For any WWE Superstar, being the 30th and final entrant into a Royal Rumble match is a win in and of itself. After all, the #30 spot is mathematically the best position to be in and has produced winners including John Cena, Triple H, The Undertaker, and Cody Rhodes. But we’re not here to talk about the winners.

While #30 has produced plenty of winners, entering last is far from a guaranteed Rumble victory. Over the decades, we’ve seen plenty of #30 entrants be eliminated as quickly as they entered.

Here are some Superstars who squandered their coveted spot as the #30 entrant. 

The Warlord (1992)

Until Santino Marella broke the record in 2009, the Warlord’s name was synonymous with having the shortest stint in a Royal Rumble with 2 seconds at the 1989 Rumble. Well two years later, the Warlord had better luck, but still had an abysmal performance. Lasting 1:43, Warlord scored no eliminations in the 1991 Rumble before being eliminated for the third time in his career by Hulk Hogan. 

Adam Bomb (1994)

When Adam Bomb made his way to the ring as part of the 1994 Royal Rumble, Vince McMahon on commentary declared “ADAM BOMB IS GOING TO WIN THE ROYAL RUMBLE!” Now mind you, the match still had Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, and Lex Luger all in the bout.

As you’ve figured out by now, Bomb didn’t live up to McMahon’s declaration as he was flattened and thrown out by the bigger stars in 4:55.

Duke ‘The Dumpster’ Droese (1996)

We can’t help but wonder what the fans in Fresno’s Selland Arena felt when Duke Droese was the final participant in the 1996 Royal Rumble match. Seriously, did a single person think it’d be Bret Hart Vs ‘The Dumpster’ at WrestleMania 12?

Droese eliminated nobody before being thrown out by Diesel and Kama after 1:10. 

Vader (1998)

Once a top star of Japan and WCW, Vader’s WWF run did not do the superheavyweight justice. Never was that more evident than the 1998 Royal Rumble match, in which Vader lasted just 2:15.

His sole elimination saw Vader throw out comedy cameo The Honky Tonk Man, making it clear that the powerhouse was not meant to be taken seriously as a possible winner.

Chyna (1999)

The first woman to enter a Royal Rumble match, Chyna did score a single elimination in the 1999 match, which is more than what most people on this list can boast.

But at 35 seconds, it felt like WWE wanted Chyna out of the match as quickly as she came in. 

Booker T (2002)

Perhaps the biggest name who joined WWF after WCW’s 2001 demise, Booker T had a rough start in the promotion. While he was Vince McMahon’s pick in the 2002 Rumble match, Booker would last just 33 seconds before being tossed out. It’d be a long time before the talented wrestler would be treated as a main eventer. 

Rey Mysterio (2014)

One of wrestling’s most beloved heroes, Rey Mysterio’s entrance as the #30 entrant in 2014 was quite a shock to behold.

Simply put, fans wanted Daniel Bryan, and Rey’s arrival snuffed out their last hope. Rey lasted 2:10 and scored 0 eliminations, making his role seem even more egregious. 

Dolph Ziggler (2018)

After surrending his newly-won U.S. title in late 2017, fans were curious as to what was to come for Dolph Ziggler. For months, Ziggler was nowhere to be seen, until he returned to programming as the #30 entrant in the 2018 Men’s Rumble match.

Unfortunately for the Show-Off, his return was entirely anti-climactic, and he would be eliminated in 2:01 by Finn Balor. Ziggler’s only elimination would see him toss out the cameoing Goldust, who lasted longer in the match than Dolph himself. 

Nia Jax (Men’s 2019)

Nobody expected R-Truth, the original #30 entrant in the 2019 Men’s Rumble to win, but the decision to replace him with Nia Jax was entirely bizarre.

The following sequence which saw a bunch of male Superstars hit their finishers on Jax wouldn’t help matters either, especially as some fans online seemed too eager to watch her get ganged up on. Jax would eliminate Mustafa Ali before being dumped out herself at 3:09. 

Nia Jax (Women’s 2023)

Four years on from her bizarre entry into the Men’s Royal Rumble, Nia Jax made a surprise return to WWE during the 2023 Women’s Rumble.

Her big return is probably best remembered for WWE displaying graphics with her name over ten seconds before her return. Jax eliminated nobody in her 1:57 stint in the match. 

WWE has seen many women travel through the company that changed history. Chyna turned heads in the late-90s for WWE, proving that women can be more than Divas. In today’s company, Rhea Ripley is taking the idea of what it means to be a female Superstar to another level. 

Rhea Ripley’s Place In WWE Today

Rhea Ripley currently stands among the prominent female WWE Superstars, steadily gaining momentum each week. As the lone woman in Judgement Day, she has often been compared to another amazing female talent who once backed a stable, Chyna. The Eradicator doesn’t mind those comparisons at all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lT9DIey1Ts

While speaking to The West Australian, Rhea Ripley spoke about the comparisons she receives to Chyna. She considers those comparisons to the WWE Hall of Famer “amazing” and she is “very proud of” the fact that she is in that conversation. 

“I don’t think getting compared to Chyna is a bad thing at all. I think it’s amazing. I’m actually very proud of that fact. The only problem that I’m having at the moment is that, I’ve done all these amazing things with men that have been so good to me, and let me do these things. While I was doing that, the women’s division was suffering a little bit, and not getting built the right way. It was at a weird time where things weren’t certain and things were changing constantly, so the women’s division suffered a little bit, and now we’re trying to build it back up.”

“Obviously we have like our Becky Lynches, we have Nia Jax, we have our Charlotte Flairs, our Asukas, all of that, but it’s time to make some new stars as well, and that’s what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to make new names and get the women’s division rocking and rolling.”

