Alex Yarde pays tribute to Chyna and asks can we do more for loved ones in pain.
Shattered glass ceilings, kicked down doors, broke gender barriers, she was an anomaly & untouchable. Rest now-ur legacy lives on #RIPChyna – Trish Strauss via Twitter
It was confirmed on Chyna’s website and Twitter feed Wednesday.
“It is with deep sadness to inform you today that we lost a true icon, a real life super hero”
“Joaine Laurer aka Chyna, the 9th Wonder of the World has passed away. She will live forever in the memories of her millions of fans and all of us who loved her.”
There was no mention on her cause of death, she was found in her Los Angeles home.
I won’t hazard to speculate about how she died, but I know over the years the way she was portrayed in the media to a large extent, was not very flattering. I think any woman to chose professional wrestling as a career, competing against both men and women, and excelling at it at a time before MMA (seen as more legitimate) took off and Rhonda Roussey was a household name, took guts and determination that demands the respect I believe Chyna was due, but never truly got until her untimely demise.
I remember Chyna as one of the first female Pro Wrestling stars. She was fantastic to watch. Impossibly strong and agile, she would and could take on all comers male or female. Her time with Sean Micheals then Triple H and Degeneration X were highlights for me. In my option, I think her success in the ring unfairly, never translated into her carrer outside of the ring. I remember the huge controversy surrounding her Playboy spread. She was judged harshly about being too “manly” which is still going on regarding Serena Willams and other female athletes. And knocked by critics for excelling in a sport that was pretty exclusively male in her day. I also recall her very painful to watch stint on THE SURREAL LIFE when her career seemed to be on the downturn while struggling with Alcholism.
As the sad news of one of the greats of the WWE Chyna’s death spreads across the Internet and tributes and condolences pour in, it makes me wonder, would this outpouring of love and respect while she was still with us had made any difference? Celebrity is a double edge sword, it’s a tough buisness, but show business still has its own double standards. If she were male, like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, would it have been an easier transition for her to explore other avenues of the entertainment world without all the criticism, body shaming and sexism she was hammered with?
I’m left with a broader question. If we know or suspect people close to us are having a difficult time, making questionable choices or showing signs of depression, when should we intervine? How can we help?
I don’t have any of these answers, but when this kind of public tragedy happens, perhaps the only good that can come of them is to take the time to look around us, and ask tough questions? Maybe that’s as fitting a tribute as any for Ms. Laurer.
Rest in peace Chyna.
all art – wiki
RIP Mamacita. I think you forget about the time she spent with Eddie Guerrero. That may have been the moment she was most famous. She got criticized by non-WWE fans as being too manly,, but WWE played her up to be hot. That’s why she got the Playboy spread. It may have in part paved the way for other athletic women. She”s definitely in my top ten for female wrestlers. Partly because of the intergender matches. Her taking on Brisco and Patterson in a handicap match and using a double full Melvin or the time Vince McMahon had a 4… Read more »