Former WWE Star Chyna Dead At 45
Joanie Laurer passes away from suspected drug overdose.
Former WWE Women's Champion Joanie "Chyna" Laurer has reportedly passed away, aged just 45.
The tragic news was first reported on Chyna's own Twitter account where the following post was uploaded...
Variety has now confirmed she was found dead in her home in L.A.
Official cause of death is unknown but news outlets such as TMZ are reporting that her passing is believed to have been from a 'possible drug overdose'.
Chyna was a ground-breaking women's wrestler for WWE in the 90s where her intimidating look and screen presence led to her eventually wrestling men and beating men for their belts. She started as a bodyguard to D-Generation X before following Triple H early into his singles run towards WWE World Title gold.
The pinnacle of her career came when her on-screen character moved away from HHH - defeatingJeff Jarrett for the Intercontinental Title at No Mercy 1999.
After that run, which included a memorable feud with Chris Jericho over the belt, she fell back into the women's division and dominated her opponents before a high-profile cover shoot in Playboy overshadowed anything she did in the ring. That publicity and the break down in her real-life relationship with Triple H led to backstage issues which ultimately saw Chyna released in 2001 and she's never been invited back to the company since.
Through reality tv, sex tapes, drug scandals and a porn career - Chyna has seemingly never been too far away from the public eye since her WWE career ended.
She obviously deserves a WWE Hall Of Fame position for her historic achievements in wrestling but Triple H did publically note in recent years that her career since she left WWE has proved problematic to consider her for the hall. Whether that stance will soften now she's passed, we will have to wait and see.