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Cambridge Who's Who Member Joanie "Chyna Doll" Laurer
Cambridge Who’s Who lifetime member, Joanie Laurer, has made significant contributions to the entertainment industry. Laurer has served as a role model for women throughout her career while breaking barriers in wrestling and overcoming personal challenges. She was the first woman to wrestle men on a regular basis and has become a female icon in the entertainment industry. Besides distinguishing herself as a professional wrestler, Laurer has also successfully pursued acting, modeling and writing. Born Joan Marie Laurer on December 27, 1972, Laurer grew up in Rochester, New York. She learned to play the violin and cello and attended Pittsford Sutherland High School. Laurer spent her last year of high school in Spain and after graduating, went on to attend the University of Tampa. She completed her bachelor’s degree in two years with a major in Spanish literature. While in college, Laurer also studied French and German, and so she can hold conversations in both languages as well as Spanish and English.
Upon graduating from college in 1992, Laurer originally wanted to join the Federal Bureau of Investigations or the Drug Enforcement Agency. She instead joined the Peace Corps and was assigned to Guatemala. When she returned from Guatemala, Laurer began participating in fitness competitions. She entered the New York City regional level of the Fitness American competition in 1996 and later trained at Wladek “Killer” Kowalski’s wresting school in Malden, Massachusetts.
Laurer’s wrestling career skyrocketed after she attended a professional wrestling show in 1996 and met two performers in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF): Paul “Triple H” Levesque and Shwan Michaels. Following the review of her wrestling tapes, she was brought into the show as a bodyguard in 1997. While on the show, Laurer demonstrated that she could survive in and become a well-known wrestler with the WWF despite being a female. She was the first woman to enter the Royal Rumble and qualify for the King of the Ring tournament. While at the WWF she was dubbed, “Chyna: The Ninth Wonder of the World.” In 2001, Laurer left the WWF for personal reasons.
Laurer’s professional accomplishments include winning the International Wrestling Foundation Women’s Championship, being named Rookie of the Year in 1996 by the Pro Girls Wrestling Association, being a three-time winner of the WWF Intercontinental Championship in 1999 and twice in 2000 and winner of the WWF Women’s Championship in 2001.
In addition to her wrestling credits, Laurer has appeared on several television shows throughout her career, including: The Howard Stern Show, Third Rock from the Sun and presenter at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2000; Fear Factor in 2001; host of Robot Wars: Grand Champions in 2002; Hollywood Squares in 2003; The Surreal Life in 2005; Just Another Romantic Wrestling Comedy and Illegal Aliens in 2006; and The Surreal Life: Fame Games in 2007. Laurer also modeled for Playboy in 2000 and 2002 and filmed a documentary entitled “Joanie Laurer Nude: Wrestling Superstar to Warrior Princess.” Her autobiography, “If They Only Knew,” was released in 2001 and was featured on the New York Times bestseller list.
Laurer is passionate about domestic violence and animal rescue causes. She supports charitable organizations including Shelter from the Storm in Palm Springs, CA and the Nicole Brown Simpson Foundation.
Joanie “Chyna Doll” Laurer joined Cambridge Who's Who as a lifetime member in April 2006. Cambridge Who's Who offers its members recognition and exposure of their accomplishments, credibility in their field and networking opportunities to stimulate career growth. Laurer was selected for the Cambridge Who's Who Notable Member Wiki because of her remarkable achievements in the entertainment industry.
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