“So there’s lots of great challenges, but for me, I love doing everything. I love beating the men up. I love beating the women up. It makes me different, it makes me stand out, and it’s a lot of fun.”

Rhea Ripley will keep doing her thing, while remaining true to herself. If that means she is compared to a trailblazing legend like Chyna, then so bet it. 

Chyna’s Tragic Groundbreaking Story In WWE

Chyna rose to prominence in the late 1990s as a groundbreaking figure in professional wrestling. Debuting in WWE in 1997, Chyna quickly shattered gender norms by competing against male wrestlers. Billed as the “Ninth Wonder of the World.” Chyna achieved significant success, becoming the first woman to enter the Royal Rumble and winning the Intercontinental Championship. 

Sadly, despite her accomplishments, personal struggles and conflicts led to her departure from WWE in 2001. Chyna faced challenges post-wrestling, including ventures into reality television and adult entertainment. Her life took a tragic turn, and she battled substance abuse and mental health issues, contributing to her untimely death in 2016. 

Chyna’s legacy remains complex, marked by both her groundbreaking contributions to wrestling and the challenges she faced in her personal life. After her death, in a moment that was a long time coming for many pro wrestling fans, Chyna was finally inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as a member of DX in 2019.

WWE fans are still waiting on a solo induction for Chyna, and Rhea Ripley would probably love to see that happen, too. 

Chyna will always go down in history as the first (and to date, only) woman to win the WWE Intercontinental Championship, but should she also have had a World title reign?

The Ninth Wonder of the World debuted in the WWF in 1997 as the bodyguard for D-Generation X before splitting from the group in 1999.

Winning the Intercontinental Championship in October 1999, a title she would also win at Summerslam 2000, Chyna would capture the WWF Women’s Title at WrestleMania 17.

World Champion

In the Summer of 1999, Triple H was the number-one contender for the WWF Championship at Summerslam, but would later lose his shot.

During a triple-threat match on the August 9, 1999, Raw is War, WWF Champion ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin would attack Triple H and aid Chyna in winning the Game’s title shot.

Speaking on Foley is Pod, WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley made the case for a Chyna World title run.

“I do [think she should have been World Champion.] mean, look, Vince McMahon was World Champion. David Arquette was World Champion. Vince Russo was World Champion. Yeah, I think there’s a very real chance that she could have.”

Mick Foley.

Chyna would later lose her title shot to Mankind, who would later draw with Triple H, and a triple threat between Austin, Triple H, and Foley was set for Summerslam.

Despite plans for Triple H to win, Austin reportedly refused to put The Game over, and Foley won the title before losing it to Triple H on the post-Summerslam Raw.

WWF Champion Chyna: Could it Have Happened?

Chyna would never win the richest prize in the WWF, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t genuine talks about it.

Speaking in a 2020 interview with Wrestling Inc, Chyna’s former manager Anthony Anzaldo claimed that the ex-Superstar turned a title reign down at an undisclosed time.

“They offered her the WWE Championship belt, but Vince said, ‘But you can’t do Playboy’ because she got offered to do Playboy. She chose Playboy over the belt.”

Anthony Anzaldo.

Chyna would leave the WWF in 2001 and would pass away in 2016 at the age of 46 without ever making a return.

h/t – BodySlam

Chyna was once one of the biggest names in the World Wrestling Federation, but she and WWE had very different ideas as to how much she was worth.

Chyna (real name Joan Marie Laurer) joined the WWF in 1997 as the bodyguard for the newly-formed stable D-Generation X.

In April 2016, Laurer would die of an overdose of alcohol and pain medication. She was 46.

Guarantee

By 2001, Chyna had won the Intercontinental Championship twice (the only woman to date to win the title) and would win the Women’s Championship at WrestleMania X-Seven.

Chyna’s time with the company would come to abrupt end after the Judgment Day 2001 Pay-Per-View, where she’d retain her title against Lita.

Speaking on the latest episode of his Grilling JR podcast, Jim Ross addressed Chyna’s departure after she requested a $1 million guarantee on a new contract.

“She wanted a million dollars because she felt like she was worth more being a female, being more unique, than Stone Cold, some of the other guys. There was only a handful of guys making a million dollars per year.

“She wanted a million dollars…There was only a handful of guys making a million dollars per year.”

Jim Ross.

“I said, ‘Vince, if I can’t get a decent number, we may have to pass on it. He said, ‘Well, that’s your call.’ I couldn’t give her a million dollars a year. Could she have earned over a million dollars per year? She probably did a couple of times, if I remember correctly, but that guarantee was just too big.”

After her departure, the WWF Women’s title was vacated before being won by Trish Stratus at that November’s Survivor Series.

Hall of Fame

Chyna would never return to the WWE before her tragic passing in 2016 and was posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.

Her induction would not be as a solo act but as part of D-Generation X, which has caused a backlash among fans who believe Chyna deserves an induction as a singles wrestler.

Last month, Mick Foley (a 2013 Hall of Fame inductee) advocated for Chyna to receive a solo induction.

h/t – eWrestlingNews

Saraya, formerly known as Paige in WWE, returned to the ring after being out of action for over five years this past weekend at AEW Full Gear 2022.

She suffered a neck injury during a WWE Live Event in 2017 after Sasha Banks connected with a Dropkick. After stepping away from the squared circle, Saraya served as a manager in WWE for the Kabuki Warriors, and was a co-host of the WWE Backstage talk show with Renee Paquette, Booker T, and CM Punk.

Saraya defeated Britt Baker at Full Gear and got a big pop from the crowd at the Prudential Center. A wrestling fan pointed out on Twitter that Saraya’s theme reminded them of WWE Hall of Famer Chyna.

