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."
Known For
Nothing Better Than Parody 7
(archive footage)
2024
Superheroes 2
(archive footage)
2023
Biography: Chyna
Self (archive footage)
2023
Nothing Better Than Parody 5
(archive footage)
2023
Biography: D-Generation X
Self (archive footage)
2022
Out in the Ring
Chyna
2022
Untold: Crime & Penalties
Self - WWF Superstar (archive footage)
2021
Vice Versa: Chyna
Herself
2021
Biography: Shawn Michaels
Self (archive footage)
2021
The Rock's Most Electrifying Matches
Chyna
2020
White T
Psychic
2013
She-Hulk XXX: An Axel Braun Parody
She-Hulk
2013
Avengers XXX: A Porn Parody
She-Hulk
2012
Losing Control
Barb
2012
Trantasia
Self
2007
TKO
2007
Illegal Aliens
Rex
2007
101 Reasons Not To Be A Pro Wrestler
Herself
2005
Alien Tracker
Ree
2003
NJPW The Spiral
2002
Brown Sugar
Woman at Party (uncredited)
2002
Frank McKlusky, C.I.
Freeda
2002
WWF: Divas in Hedonism
Herself
2001
WWE Judgment Day 2001
Chyna
2001
Playboy: Joanie Laurer Nude
2001
WWE Rebellion 2000
Chyna
2000
WWE No Mercy 2000
Chyna
2000
WWE WrestleMania 2000
Chyna
2000
WWF: It's Our Time
Chyna
1999
Mick Foley: Madman Unmasked
Herself
1999
Beyond the Mat
Self
1999
Best Of Raw • Volume Six
1997
Wrestling with Chyna
Herself
I demoni dello sport
Self · (1 episode)
2025
WWE This Is Awesome
Chyna (archive footage) · (1 episode)
2022
Biography: WWE Legends
(2 episodes)
2021
Vice Versa
Self (archive footage) · (1 episode)
2020
Trish & Lita – Best Friends, Better Rivals
Chyna
2019
WWE Hall of Fame 2019
Chyna
2019
WWE: Monday Night War Vol. 1: Shots Fired
Chyna
2015
WWE Greatest Wrestling Factions
Chyna
2014
Chyna Is Queen of the Ring
Herself
2012
WWE: The Best of SmackDown - 10th Anniversary, 1999-2009
Chyna (archive footage)
2012
YouShoot: Chyna
Herself
2011
Backdoor to Chyna
2011
TNA Sacrifice 2011
Chyna
2011
Another Night in China
Herself
2009
WWE: The History Of The Intercontinental Championship
Chyna (archive footage)
2008
Reality Bites Back
(1 episode)
2008
Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew
Self · (10 episodes)
2008
WWE: The Best of Raw 15th Anniversary
Chyna
2007
Cougar Club
Teddy Archibald
2007
Just Another Romantic Wrestling Comedy
Roxanne
2007
The Surreal Life: Fame Games
(10 episodes)
2007
Midnight Money Madness
(33 episodes)
2006
The Tyra Banks Show
(1 episode)
2005
1 Night in China
Herself
2004
Best Week Ever
(1 episode)
2004
Hunter: Back in Force
Brandy Rose
2003
The Surreal Life
Self · (11 episodes)
2003
Robot Wars Grand Champions
(23 episodes)
2002
Tracker
Rhee (as Joanie Laurer) · (2 episodes)
2001
WWE Tough Enough
Chyna · (2 episodes)
2001
Fear Factor
(1 episode)
2001
WWE WrestleMania X-Seven
Chyna
2001
WWE Royal Rumble 2001
Chyna
2001
Gary & Mike
Self (voice) · (1 episode)
2001
WWE Armageddon 2000
Chyna
2000
WWE Survivor Series 2000
Chyna
2000
WWE Unforgiven 2000
Chyna
2000
WWE SummerSlam 2000
Chyna
2000
The Huntress
(1 episode)
2000
WWF Fully Loaded 2000
Chyna
2000
WWE King of the Ring 2000
Chyna (Ringside)
2000
WWE Judgment Day 2000
Chyna (Valet)
2000
WWE Insurrextion 2000
Chyna (Ringside)
2000
WWE Backlash 2000
Chyna (Valet)
2000
WWF: The Rock - The People's Champ
Herself
2000
Alien Fury: Countdown to Invasion
Ava Zurich
2000
WWE No Way Out 2000
Chyna (Ringside)
2000
WWE Royal Rumble 2000
Chyna
2000
WWE Armageddon 1999
Chyna
1999
WWE Survivor Series 1999
Chyna
1999
WWE No Mercy 1999
Chyna
1999
WWE Rebellion 1999
Chyna
1999
WWE Unforgiven 1999
Chyna
1999
Relic Hunter
Natasha Tripova · (1 episode)
1999
WWE SummerSlam 1999
Chyna
1999
WWE Fully Loaded 1999
Chyna
1999
WWE King of the Ring 1999
Chyna
1999
Come Get Some: The Women of the WWF
Chyna
1999
WWE Over the Edge
Chyna
1999
WWE No Mercy (UK) 1999
Chyna (Ringside)
1999
WWE SmackDown
Chyna · (11 episodes)
1999
WWE Backlash: In Your House
Chyna (Ringside)
1999
WWE WrestleMania XV
Chyna (Ringside)
1999
WWE St. Valentine's Day Massacre: In Your House
Chyna
1999
WWE Royal Rumble 1999
Chyna
1999
WWE Capital Carnage
Chyna
1998
WWF: The Rock - Know Your Role
Herself
1998
WWE Judgment Day: In Your House
Chyna (Ringside)
1998
WWE SummerSlam 1998
Chyna (Ringside)
1998
WWF: D-Generation X
Chyna
1998
Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Self · (1 episode)
1998
WWE Heat
(357 episodes)
1998
WWE Heat
Chyna · (3 episodes)
1998
WWE Fully Loaded: In Your House
Chyna (Ringside)
1998
WWE King of the Ring 1998
Chyna (Ringside)
1998
WWE Over the Edge: In Your House
Chyna (Ringside)
1998
Celebrity Deathmatch
(1 episode)
1998
WWE Unforgiven: In Your House
Chyna (Ringside)
1998
WWE Mayhem in Manchester
Chyna (Ringside)
1998
WWE WrestleMania XIV
Chyna (Ringside)
1998
WWE No Way Out of Texas: In Your House
Chyna (Ringside)
1998
WWE Royal Rumble 1998
Chyna (Ringside)
1998
WWE D-Generation X: In Your House
Herself
1997
WWE Badd Blood: In Your House
Chyna
1997
WWE One Night Only
Chyna
1997
WWE Ground Zero: In Your House
Chyna
1997
WWE SummerSlam 1997
Chyna
1997
WWE In Your House 16: Canadian Stampede
Chyna
1997
WWE King of the Ring 1997
Chyna (Ringside)
1997
WWE In Your House 15: A Cold Day in Hell
Chyna (Ringside)
1997
WWE WrestleMania 13
Chyna (Ringside)
1997
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch
Mary Jo Ponder · (1 episode)
1996
Pacific Blue
Tonya Sweet · (1 episode)
1996
3rd Rock from the Sun
Janice · (3 episodes)
1996
MADtv
Self · (1 episode)
1995
Raw
Chyna · (78 episodes)
1993
Whose Line Is It Anyway?
(1 episode)
1988
AVN Awards
Self · (1 episode)
1984