10 Terrifying Transformations Caused By Wrestling

8. Chyna

Kurt Angle
VICE

The last days of the 'Ninth Wonder Of The World' were tragically chronicled in a Vice documentary that itself didn't appear to have the best interests of the former Intercontinental Champion at heart.

Various people had seemingly controlled much of Joanie Laurer's life shortly before she passed, but an inability to remain entirely free of her drug and alcohol dependancies seemed to result in the internal belief that she couldn't be left alone.

A series of physical changes during her WWE run went largely unreported on at the time due to the rampant success of the gimmick, but her aesthetic alterations became one of just several parts of her life zeroed in on by various vultures keen to make money from her remarkable life and legacy. As a performer, Chyna was a force of nature. By the end, and with more physical miles on the clock than ever, she was being forced into doing more than she ever should have needed to do.

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Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett