Regardless of what your personal opinions may be on Chyna there is no denying she changed the game for not only women of professional wrestling but men as well.
She was in a league of her own. Last night moving into the early morning of today is a tough one for the wrestling world. It almost doesn’t feel real. Maybe it’s just because being such big Chyna fans we don’t want to accept it.
Right now the number one trend on Twitter is #RIPChyna as it should be. We here at WNB have took it upon ourselves to compile some of those tweets but really each one is a beautiful tribute and we encourage you to look through them:
Perhaps though the most heartbreaking tribute comes from Mick Foley as he took to his Facebook account this morning to pay tribute to his friend saying:
GOODBYE JOANIE
My heart is aching. My eyes are swollen from crying, having just talked to Joan Laurer’s manager Anthony Anzaldo on the phone and been told that Chyna, the 9th Wonder of the World was no longer with us; gone at only 45.
I will always be grateful for the friendship I shared with her, but particularly so for the kindness she showed my children, especially Noelle when she was younger. I will never forget those moments where Joanie would take Noelle by the hand at WWE events in the late 90’s – off to have her makeup done, her fingernails painted; bonding time between big, strong Joanie, and her tiny sidekick. A father doesn’t forget that type of kindness.
I didn’t know whether to post a classic photo of Chyna in her WWE prime or of Joanie from the last time I saw her – about 10 months ago at a convention on Long Island. I went with the photo from the convention because of the emotion; because it was taken at the exact moment I saw her for the first time in many years. I was told later that Joanie wasn’t sure how I would react to her, and that it meant a great deal to her to be accepted. Like I said, a father doesn’t forget. I called home on my way back from the convention – only about 40 minutes from my house. “I’m bringing a friend over to watch the pay-per-view” I said to my wife.
“Who’s that?”, my wife asked.
“Chyna”
“Chyna?”
“Yeah, Chyna!”
And that was pretty much that. A mother, you see, doesn’t forget the kindness shown to her child, either.
I am so glad we had that night with Joanie. A night to let her know how much we cared about her, whether it was politically correct or not. A night to let her know we loved her – and always would. RIP my dear friend. I pray that somehow in death, you can find the peace that eluded you so frequently during the latter years of your remarkable life.
As you can see the general consensus is that Joanie (Chyna) was a remarkable person, and she touched the hearts of everyone she knew. No longer hurting and finally at peace. Long live the 9th wonder of the world
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