Saraya responded and revealed that Chyna was her inspiration for her ring gear this past Saturday at AEW Full Gear. Chyna passed away in 2016 but was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2019 alongside Degeneration-X.

Saraya Reveals Britt Baker Carried Her Through Their Rivalry

After AEW Full Gear 2022 went off the air, Saraya joined Tony Khan at the media scrum. The 30-year-old admitted that she was rusty and Britt Baker carried her through the storyline. She said that Britt is an absolute star and helped her a lot during her rivalry.

Sean Waltman hopes that the late Chyna is honored during tonight’s WWE Monday Night RAW.

As noted, we have some idea of what’s in store for tonight’s season premiere episode of Monday Night RAW on the USA Network.

One of the planned segments includes four members of D-Generation X appearing to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the group being formed. 

WWE Hall Of Famer Sean Waltman is expected to be one of those members. Speaking on Busted Open Radio, Waltman was asked about what he expects from the reunion tonight. Waltman noted that all members of the group are still around – except one.

That being the late former Intercontinental and WWE Women’s Champion Chyna. Waltman hopes there is some mention of or honor for Chyna on tonight’s episode.

“The only person that’s not with us obviously is Joanie (Laurer) [Chyna]. I hope that tonight, we don’t forget to honor her or we don’t just brush past that.

“As far as the rest of us go, everyone is in a really good place right now. I’m pretty grateful for that.”

Chyna has not been mentioned much on WWE TV in the past several years since her passing, and is also surprisingly not yet a member of the WWE Hall Of Fame.

It will be interesting to see if that cycle is broken tonight – especially with Triple H now seated in a more authoritative position within creative.

Quotes via Fightful

Shawn Michaels is very fond of his days in one of the most popular wrestling factions of all time, Degeneration-X.

The WWE Hall of Famer recently spoke with the New York Post about the group’s legacy ahead of their 25th Anniversary reunion at the October 10th edition of Monday Night Raw, which will take place from the Barclay’s Center in New York.

One of DX’s most famous signature taunts was the crotch chop, a move the Heartbreak Kid credits fellow Hall of Famer Sean Waltman for originating.

“The first place I remember seeing it was Sean Waltman, who was then known as 1-2-3 Kid and later X-Pac, doing it over in the UK. Then all of a sudden, we were doing it as a group, to each other, kind of thinking it was funny.”

Everything In DX Felt Natural

Michaels would later discuss how comfortable the group felt while on television together, explaining that a lot of their on-screen chemistry stemmed from their friendships off-screen.

“From a television standpoint, as we started to do DX, it just felt kind of natural. A lot of things that we did on TV as DX were things we were doing as friends behind the scenes long before we ever brought it to TV.”

Despite being a heel faction DX became super over with the WWE Universe. When asked why he thought they were being cheered Michaels states that their amusing antics and occasional truth bombs probably resonated with fans.

“At first, they felt like we were doing it to them — and their favorite superstars — and they booed us. But after awhile they found it amusing because some of the things we said were true and resonated. Nothing seemed to bother us. We always had a witty comment for someone else.”

DX would not have been the group it was without the presence of the Ninth Wonder of the World, Chyna. Michaels acknowledges this, adding that not only was Chyna a trailblazer for women’s wrestling, but that her impact probably would not have been the same if she was wrestling today.

“From a performer standpoint she would clearly fit in and be phenomenal. I think what makes her the awe-inspiring, innovative and transforming woman that she was was that she did it earlier than all of them. It would be a bit more commonplace today. She would certainly have an incredible career — but I don’t know that she’d be the trail blazer today that she is if she were currently doing it today.”

Michaels is now one of the main heads of NXT since Triple H took over for the now retired Vince McMahon.

In 1997, Joan Laurer debated in the WWF, introduced as Chyna: the imposing bodyguard for D-Generation X.

Chyna’s career would see her become a two-time Intercontinental Champion (the only woman to win the title), as well as a one-time Women’s Champion and the only woman to enter the King of the Ring tournament.

After her 2001 departure, Chyna was never welcomed back to the company before her death in April 2016.

Survivor’s Guilt

One Superstar who worked closely with Chyna is ‘Road Dogg’ Jesse James, who often teamed with the Ninth Wonder of the World in DX.

Speaking on his ‘Oh You Didn’t Know’ podcast, James said that he recently filmed content for an A&E Biographies: WWE Legends episode about the deceased wrestler.

Road Dogg said he got emotional thinking about Chyna, and how like her, he too had problems with drugs and other substances, but is still alive (via Wrestling Inc.)

“They came to my house and I didn’t think I was gonna, I was gonna cry, but it got me, man. Some of that survivor’s guilt comes back, you know what I mean? … I did every horrible thing she ever did, why me? … It got me yesterday and the guy said, ‘Oh, man, that’s gonna be good TV.'”

“I did every horrible thing she ever did, why me?”

Road Dogg Jesse James on questioning why he’s alive and Chyna isn’t.

The Hall of Fame

For years, WWE tried to downplay Chyna’s influence, arguing that her career in pornography meant that she could not be acknowledged by the PG-rated promotion.

In recent years, WWE has done a U-turn and now celebrates Chyna, inducting her posthumously into the Hall of Fame in 2019.

While Chyna is worthy of the induction, fans criticized that she was being inducted as part of DX and not as a singles Superstar.

There have been calls for Chyna to receive a second induction, with WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley saying he believes it should happen.

Chyna passed away on April 17, 2016, at the age of 46 due to an accidental drug overdose. Her body was found on April 20 at her home in Redondo Beach, California when her manager got concerned over Chyna’s inactivity on social media and decided to give her a visit.

Now Chyna’s mother, Jan LaQue, has come out and said that she believes there is more to the story regarding her daughter’s final moments.

