Here are some of Chyna's most memorable career moments
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Jul 26, 2021, 12:47 IST
After training under wrestling teacher Walter (Killer) Kowalski at a school in Massachusetts, Chyna made her first WWE TV appearance in 1997. She was inspired to embark on a wrestling career after watching a match on TV. "I could go out and be this big, huge female and entertain people," she is quoted saying to the Boston Herald in 1999. "That’d be my niche."
In 1999, she made history by becoming the first ever woman to enter the Royal Rumble match — a 30-person battle royal held once a year. She was eliminated by eventual winner Stone Cold Steve Austin, but her participation paved the way for future female superstars to enter.
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In the same year, she made history again by becoming the first woman to qualify to participate in the King of the Ring tournament. She defeated Val Venis in the first round, but was knocked out by Road Dogg in the quarter finals.
She made an appearance at a WWE press conference at the Target Center in Minneapolis in July 1999, where she was photographed adorning the governor Jesse Ventura with a feather boa and glitter sunglasses.
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She solidified her status as one of WWE's greatest ever female performers when she became the first woman to win the Intercontinental title in 1999 — defeating Jeff Jarrett at the No Mercy PPV. No woman has held the belt since.
Before she left the WWE in 2001, Chyna won the Divas's Championship after defeating her opponent Ivory. Here's a shot moments before Chyna threw Ivory down with a trademark body slam.
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Since rising to acclaim, Chyna made a number of appearances at award shows and events. Notably, she presented an award with Chewbacca at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards in 2001.
She also made several cameos in TV shows including "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch" (pictured below), "3rd Rock From the Sun," and "The Nick Cannon Show."
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After posing for Playboy in 2000, Chyna became a pornography star. Here she is at an event in Hollywood with Playboy founder Hugh Hefner in 2002.
She openly struggled with substance abuse, and appeared on "Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew."
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Though she continued to attend celebrity events, like the 31st annual American Music Awards, where she posed flexing her bicep on the red carpet in 2003.
In a recent interview with Vice from 2015, Chyna reflected on the hardships of her career and personal life, and the porn industry. She also talked about going vegan, doing yoga, moving to Japan to teach English, and how she has inspired "women all over the world with being strong, powerful, and beautiful."
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