Chyna's meteoric rise from rookie to star in WWE seemed to happen in a whirlwind. However, just as fast as the mute muscle for D-Generation X became a star, that star power quickly diminished, leaving her with nothing. After leaving WWE, Chyna attempted to resurrect her wrestling career in both TNA and New Japan but never regained the star status she enjoyed while in WWE.
Several years after her abrupt exit from WWE, and several failed attempts at restarting her career, Chyna seemed to resort to a wide variety of methods to stay relevant, including a televised drug rehab show and a career in the adult film industry. Chyna would eventually pass away in 2016 after suffering from a drug overdose. Following her death, Chyna was finally inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame albeit as a part of D-Generation X and not by herself, though Chyna's family has continued to push for her to be inducted by herself as well.
10 Young Chyna
While some wrestlers grow up fans of the business and get into it to fulfill a lifelong dream, that certainly wasn't the case for Chyna. Before joining WWE, Chyna studied various languages at college and hoped to work for either the DEA or the FBI. Neither of these career paths panned out as she ended up working in a range of odd jobs with her sister Cathy
In 1995, Chyna began training with Killer Kowalski who was responsible for training other stars including Tommaso Ciampa, Perry Saturn, and Chyna's future partner Triple H. Chyna's decision to go into professional wrestling would undoubtedly change the course of her life forever.
9 WWE Debut
When Chyna first arrived in WWE, she was paired with Triple H. The pair worked together on-screen while maintaining a relationship off-screen as well. Chyna would debut as a plant in the crowd, attacking Goldust's valet Merlena during Goldust's match with Triple H at the In Your House 13 pay-per-view. It was during her first weeks that she was given the ring name Chyna, a pun on the fragility of fine china.
In 1999, Chyna became the first woman to enter the Royal Rumble, a feat that to date has only been achieved by 4 female wrestlers. Chyna qualified for the match by winning the coveted number 30 spot during the D-Generation X and Corporation battle royal. In the match, Chyna eliminated Mark Henry, before being eliminated by Stone Cold Steve Austin.
8 Singles Breakout
Following her shattering of the glass ceiling at the 1999 Royal Rumble, Chyna began to drift away from D-Generation X becoming the number one Contender for the WWE Championship before defeating the Intercontinental Championship from Jeff Jarrett at No Mercy in a Good Housekeeping Match.
Chyna then lost the title to Chris Jericho at the Armageddon pay-per-view, Jericho and Chyna would go on to be co-champions until the Royal Rumble pay-per-view in a Triple Threat match that also included Hardcore Holly.
7 Women's Championship
After losing the Intercontinental Championship, Chyna would become Eddie Guerrero's storyline girlfriend and moved into the women's division. At WrestleMania X-Seven, Chyna defeated Ivory to win her first and only Women's title. Chyna would hold the title until she left the WWE in November 2001.
According to Chyna, she left the WWE to pursue an acting career after reportedly speaking to management about Triple H's affair with Stephanie McMahon. Meanwhile, Jim Ross claimed that Chyna demanded to get paid a similar level to top stars like Stone Cold Steve Austin.
6 Stint in NJPW
After leaving WWE, and failing to establish herself as an actress, Chyna moved to Japan to continue her wrestling career there. In 2002, Chyna made her first non-WWE wrestling appearance in six years refereeing a tag team match for New Japan's Toukon Memorial Day 30th Anniversary.
Wrestling as Joanie Laurer, Chyna would become the first woman to compete on a New Japan show, predominantly in multi-wrestler tag team matches. At NJPW The Spiral pay-per-view in 2002, Chyna had her only singles match in New Japan Pro Wrestling, losing to Masahiro Chono.
5 Hiatus from Wrestling
Following her departure from New Japan, Chyna took a hiatus from wrestling having burned bridges with WWE and New Japan Pro Wrestling. At the time, Chyna was dating fellow professional wrestler Sean Waltman, in what would prove to be a tumultuous relationship.
Chyna would develop more of a drug problem and eventually recorded her first adult movie with Waltman named 1 Night in China. During their relationship, Chyna would also be arrested for Domestic Assault for beating up Waltman.
4 Reality Television
After her leaked sex tape with Waltman, Chyna claimed that she simply made the best of her situation and began appearing in adult movies. Around the same time, Chyna would also appear in reality television shows, seemingly attempting to reclaim some of the fame that she had achieved while in WWE.
During this period, Chyna appeared in season 4 of Surreal Life and season 1 of Celebrity Rehab with Dr Drew. Despite her renewed efforts, Chyna, once again, failed to reach the same level of stardom that she received in WWE.
3 TNA Comeback
Eight years after her last wrestling appearance, Chyna returned to professional wrestling after making her debut in TNA wrestling. Chyna was introduced by TNA's Network Consultant, Mick Foley, as Kurt Angle's business associate. Chyna and Angle would team up against Jeff and Karen Jarrett at the TNA Sacrifice pay-per-view. This would be Chyna's final in-ring performance, leaving the promotion after the Sacrifice pay-per-view. Chyna's in-ring return saw TNA's pay-per-view numbers fall, with more than 8,000 fewer fans tuning in to Sacrifice.
2 Post Wrestling
Following her failed run in TNA, Chyna returned to Japan for a much quieter existence. Chyna moved to the country and began teaching English instead of seeking a life of fame. While in Japan, Chyna joined the Church of the Latter-Day Saints. It seemed that Chyna had finally given up on her dreams of returning to the spotlight. During her second stint in Japan, Chyna also adopted a vegan lifestyle. During those years, Chyna was also involved in more adult film productions including parody films of the Avengers where she played She-Hulk.
1 Immortalized In Video Games
While her star diminished, her unfortunate drug addiction didn't stop and in April 2016, she passed away from a drug overdose. Chyna's funeral was attended by several former wrestlers including Melina Perez, Rob Van Dam, and her former partner Sean Waltman.
After the funeral, Chyna was cremated and her ashes were tossed out to sea by her former manager Anthony Anzaldo. Following her death, Chyna would also posthumously return to WWE's video games, appearing in WWE Battleground and WWE's 2K series in 2K22 and 2K23.
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