WWE: Chyna Was A One-Woman Revolution And Timeless Icon

Credit: WWE.com

Wrestling legend Joanie “Chyna” Laurer stood alone during her time as a WWE Superstar at the end of a path paved with tears and the wrecked bodies of the men she defeated in competition to get there. She stood with no peers, because she was a woman going solo in a male-dominated world in an era where the majority of the audience held ignorant ideas of women in sports.

That’s no longer the case. As evidenced by any WWE show today, women are a frequent and necessary part of in-ring combat. Superstars of the women’s division like Becky Lynch, Sasha Banks, Charlotte Flair, and more are regularly getting nearly as much screen time as the men. These women are getting main events and huge pay-per-view spots and their status grows every week. In so many ways, though, Chyna kicked the door open for all of that.

Chyna didn’t discriminate in taking on any man or woman to step up to her. Chyna was strong, bold and unapologetic, and she dominated the Attitude era in WWE as its most fascinating Superstar. She made so much history and had such a massive influence on the generations of stars to come that her absence from the WWE Hall of Fame is a stain on the company’s reputation.

If you’re new to the woman so affectionately referred to as “the Ninth Wonder of the World,” have a seat. Maybe you’re a young fan or just generally new to WWE; either way, to understand the influence of Chyna is to appreciate one of the strongest pillars of the entire wrestling industry.