The entertainment website also reported that there were no signs Chyna committed suicide but law enforcers did find legal prescription bottles.
“Law enforcement sources tell us there was no suicide note left in her Redondo Beach, CA home. We’re also told it appears the WWE legend had passed away a “day or two” prior to Wednesday evening … when a friend found her body. The last known contact she had with anyone happened on Sunday evening,” TMZ said.
Neighbors suspected Chyna, who made history as the first female wrestler to enter the World Wresting Entertainment’s Royal Rumble and King of the Ring events, had died of “overdose” as she appeared “under the influence” lately.
Chyna, whose real name is Joanie Laurer, was found dead in her home by the Southern California police who responded to a 911 call from a friend. She was 45.
Police found no indication of foul play. But as an autopsy is being set, it will be weeks before toxicology results are released.
“It is with deep sadness to inform you today that we lost a true icon, a real life superhero. Joanie Laurer aka Chyna, the 9th wonder of the world has passed away. She will live forever in the memories of her millions of fans and all of us that loved her,” a message on her website said.
Her death shocked the wrestling community with WWE chief brand officer and former wrestler Stephanie McMahon posting on her Twitter account: “I just heard the tragic news that @ChynaJoanLaurer has passed. She was truly a pioneer in our industry, and she will be missed. #RIPChyna.”
Triple H, with whom she become romantically involved, described Chyna as “someone who wasn’t afraid to blaze her own trail & create a path for those who would follow. A pioneer whose star shined bright.”
The great Hulk Hogan also tweeted that he was “devastated over Chyna passing, she dated Brutus years before wrestling, such a beautiful soul and so kind to my children, RIP Joanie love u.”
Born on December 27, 1970, Chyna became a flight attendant after graduating from the University of Tampa in Florida in 1992. Before discovering fame in wrestling, she entered fitness contests and took several odd jobs.
In wrestling, she was a WWE (then known as the World Wrestling Federation) Women champion and the only female to hold the WWE Intercontinental Championship.
”This big woman coming out of the crowd, it was something you’d never seen before,” sports and entertainment website Fansided editor Jack Jorgensen told the Associated Press.
”She was polarizing, but she made it OK for a woman to get in there with the men. Even on the theatrical stage that is the WWE, she made it believable that she could compete with a man.”
Chyna was billed as the “9th Wonder of the World,” competing against prominent male wrestlers and scoring victories over Chris Jericho, Jeff Jarrett, Kurt Angle and Triple H. She was also part of WWE’s D-Generation X squad.
Outside wrestling, Chyna appeared in several adult films from 2004 to 2013 and has posed for Playboy.
