![]() Chyna ultimately became the first and only woman to win the Intercontinental Championship.īehind the scenes, Laurer posed for Playboy, which stirred controversy in the wrestling circuit. She entered battle royale style matches-the first for a woman-and rose through the ranks to become one of wrestling's most popular and profitable stars, despite men in the circuit being intimidated by the idea of a woman beating them. In her early years at WWF, she adopted the name Chyna and became a force for women in wrestling unlike anyone before. how does that demean me?"Īt the same time, Laurer starting dating Levesque and remained with him until 2000. In an interview about whether wrestling was a reputable sport and form of entertainment, she said, "I'm probably one of the most recognizable female athletes in the world right now. This was disputed, partly, by one of Laurer's mentors who called her a liar, claiming he landed Laurer the position. WWF's rival, WCW, was also considering Laurer for a position.Īccording to Laurer, after accepting the WCW position, WWF countered and brought her on as a wrestler in 1997 as part of the famed wrestling faction Degeneration-X. After meeting Paul Levesque and Michael Hickenbottom (better known by their stage names Triple H and Shawn Michaels, respectively) in 1996 following a WWF (now WWE) show, the company reviewed her wrestling tapes and expressed interest in her joining the organization. Laurer's wrestling career started in 1995, when she started wrestling under the name Joanie Lee. Chyna's Ascent and Descent from Greatness Later, she started entering fitness competitions, regularly placing first. After college, she enlisted in the Peace Corps and held an assortment of odd jobs, including a cocktail waitress, a 900 number operator, and a belly dancer. Also in her book, she alleged that she was raped by two men while attending the University of Tampa. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Laurer persisted, turning to working out in high school and eventually pushing forward and attending college. In her biography, If They Only Knew, she detailed a tumultuous childhood that involved multiple moves, multiple stepfathers, an eating disorder, and sexual assault from a seventh grade teacher. Laurer was born in Rochester, New York in 1969. ![]()
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