Posting on Facebook, LaQue revealed that a woman named Dee J Ben (Dee Joy Bendoy) called her after Chyna died and told her that she spent the last Sunday with her. This was the last day that Chyna was in contact with anyone.

LaQue further continued that the woman told her that she and her boyfriend spent the Sunday afternoon drinking with Chyna in her condo. LaQue has been trying to get more details on what happened to her daughter right before she died but the woman refuses to speak to her.

LaQue thinks that the woman is hiding something about Chyna’s death. Right after Chyna’s death, she personally spoke to the LA coroner investigator, Christy McCracken, and the Redondo police detective investigator.

Chyna’s mother says both of them told her there was no evidence of alcohol in her condo. The examiner informed her that two types of alcohol contributed to her death and her blood level was “way over the top.”

Since there was no alcohol found in Chyna’s apartment, LaQue suggests that evidence at the scene was tampered with and someone must have “cleaned up” things. Since the woman was last in contact with her, she must have known about her condition. Her refusal to give more details to Chyna’s mother does not help her case either.

Facebook Post

In the post, LaQue urged people to let her know if anyone knows the woman or what happened during that time. You can read the post in its entirety below:

“So many of you have contacted me recently and told me that you hoped that some day I would find the answers to what really happened to Joanie right before her death and how she really died. This woman in these pictures, now going as Dee J Ben on Facebook, (she has been called Dee Joy Bendoy) called me after Joanie died telling me that she spent that last Sunday with Joanie. That was the last day that anyone saw her.

She told me that she and her boyfriend and Joanie spent that afternoon drinking in Joanie’s condo. Since then I’ve tried to contact her several times to learn more, but she keeps ignoring my requests to speak with her. Is she hiding something? It would seem so. I spoke to the LA coroner investigator, Christy McCracken, and the Redondo police detective investigator personally, right after Joanie’s death. Both of them told me that there was no evidence of alcohol in Joanie’s condo. Then the LA medical examiner told me that contributing to her death were two types of alcohol and her blood level was WAY over the top.

So how does that make sense? She was obviously under the influence of massive amounts of alcohol, yet nothing was found in the apartment. What happened? Did this Dee remove all the evidence? And if so, why? She had to have known that Joanie was in terrible shape. Why did she go away and leave her in that condition? And if she didn’t remove any bottles or evidence, then who did? Someone had to have “cleaned up” things.

As more and more time goes by, I’m more and more convinced that this Dee Bendoy knows the truth about what happened. But getting her to come clean with what she knows about that last day is another story. If you know this woman and/or what happened, please please let me know so I can put this mystery to bed. Not knowing what happened is honestly heartbreaking. I promise that I will keep anything you share in confidence.”

Vice TV has released a trailer for CHYNA, the upcoming documentary on the life and career of Joanie “Chyna” Laurer. It premieres Thursday, June 17th at 9pm (EST) on Vice.

“The rise and fall of iconic, trailblazing female wrestler Chyna—told through exclusive footage from the last year of her life.“

Director Marah Strauch spoke to PEOPLE about the project.

“Joanie aka Chyna’s meteoric rise and fall is the stuff of Shakespearian drama, but underneath all that flash, she was an intelligent and sensitive person who struggled with addiction,” Strauch said.

“This documentary will give viewers an intimate and unfiltered view of her personal journey as a pop culture icon and beyond and will compassionately tell the true story of Chyna’s last year of life,” she continued.

Chyna’s mother, Janet LaQue, will participate in the documentary. She spoke to PEOPLE about her decision to do so.

“I participated in this documentary because, as Joanie’s mom, it was important to me to have the opportunity to tell my side of the story,” LaQue said. “Joanie was an awesome human being not only in the ring but, more importantly, beyond the ring. She was a wonderful person.”

“Joanie’s story is important to tell because people should know the vast extent her life’s positive impact had on so many others,” she added. “Her gentle, loving and caring way was astounding despite the inner grief and sadness she carried at the same time.”

Despite her troubles, Chyna remains to be one of the most iconic female wrestlers in the history of WWE and part of the credit for it goes to the company’s unique portrayal of her character.

During a recent interview with WrestlingInc, the former WWE star’s mother Janet LaQue talked about the impact her daughter has had on the business.

Talking about WWE’s portrayal of her character, Janet said that at first, it was a little weird seeing her daughter as Triple H’s bodyguard and according to her, Chyna looked better later on when she adopted a more feminine appearance:

“Well, at first, it was a little weird because she was portrayed as Triple H’s bodyguard, she had changed so much her body structure from the way that she was that I think she was portrayed okay. I mean, I know that a lot of it is fake.

So I mean you got to do what you got to do, but then later, when she became much more feminine in her appearance, even though she could pick up and slam just about anybody, she looked good while she was doing it. I thought it was pretty cool to tell you the truth.”

• Court Bauer Reveals Nixed Idea For Match Between Bret Hart And Vince McMahon

Janet LaQue also talked about Chyna’s pairing with late great Eddie Guerrero admitting that she thought it was kind of cool and said that the pairing definitely had some humor to it.

Chyna left WWE in November 2001 after her contract expired and the negotiations for her re-signing fell apart. She died from an accidental drug overdose in April 2016 at the age of 46.

WWE Hall of Fame legend Chyna will be a playable character in WWE 2K20. Fans who purchase the deluxe or collector’s edition of the game will be able to play as the 9th Wonder of the World and a sneak preview of her entrance was posted to WWE’s social media accounts earlier today.

The game is scheduled to be released on October 22nd, 2019.

WWE Hall of Famer Chyna

While many fans are pleased Chyna was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame this year, some felt let down she wasn’t given a solo induction. Chyna was inducted as a member of D-X before WrestleMania this year. Triple H spoke to CBS in April and noted that he believes Chyna will receive a solo induction some day.

