In the winter of 2000, the Right to Censor was running wild in World Wrestling Entertainment. Led by Steve Richards, the group vowed to censor any and everything they deemed inappropriate about the company they worked for, including blatant and overtly sexual behavior. When former Intercontinental champion Chyna posed for Playboy magazine in November, they immediately set their sights on the Ninth Wonder of the World. Ivory, the only female of the group, repeatedly berated and lectured Chyna about her decision to bare all for the world to see and at Armageddon in December, accompanied Val Venis to the ring for his match against her. Venis would win the match then plant Chyna with a spike piledriver that injured the neck of the raven-haired beauty. The angle sidelined Chyna for weeks but she would return in time to face Ivory for the Women's Championship in January of 2001 at the Royal Rumble. Chyna dominated the majority of the match, as many would expect. She was physically superior to Ivory and had defeated some of the top male stars in the industry. The yapping, obnoxious Ivory really stood no chance in a fair fight. Unfortunately for Chyna, her signature handspring elbow proved to be her downfall as her head snapped back as she executed it, re-injuring her neck. Ivory would make the pin and retain the title but attention turned to Chyna, who laid motionless in the center of the ring, her wrestling career suddenly in doubt. While Chyna was sidelined for a second time, Ivory took to mocking her and her injury, feigning tears and making light of a potential retirement. She would get what was coming from her when she defended her title against the returning Chyna at WrestleMania X-Seven. Per the signed contract, no members of the Right to Censor could be at ringside meaning no one would be there to help Ivory when she was most in need of it. And she was in need of it a lot. Chyna tore through Ivory, easily defeating her following a gorilla press drop. The win was the culmination of the last true rivalry Chyna would have for the company. As had been the case with Sable before her, the mainstream exposure Chyna got from appearing in Playboy went to her head and her attitude changed. When she departed from the company later in 2001, she was still Women's champion. Luckily, there was a whole new crop of women looking forward to picking up the ball that she dropped and running with it, creating a new era of women's wrestling in WWE in the process.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
