The Great Fall of Chyna
Most people that we know have little, if any knowledge of the wrestling world. Most non-fans still call the dominant sports entertainment product the WWF. Even though Vince McMahon makes every attempt to get the mainstream world to talk about it, wrestling is about as important to most people as Olympic ping pong.
It is that fact that makes the transcendent superstar extraordinarily amazing. EVERYONE knows Hogan, the Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin and Chyna.(If you don’t believe me ask any one that you do not know and they’ll tell you who she is, I tried it). Some may even venture to say that Chyna is more recognizable than Stone Cold, though that point is neither here nor there. These four performers have been or have become larger than their sport and possibly larger than anyone else that may come along or is already here. It is extremely difficult to achieve what the aforementioned have. Just ask Triple H or Ric Flair, two huge stars that have very little mainstream appeal.
Success in the ring does not necessarily make you a star. HHH has ten title reigns and could walk down most streets without being stopped by an adoring fan. The same could be said for Ric Flair. Nothing that these two have done has really made them stand out in the general public’s eye. To wrestling fans these men are near god-like. To the majority of Americans, they just look weird and yell a lot. Name any wrestler today and I almost guarantee that most people have no clue as to who they are. No one today is even approaching that status. It is this that makes the accomplishments of Hogan, Rock, Austin and Chyna even larger.
Chyna could arguably be the most underappreciated wrestler of this era. DX would not have worked without her. Eddie Guerrero may have never gotten over if not for his storyline with Chyna. She attracted attention in ways that Nicole Bass never imagined (Nicole Bass was a weightlifter than tried to turn into a wrestler. Her career was cut drastically short from lack of talent. Her intended appeal was that she is larger than most men on the roster).
Chyna helped to get the WWE’s name out in a way never imagined. She was a freak show without being a freak. Her sheer power and presence made her mysterious yet appealing. Everyone had to see what all of the fuss was about and she did not disappoint. Chyna became the first woman in WWE history to hold the Intercontinental Championship. While her title reign was not long she got her point across. She defeated the first ever undisputed champion in Chris Jericho to win the title and lost to a near legend in Eddie Guerrero. Not bad but even better than that she drew a ton of attention to the WWE as she stripped her clothing off for a Playboy pictorial.
Remember, Chyna was a freak show in all of the good ways the phrase can be used. People in love with her had to see her private areas. People wondering what a nude, strong, muscle bound woman looked like had to buy the magazine, too. She grossed over $1,000,000 doing this and elevated her star to where few stars have been before. When fans think back on the Attitude Era undoubtedly Chyna’s name will be mentioned as one of the heroes of that time.
However, unlike Hogan, the Rock and Austin, Chyna has not found long term fame and happiness outside of the ring. While driving home this past Friday, I heard Chyna on WBLS –NY 107.5 with host Wendy Williams. Chyna sounded sluggish, confused and almost demented. Her already unique voice was even more unique and undistinguishable than in the past. Slurred words preceded other slurred words. Her incoherent thoughts jumped from strange ideas like X-Pac, alcohol and a stay in prison. For those of you that did not hear her on the radio just check her out on VH-1’s Surreal Life.
To be sure that what I had heard was just a bad day for her, I checked out the blossoming reality show. Unfortunately, my fears were confirmed. I am not an eloquent or descriptive enough writer to illustrate what I saw and heard. However, as great as Chyna had been she has fallen. She claims to be absolutely broke. Her recorded love making session with Sean Waltman is not netting her a thin dime while he exclusively rakes in the royalties. She blindly trusted a family member with her earnings from Playboy which are now gone. Vince McMahon paid her significantly less than the male superstars, so she has little to show from her time in the ring.
Much like a broken heirloom all Chyna has left is the same thing we have left of her; memories.
While Chyna has seen better days in the past the end does not have to be now for her. She has stated repeatedly that the driving force behind her exodus was when her then boyfriend Paul Levesque cheated on her with Stephanie McMahon. He has repeatedly discussed his relationship with Chyna in more graphic ways than I choose to repeat here. The shame and anger that fills her is normal. All she has to do to return is to hope that the McMahon/Levesque reign over the WWE comes to an end. After that happens (and hell freezes over) she would be free to return to the glamorous life of a pro wrestler.
Unfortunately for the wrestling fans of the world, Chyna has fallen.
Congratulations to Clayton Deathe and Matthew ?. Both e-mailers sent in hilarious lists for the WWE Mad Libs. Enjoy! Clayton’s answers will appear on the left hand side, while Matt’s will be on the right.
Ah, once again the incredible/quick grappler, HHH, the lovely/extremely talented performer reclaimed the title of World Champion. His 1,000,000,000th/9th title has raised him to tiny/masterful heights. Cactus Jack/Ravishing Rick Rude may be more deserving but screw him. The fans in Tijuana/Berlin could not be more proud of their number 1/3 wrestler.
This week’s WWE Mad Lib does not require you to e-mail. Just pick the five word types listed below and scroll down to plug in your answers. Enjoy.
1. ING verb
2. adjective
3. wrestler
4. female celebrity
5. name
Scroll Down…
I can’t believe I stopped ____1____. First. My head got shaved by that _____2____ Eugene and now this. How DARE Vince put me in a match with ___3____. ____4____ sure is hot! I wonder if she’ll stand in my corner? GRRRR. I am Eric “___5____” Bischoff, damn it! I should be in charge.