• Triple H Confident Chyna Will Get A Solo WWE HOF Induction One Day

“I’m sure she will be in the Hall of Fame sometime on her own. I think it’s fitting she is in there with DX in the beginning because it’s how she started, and I think it’s what it should be,” Triple H said.

WWE 2K20

Bray Wyatt’s Fiend character was also announced as downloadable content for the game. The Fiend will be featured in the “Bump in the Night” originals series.

• Bray Wyatt’s Fiend Announced As WWE 2K20 Pre-Order Bonus

WWE 2K20 also announced a partnership with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society on a global marketing strategy.

• WWE 2K20 Announces Partnership With The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Chyna’s mother Jan LaQue is threatening legal action against the makers of the docuseries “Autopsy: the Last Hours Of…” over a scheduled episode focussed on her daughter’s final days.

“On April 20th 2016, professional wrestling legend Chyna died from an overdose in her Los Angeles apartment. Once celebrated as the ninth wonder of the world – Chyna’s life unravelled after she left WWE and she became infamous as a casualty of drug and alcohol abuse,” a description for the video reads.

Response From Chyna’s Mother

Upon hearing of the planned episode, Chyna’s mother Jan LaQue reached out to the producers via email.

“I want to make it clear to you, very very clear, that NO ONE – NO ONE – really knows what happened during Joanie’s final hours. So you can’t possibly air something on the supposed ‘Truth’ because you don’t know it.  I don’t know it!!” an email from LaQue obtained by Pro Wrestling Sheet reads.

“You need to be VERY clear that as her mother and her sole beneficiary, I am going to vigorously defend my daughter and her estate, protect her legacy from vultures like you who want to drag it through the mud, and do whatever I can to stop you and those like you from making a buck off of her tragedy both now and in the future,” a further email from LaQue reads.

The episode is scheduled to air August 25th on Reelz. The network reached out to Pro Wrestling Sheet with the following message:

“Autopsy: The Last Hours of… responsibly explores the circumstances of the passing of well-known and genuinely loved celebrities who the public cares about immensely. The REELZ series generates much feedback from our viewers ranging from fans who tell us it provides closure, medical professionals who praise its scientific accuracy and many who gain helpful perspective of health issues that might not otherwise receive attention like Karen Carpenter who brought anorexia into the public consciousness and, more recently, with Prince whose passing focused attention on the Opioid epidemic.”

• Triple H Confident Chyna Will Get A Solo WWE HOF Induction One Day

Triple H recently did an interview with CBS Sports State of Combat where he talked about D-Generation X (Shawn Michaels, himself, Chyna, X-Pac, Road Dogg, and Billy Gunn) being inducted into this year’s Hall of Fame class.

For Triple H, he made it known in this interview that he ’s thrilled for her as the human being that he knew and for her family about her being inducted into the honorable class. In his mind, there is probably not a woman who has ever made as big of an impact as she did because she was someone who transcended the business on her own.

“I’m sure she will be in the Hall of Fame sometime on her own. I think it’s fitting she is in there with DX in the beginning because it’s how she started, and I think it’s what it should be.”

This year’s ceremony will take place on April 6, 2019, from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, which is the same weekend as WrestleMania 35.

Triple H was then asked about the other stars going in with this class. He brought up how he’s thrilled that it’s the year that she’s being honored despite having the opportunity to do so in the past.

“Partly because finally, the time has passed where everything can just happen, and it can be right for her where the moment of putting her in the Hall of Fame for this manner is about her accomplishments and not about anything else. That was always my bigger point of this. You can’t do it when [the negative] becomes the conversation. The conversation needs to be about her accomplishments and what she did here.”

WWE legend Chyna will finally take her rightful place amongst the company’s elite. It was announced that D-Generation X will be inducted into the Hall Of Fame prior to WrestleMania 35 this year. Chyna, one of the founding members of the group, is included in that induction. Fans have been calling for Chyna (real name Joan Laurer) to be inducted for quite some time.

However, the demand certainly heated up after her untimely passing. Her mother, Jan LaQue, has been a big advocate for Chyna going into the Hall Of Fame. After the news broke that it will finally be happening, LaQue reacted in a recent interview with Pro Wrestling Sheet:

“I am absolutely thrilled. And so is my husband. We have been invited to the ceremony and will be so proud to be there and celebrate this awesome occasion. She certainly earned this, to say the least.”

Chyna was found dead in her Redondo Beach, California home in April of 2016. She was 46-years-old. It was determined that her cause of death was due to an accidental drug overdose. Chyna helped break down barriers for women in professional wrestling. Especially given the emphasis being put on women’s wrestling today, there’s no better time to induct “The Ninth Wonder Of The World” than now.

What do you think about WWE finally putting Chyna in the Hall Of Fame?

Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Chyna, Road Dogg, Billy Gunn and X-Pac will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame this year. All 6 will be inducted as members of the legendary DX faction. Two versions will be celebrated, the original and the “DX Army” version.

ESPN broke the story earlier today.

“I think it’s the most meaningful for us all to go in together and to be recognized together,” Tripe H told ESPN. “Because I think both groups were [just] as impactful.”

Triple H would continue to tell ESPN about how the faction formed.

“It’s a funny thing, because DX was something that, before Kevin [Nash] and Scott [Hall] left, at the time we all talked about using ‘The Kliq’ as it was — kind of morphing that into television, since it was so out there anyways,” said Levesque. “But things worked out the way they did — they left, and the timing was right.”

He mentioned Chyna’s involvement in the faction to ESPN as well.

