
Release Date:02/02/2013
Chyna Is Queen of the Ring
Character:Herself
Release Date:17/09/2012
Avengers XXX: A Porn Parody
Character:She-Hulk
Release Date:14/05/2012
Losing Control
Character:Barb
Release Date:23/03/2012
WWE: The Best of SmackDown - 10th Anniversary, 1999-2009
Character:Chyna (archive footage)
Release Date:03/01/2012
YouShoot: Chyna
Character:Herself
Release Date:02/11/2011
Backdoor to Chyna
Character:Self
Release Date:01/07/2011
TNA Sacrifice 2011
Character:Chyna
Release Date:15/05/2011
Another Night in China
Character:Herself
Release Date:01/03/2009
WWE: The History Of The Intercontinental Championship
Character:Chyna (archive footage)
Release Date:25/11/2008
WWE: The Best of Raw 15th Anniversary
Character:Chyna
Release Date:26/12/2007
Trantasia
Character:Self
Release Date:30/10/2007
TKO
Character:
Release Date:10/07/2007
Cougar Club
Character:Teddy Archibald
Release Date:19/05/2007
Illegal Aliens
Character:Rex
Release Date:01/05/2007
Just Another Romantic Wrestling Comedy
Character:Roxanne
Release Date:17/04/2007
101 Reasons Not To Be A Pro Wrestler
Character:Herself
Release Date:01/06/2005
1 Night in China
Character:Herself
Release Date:13/12/2004
WWE: Cheating Death, Stealing Life: The Eddie Guerrero Story
Character:Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Release Date:26/05/2004
Hunter: Back in Force
Character:Brandy Rose
Release Date:12/04/2003
Alien Tracker
Character:Ree
Release Date:01/01/2003
NJPW The Spiral
Character:
Release Date:14/10/2002
Brown Sugar
Character:Woman at Party (uncredited)
Release Date:05/10/2002
Frank McKlusky, C.I.
Character:Freeda
Release Date:26/04/2002
Playboy: Joanie Laurer, Nude Wrestling Superstar
Character:Self (as Joanie Laurer)
Release Date:01/01/2002
On the Line
Character:Chyna
Release Date:26/10/2001
WWF: Divas in Hedonism
Character:Herself
Release Date:21/07/2001
Lita: It Just Feels Right
Character:Chyna
Release Date:15/07/2001
WWE Judgment Day 2001
Character:Chyna
Release Date:20/05/2001
WWE WrestleMania X-Seven
Character:Chyna
Release Date:01/04/2001
WWE Royal Rumble 2001
Character:Chyna
Release Date:21/01/2001
Playboy: Joanie Laurer Nude
Character:Self (as Joanie Laurer)
Release Date:01/01/2001
WWE Armageddon 2000
Character:Chyna
Release Date:10/12/2000
WWE Rebellion 2000
Character:Chyna
Release Date:02/12/2000
WWE Survivor Series 2000
Character:Chyna
Release Date:19/11/2000
WWE No Mercy 2000
Character:Chyna
Release Date:22/10/2000
WWE Unforgiven 2000
Character:Chyna
Release Date:24/09/2000
WWE SummerSlam 2000
Character:Chyna
Release Date:27/08/2000
WWF Fully Loaded 2000
Character:Chyna
Release Date:23/07/2000
WWE King of the Ring 2000
Character:Chyna (Ringside)
Release Date:25/06/2000
WWE Judgment Day 2000
Character:Chyna (Valet)
Release Date:21/05/2000
WWE Insurrextion 2000
Character:Chyna (Ringside)
Release Date:06/05/2000
WWE Backlash 2000
Character:Chyna (Valet)
Release Date:30/04/2000
WWF: The Rock - The People's Champ
Character:Herself
Release Date:25/04/2000
Alien Fury: Countdown to Invasion
Character:Ava Zurich
Release Date:21/04/2000
WWE WrestleMania 2000
Character:Chyna
Release Date:02/04/2000
WWE No Way Out 2000
Character:Chyna (Ringside)
Release Date:27/02/2000
WWE Royal Rumble 2000
Character:Chyna
Release Date:23/01/2000
WWE Armageddon 1999
Character:Chyna
Release Date:12/12/1999
WWF: It's Our Time
Character:Chyna
Release Date:23/11/1999
Mick Foley: Madman Unmasked
Character:Herself
Release Date:19/11/1999
WWE Survivor Series 1999
Character:Chyna
Release Date:14/11/1999
Beyond the Mat
Character:Self
Release Date:22/10/1999
WWE No Mercy 1999
Character:Chyna
Release Date:17/10/1999
WWE Rebellion 1999
Character:Chyna
Release Date:02/10/1999
