Chyna faced many well-documented struggles in her life, including addiction. Joan Laurer was found dead in her California home on April 20, 2016, at the age of 46. According to an autopsy report, she died with traces of painkillers in her system, as well as a drug to treat anxiety and a muscle relaxer. Her brain was donated to science to study the effects of CTE, and her body was cremated. Despite being at odds with the company she once dominated, WWE.com posted an obituary for Chyna, and a video tribute package to the late star was shown on “WWE Raw” following her death.

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After her death, Chyna was inducted to the WWE Hall of Fame alongside her fellow D-Generation X members in 2019. Fans of the star have clamored for her to be inducted individually for all she had accomplished in the company for years. In 2015, Paul “Triple H” Levesque said that Chyna’s career in the adult film industry prohibited her from getting in to the Hall of Fame on her own, though both he and Michaels have claimed that she’s deserving since then. 

Chyna is gone, but certainly not forgotten when it comes to the women of today in WWE. Former Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley paid homage to Chyna with her 2023 Payback gear, indicating that she remains an influential figure. With the next generation of trailblazing women competing in WWE who say Chyna inspired them, to women getting more and more opportunities to show what they can do, Chyna’s legacy of finding her voice within D-Generation X and not backing down from a challenge is still felt today.

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If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).