“Shawn and I still wanted to do it. Vince saw the value in it, I guess, and finally let us go at it,” Levesque continued. “By that point in time I was looking for a heater, and we had brought Chyna.”

• New Video Shows How Much Chyna Missed Her Wrestling Family

Triple H Says Chyna Deserves To Be In The WWE Hall of Fame

Triple H also stated his belief Chyna deserves to be in the Hall of Fame and addressed previous statements he made on the matter.

“Look, people believe what they want to believe. When I said a few years ago on the Austin podcast, or show, or whatever you want to call it, there’s complexities around it,” said Triple H. “But absolutely, definitely deserves to be in there. It’d be tough to pick a female that was more impactful on the business. She did something that was completely so out of left field that it wasn’t even being considered when we first brought it up for her to come in. It wasn’t even a consideration… it wasn’t an easy thing, and against all odds she did all of that.”

He even continued to say Chyna likely should go into the Hall of Fame as an individual as well.

“From that standpoint, absolutely 100 percent deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, and should probably be more than once — as a group, but individually as well,” Levesque continued. “There’s more complexity to that than meets the eye, but here we are. I’m just happy that it’s here. I’m happy for her family, the people that she was close to, that hopefully this is super meaningful to them. I know it would be to her. It’s a great thing — very deserving.”

You can read the full interview with Triple H here.

The world lost wrestling legend Joan Marie Laurer aka Chyna on April 20th, 2016. She was only 46 years of age at the time of her death. Rob Potylo runs the official Twitter account for Chyna and recently released a video he made just 2 months before her death.

In the video, Chyna said she hopes to be able to apologize to WWE for things she had said in the past. Potylo posted on Twitter of how much Chyna missed her wrestling family. He also made a plea for her to finally be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.

“Anyone who questions how much she missed her wrestling family, or what the WWE Hall of Fame meant to her.. Watch,” he wrote. “Might be some tears… Please RT. Let Chyna In.”

The video can be viewed in the player below:

I filmed this video with Chyna at her apartment 2 months before she passed…

Anyone who questions how much she missed her wrestling family, or what the WWE Hall of Fame meant to her.. Watch. Might be some tears… Please RT.

Let Chyna In.#LetChynaIn #WWEHOF #TeamChyna pic.twitter.com/2HnmwEqiSO

— Rob Potylo (@robertpotylo) February 6, 2019

• WWE Reports Record Financials For 2018, Vince McMahon Comments

Chyna On Missing Her Wrestling Family

“Lots of good stuff happening, so I’m thrilled about that,” she said to start the video. “One of the things I’ve been having difficulty with still is my communication with the WWE. I’ve been trying to convey that through the Hall of Fame and asking for sit-downs, and I think that the more that I go out to these shows and appearances I realize that it’s more about family and how much I miss my family.

And I don’t want to show up at all of these places with my brothers and sisters that I was in the trenches with, on the road with, that I love (and) were a huge part of my life, to see them now and feel awkward because of the repercussions of the battle with the WWE.”

Vince,
In her book Chyna referred to you as the best Father figure she ever had! She had demons, she made mistakes. She wanted to atone for those errors. She was a transcendent figure in the world of Women's Wrestling. Will you let Joanie into the WWE Hall of Fame?@VinceMcMahon pic.twitter.com/eXmtm1U5WU

— Rob Potylo (@robertpotylo) January 5, 2019

We are about to officially be on The Road To WrestleMania. WrestleMania weekend is filled with an extensive list of things to do for WWE fans to experience and enjoy. One event attending fans can witness is the annual WWE Hall Of Fame ceremony.

Every year, the WWE Universe, and even Superstars, speculate and debate over who could be joining the most recent class of inductees. This year is no different.

“She Was A Pioneer For The Women’s Movement”

Speaking with Kevin Cerrito on Sports 56/87.7 in Memphis, Natalya highlighted Chyna as deserving to be recognized as a Hall Of Famer.

“I think that one day it [Chyna entering the Hall Of Fame] will definitely happen,” Natalya said. “She really paved an incredible road for the women of the WWE and she was so unique. If you look back at those great memories of her, she really defined coloring outside the lines and being bold and bright and beautiful.”

“She was a pioneer for the women’s movement in general,” she explained. “So, I think definitely one day we’ll see it. A lot of people have said, ‘We should have this person in the Hall of Fame. And we should have this person in. And that tag team should be in.’ The thing is that WWE is not going anywhere. WWE is going to be around for a long, long time so everybody, I believe, is going to get their due and I believe Chyna will be one of them.”

Do you agree with Natalya? Does Chyna deserve a place within the Hall Of Fame?

One name that always gets tossed around when it comes to the WWE Hall Of Fame, is Chyna. Chyna was a very important piece of the WWE’s road to the Women’s Revolution. She helped break down barriers for women in professional wrestling during the Attitude Era in the late ’90s and early ‘2000s. Chyna competed in matches against men, participated in the Royal Rumble match, and even won the Intercontinental Championship.

“The Ninth Wonder Of The World” was truly ahead of her time in her heyday. However, her exit from the WWE was a highly controversial one, as well as her choices after her unceremonious departure. Unfortunately, Chyna passed away in April of 2016 from an apparent overdose. She was found in her Redondo Beach, California home by her manager, Anthony Anzaldo.

“Do What’s Right”

Now, many WWE fans and stars believe that a WWE Hall Of Fame induction for Chyna is long overdue. Her mother, Jan LaQue, certainly agrees. In a recent Facebook post, LaQue urged WWE to “do what’s right” and finally induct Chyna (real name Joan Marie Laurer) into the WWE HOF:

“As many of you know, yesterday would have been Joanie’s (Chyna’s) birthday. I truly appreciate all of the messages and rememberances of her that were posted by so many of you. As you can imagine, it’s always a very sad day for me. But it helps a lot to know how many people remember her and loved her.