WWE Unforgiven 1999
Character:Chyna
Release Date:26/09/1999
WWE SummerSlam 1999
Character:Chyna
Release Date:22/08/1999
WWE Fully Loaded 1999
Character:Chyna
Release Date:25/07/1999
WWE King of the Ring 1999
Character:Chyna
Release Date:27/06/1999
Come Get Some: The Women of the WWF
Character:Chyna
Release Date:22/06/1999
WWE Over the Edge
Character:Chyna
Release Date:23/05/1999
WWE No Mercy (UK) 1999
Character:Chyna (Ringside)
Release Date:16/05/1999
WWE Backlash: In Your House
Character:Chyna (Ringside)
Release Date:25/04/1999
WWE WrestleMania XV
Character:Chyna (Ringside)
Release Date:28/03/1999
WWE St. Valentine's Day Massacre: In Your House
Character:Chyna
Release Date:14/02/1999
WWE Royal Rumble 1999
Character:Chyna
Release Date:24/01/1999
WWE Capital Carnage
Character:Chyna
Release Date:06/12/1998
WWF: The Rock - Know Your Role
Character:Herself
Release Date:24/11/1998
WWE Judgment Day: In Your House
Character:Chyna (Ringside)
Release Date:18/10/1998
WWE SummerSlam 1998
Character:Chyna (Ringside)
Release Date:30/08/1998
WWF: D-Generation X
Character:Chyna
Release Date:18/08/1998
WWE Fully Loaded: In Your House
Character:Chyna (Ringside)
Release Date:26/07/1998
WWE King of the Ring 1998
Character:Chyna (Ringside)
Release Date:28/06/1998
WWE Over the Edge: In Your House
Character:Chyna (Ringside)
Release Date:31/05/1998
WWE Unforgiven: In Your House
Character:Chyna (Ringside)
Release Date:25/04/1998
WWE Mayhem in Manchester
Character:Chyna (Ringside)
Release Date:03/04/1998
WWE WrestleMania XIV
Character:Chyna (Ringside)
Release Date:29/03/1998
WWE No Way Out of Texas: In Your House
Character:Chyna (Ringside)
Release Date:15/02/1998
WWE Royal Rumble 1998
Character:Chyna (Ringside)
Release Date:18/01/1998
WWE D-Generation X: In Your House
Character:Herself
Release Date:07/12/1997
WWE Badd Blood: In Your House
Character:Chyna
Release Date:05/10/1997
WWE One Night Only
Character:Chyna
Release Date:20/09/1997
WWE Ground Zero: In Your House
Character:Chyna
Release Date:07/09/1997
WWE SummerSlam 1997
Character:Chyna
Release Date:02/08/1997
WWE In Your House 16: Canadian Stampede
Character:Chyna
Release Date:06/07/1997
Best Of Raw • Volume Six
Character:
Release Date:01/07/1997
WWE King of the Ring 1997
Character:Chyna (Ringside)
Release Date:08/06/1997
WWE In Your House 15: A Cold Day in Hell
Character:Chyna (Ringside)
Release Date:11/05/1997
WWE WrestleMania 13
Character:Chyna (Ringside)
Release Date:23/03/1997
Television Appearances
I demoni dello sport
Character:Self
WWE This Is Awesome
Character:Chyna (archive footage)
Biography: WWE Legends
Character:Chyna
Vice Versa
Character:Self (archive footage)
Reality Bites Back
Character:
Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew
Character:Self
The Surreal Life: Fame Games
Character:
Midnight Money Madness
Character:
The Tyra Banks Show
Character:
Best Week Ever
Character:
The Surreal Life
Character:Self
Robot Wars Grand Champions
Character:
Tracker
Character:Rhee (as Joanie Laurer)
WWE Tough Enough
Character:Chyna
Fear Factor
Character:
Gary & Mike
Character:Self (voice)
The Huntress
Character:
Relic Hunter
Character:Natasha Tripova
WWE SmackDown
Character:Chyna
WWE SmackDown
Character:
Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Character:Self
WWE Heat
Character:
WWE Heat
Character:Chyna
Celebrity Deathmatch
Character:
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch
Character:Mary Jo Ponder
Pacific Blue
Character:Tonya Sweet
3rd Rock from the Sun
Character:Janice
MADtv
Character:Self
Raw
Character:Chyna
Raw
Character:
Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Character:
WWE Old School
Character:Chyna (Ringside)
Images
