Joanie Marie Laurer (born December 27, 1969 in Rochester, New York) is an American actress and retired professional wrestler. A former bodybuilder, she is best known for her appearances with the World Wrestling Federation between 1997 and 2001, where she was known as Chyna and nicknamed "The Ninth Wonder of the World" (with the eighth wonder being André the Giant). Joanie Laurer trained at Wladek "Killer" Kowalski's wrestling school in Salem, Massachusetts, where she briefly dated Perry "Saturn" Satullo. She debuted in 1995 and worked for various independent promotions as Just Joanie and Joanie Lee. Her career reached new heights when she met World Wrestling Federation employees Hunter Hearst Helmsley (Triple H) and Shawn Michaels in a bar in 1997. Struck by her appearance, they helped her get into the WWF. Her original role was as Chyna, the laconic bodyguard of D-Generation X, often getting physically involved in Triple H's matches. |
