THE DEATH HAS occurred of professional wrestling star Chyna at the age of 45.
The wrestler, real name Joan Laurer, was one of the most popular female superstars in the sport in the late 1990s.
Laurer was found dead in an apartment in Redondo Beach, California, by a friend. She had died sometime before being found according to a police statement.
The friend told police that Laurer had not responded to her phone in a few days and she had become concerned for her welfare.
“Officers arrived on scene and discovered a deceased female inside the location,” Redondo Beach police said in a statement.
The deceased female has been identified as Joan Laurer. Joan Laurer was also known as ‘Chyna’ and was a professional wrestler and entertainer.
The exact nature and cause of the death, as well as the general time of death is under investigation by the Los Angeles County Coroner’s department.
A statement on Laurer’s own Twitter account confirmed her death.
“It is with deep sadness to (sic) inform you today that we lost a true icon, a real life superhero. Joanie Laurer aka Chyna, the ninth wonder of the world has passed away,” it said.
She will live forever in the memories of her millions of fans and all of us that loved her.
Laurer first joined the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment), then the WWF, in 1997.
She is the only female wrestler to win the Intercontinental Title, which she did twice.
She left the company in 2001.
“WWE is saddened to learn of reports that Joanie Laurer, best known for competing in WWE as Chyna, has passed away,” WWE said in a statement.
A physically striking and talented performer, Chyna was a true sports-entertainment pioneer.
Not only was the Superstar dubbed “The Ninth Wonder of the World” a founding member of the groundbreaking faction D-Generation X, but she also holds the distinction of being the first woman to enter the Royal Rumble Match and the first and only woman to win the Intercontinental Championship.
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