“It’s one of the worst things in the world to lose a child. We HAVE to get her into the WWE hall of fame. She richly deserves to be there. WWE – LISTEN UP and do what’s right for Chyna!! You owe her that for what she did for you and women’s wrestling. She earned her place there. And it’s long overdue.”

For what it’s worth, WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon said she believes Chyna will one day be inducted into the Hall Of Fame. Her comments came just several weeks after Chyna’s passing in 2016:

Do you think Chyna should be inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame?

Former WWE Star Chyna is probably the most controversial female star in the history of the company and a possible Hall Of Fame induction for her is one of the most discussed topics among wrestling fans.

While her achievements in the ring provide more than enough reasons to earn her a spot into the prestigious group, the career path she chose after leaving the company puts officials in a tough place to make a decision on the same.

Since yesterday was the birthday of the deceased star, this topic was bound to find its way back into the spotlight and it was none other than her former teammate X Pac who brought it back into the people’s attention.

X Pac, real name Sean Waltman belongs to the group of stars who knew Chyna personally. He remembered the former IC Champion on her birthday via the following tweet, while also hoping that she will be honored the day before WrestleMania this time:

https://twitter.com/TheRealXPac/status/1078221716604612608

With WWE promoting women’s revolution strongly on their programming, X Pac’s comments about this being the right time to induct Chyna make a lot of sense.

However, the big question is if the company will be able to forget the issues related to her past since moving on from wrestling to be able to finally induct her into the Hall Of Fame this time?

The topic of Chyna going into the WWE Hall of Fame is one the company would probably rather not be discussed much. While the former 9th Wonder of the World had a revolutionary impact during her short WWE run, she’ll likely not end up in the WWE Hall of Fame while Triple H and Stephanie McMahon are running the company.

Despite this, Mick Foley recently commented on Twitter that he would be honored to induct his old friend should he ever be asked.

Mick Foley and Chyna

Mick Foley was always a friend to Chyna. Inside and outside the ring! In this clip he helps protect her number one contender slot for the heavyweights title! Maybe if she got into the WWE Hall Of Fame he could induct her?#TeamChyna #ChynaHOF #ChynaWWEHOF @RealMickFoley pic.twitter.com/83HAagj1gg

— Chyna (@ChynaJoanLaurer) July 10, 2018

“Mick Foley was always a friend to Chyna,” The official Twitter account for the late Chyna posted recently. “Inside and outside the ring! In this clip he helps protect her number one contender slot for the heavyweights title! Maybe if she got into the WWE Hall Of Fame he could induct her?”

Foley posted that he would be honored to induct Chyna.

https://twitter.com/RealMickFoley/status/1016997847445561344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1016997847445561344&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mandatory.com%2Fwrestlezone%2Fnews%2F973995-wwe-hall-of-famer-would-be-honored-to-induct-chyna

Chyna On Possibly Winning the WWE Championship

According to her, there were once plans on the table for Chyna to become the first-female WWE Champion. Evidently, those plans fell apart only because Chyna agreed to pose for Playboy.

In an interview she gave to the Bell 2 Bell podcast before her death, Chyna detailed why her WWE title run never came to be.

“Yes, there certainly was (a plan for her to win the title), it was actually in the pipeline and ready to happen, but when Playboy came along and wanted me to pose for them, I had to make a choice. Vince (McMahon) told me if I did Playboy, I could never be world champion. I’m a woman, I like to feel pretty and liberated, and be able to kick some ass too. So I chose Playboy and was never world champion,” Chyna said.

It seems that Chyna’s ex-manager, Anthony Anzaldo, has set up a GoFundMe account to raise money in attempt to land a Hollywood Forever Cemetary plot for the late former WWE Intercontinental Champion. The goal amount on the GoFundMe is $25,000:

“I have had the honor of sharing my home with Chyna’s urn for the past two years. Friday, April 20 is the 2 year anniversary of her passing. However, I think the time has come for all of her fans to be able to come and visit her. I would like to place her urn and lay her to rest in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood, CA., I really think she would love it there. There are several celebrities buried there and placing her right next to Judy Garland would make Chyna happy I’m sure.

“She Loved The Wizard Of Oz. To be clear, 1/2 of Chyna’s ashes were laid to rest 3 miles due west in the Pacific Ocean off of Esplanade and Avenue A in Redondo Beach. 1/4 was given to her Mother and in this urn is another 1/4 of Chyna’s ashes. I am raising only the money to buy the plot and get the chapel for a 1 hour memorial. I would like to have this take place as soon as possible within the next 45-60 days. All donations (any amount) graciously accepted. This burial spot will be for the fans by the fans.”

Jan LaQue, Chyna’s mother, commented on the post and stated that Anzaldo has no legal right to be in possession of Chyna’s remains but admits she allowed him to keep 3/4 of them with the agreement they’d be spread in the Pacific Ocean:

“As CHYNA’s mother and sole beneficiary, technically and legally, I own these ashes that Anthony is talking about. And he has no right to even have them let alone decide how to dispose of them. I allowed him to keep 3/4 of them initially with the understanding and agreement on his part that all 3/4 of them would be scattered in the Pacific ocean. He was NOT supposed to keep any of them back. Obviously that didn’t happen. I have had enough dealings with Anthony Anzaldo to know that he could care less about Chyna’s fans.

“His sole interest is in himself, making money off of others, and making himself look good. Be ware of giving his campaign any money. Obviously I will be contacting go fund me and an attorney, if I need to, to shut this down. PLEASE don’t donate to this Go Fund me. IT IS A SCAM. Anthony was supposed to scatter all of the ashes that he had of my daughter’s in the Pacific Ocean. Obviously he lied about that. Technically and legally, any of the ashes he has now belong to me, as my daughter’s sole beneficiary.

