1990s WWE wrestling star Chyna dies at age 45 in California

Chyna, the WWE star who became one of the best-known and most-popular female professional wrestlers in history, has died at age 45.


Los Angeles County coroner’s lieutenant Larry Dietz says Chyna, whose real name was Joan Marie Laurer, was found dead in Redondo Beach on Wednesday.

pic.twitter.com/w3OUnNNUQx

— Chyna (@ChynaJoanLaurer) April 17, 2016

Dietz said his investigator was still at the location with the body late on Wednesday night, and he had no further information on the death.

#RipChyna 😢😢😢 all of us on team Chyna love you and will love you forever babe.

Felix pic.twitter.com/jOfbHUAI2j

— Chyna (@ChynaJoanLaurer) April 21, 2016

The tall, muscle-bound, raven-haired Chyna billed herself as the “9th Wonder of the World” because her wrestling predecessor Andre the Giant had already called himself the eighth.

#Flashback Moment King of the Ring match against @WWERoadDogg . Miss you my friend wish you nothing but the best pic.twitter.com/GWakNObXHM

— Chyna (@ChynaJoanLaurer) April 13, 2016

Rising to prominence in the late 1990s, she was a member of the wrestling squad that dubbed itself D-Generation X, she often wrestled against men and at one point was the WWE women’s champion.