“This is nothing more than a scam to get your money from you. I can tell you story after story about Anthony and my dealings with him and how he treated me and my attorneys. STAY AWAY FROM THIS GUY. He is a snake. He never really cared about CHYNA. Only what he could make off her – and now even in her death. I know for a fact that she fired him before her death. Save your money. Donate to a reputable animal rescue which Chyna would love.”

Anzaldo responded and doubled down by saying that he is not trying to scam anyone, and accused Jan of being hateful for reasons beyond him:

“This is not a scam. This is very real. This is both for Chyna and her fans. Her Mother, who didn’t see her for 30 years, is hateful for reasons beyond me. I will not engage, but I can assure everyone that I have the legal right to do with what I wish with the 1/4 remains that I have a permit to own authorized by the State Of California. 1/2 of her remains were spread in the Pacific Ocean and 1/4 his with her Mother. Those are the facts. Chyna would love to be visited by her fans next to one of her idols, don’t let the haters be the gate keepers.”

Jan fired back with an extremely lengthy response:

“In spite of what Anthony says, I can assure you that this is a scam. I have saved every single email from Joanie before she died and also spoken with a WWE wrestling star who told me directly that he knew that Anthony was fired by Joanie before she died. In fact, he told me that Anthony even told him that!!. She hated Anthony and would NEVER have wanted Anthony to do what he is proposing to do. I am not hateful. Actually I’m far from it. I just hate the idea that Anthony continues to try to scam others out of money by playing the “friend” role. It’s just not true. I have hundreds of emails to prove what I’m saying.

“Also, my attorneys, both here in NC and CA, have told me on several occasions what kind of person Anthony is and how horribly Anthony treated them. NOW – TO BE CLEAR, I have in several documents in my possession regarding Joanie’s remains. First is a cremation purchase receipt from Best Cremation Care of CA, in which there was a permit issued to cremate her remains. There was no permit issued for ownership to Anthony Anzaldo. In fact, also in my possession is a signed by me and notarized letter dated April 22, 2016, addressed to whom it may concern, which authorizes Anthony Anzaldo to make certain decisions with regard to Joanie’s remains including release of her body by the LA coroner, election of a cremation facility, and funeral/memorial services.

“The restrictions to these decisions are/were as follows: Anthony was to review any plan for cremation and funeral services with me prior to execution for family approval. In addition, Anthony was to arrange for Joan’s ashes to be sent to me in North Carolina. Further the letter of authorization extended to my daughter’s personal effects. Anthony was to gain access to Joanie’s living quarters and excess monies and personal affects be forwarded to me. This letter also clearly states that ALL decisions of Anthony Anzaldo shall be binding up me after my written approval of the decisions. Well, that never happened. Anthony just went on his merry way acting like he was this big shot, and calling all the shots and decisions without getting my approval in writing for anything.

“There was nothing ever in writing signed and notarized by me approving of any of Anthony’s decisions, including that celebration service he held for her in which he just made a decision to give away Joanie’s cello which, under CA law, was legally my property as I was/am her sole beneficiary. Nor is there anything in writing at this point with regards to his big GOFUNDME campaign now and his right to even have these ashes let alone make a decision on what to do with them. As usual, he is trying to pull something over on the fans. And for the record, anyone who wants to discuss anything with me regarding Anthony’s deceptiveness, has only to go on facebook and message me. I will certainly reply back. Also, for the record, I’m going to contact the police and file whatever I need to file with regard to Anthony’s latest actions and the ashes.”

The 2018 WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony is less than a month away. This year’s class will include Goldberg, the Dudley Boyz, Ivory, Jeff Jarrett, Hillbilly Jim and Kid Rock.

WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley appeared on the Busted Open radio show this week and spoke about two legends he feels belong in the Hall of Fame.

Foley, who was inducted back in 2013, told hosts Dave LaGreca & Tommy Dreamer that he wants to see longtime rival and former WCW world champion Vader immortalized.

“Leon was so dominant not just in WCW, I mean he’ll be the first to tell you, if he came in during the attitude era in WWE he would have been amazing,” he said. “They had him from the get-go running away from people. I remember driving with him and he would be like ‘I’m Vader and running away from people!’. Where as I was given open reign to do whatever I wanted with my character, he just seemed to have so many people in his ear to tell him how to be Vader, when he’s done it successfully all over the world…. I think when you take into account everything he’s accomplished in WCW, NJPW, Mexico and in Germany and Europe.”

Mick Foley said he’d also like to see fellow Attitude Era performer Chyna in the WWE Hall of Fame. Chyna has been persona non grata in the WWE Universe over the past several years, with Triple H famously stating that she’s an unlikely candidate because, ‘what would the children think if they Googled her?’ WWE has softened its stance on Chyna lately, including her in video packages and Triple H and Stephanie McMahon even mentioning her on WWE television in recent months. Foley feels it’s time to honor formally honor the late 9th Wonder of the World.

“I also really like just the fact that Chyna is being mentioned and she’s being shown in clips. I would love to see her in. I know how much it would mean to her mom. I tell people you can’t let that one decision dictate if your career was a success. I didn’t wander around wondering if my career had meant anything because I wasn’t in the hall of fame, but it is a big deal.”

Listen to Mick Foley’s appearance on Busted Open here:

WWE RAW General manager Mick Foley announced on Facebook that he’s working with Chyna’s mother to gain control of her daughter’s estate, or at least what’s left of it. Chyna passed away back in April of this year.

WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley wrote on Facebook how he’s helping Joanie “Chyna” Laurer’s mother gain control of her estate. The two had been estranged but became close before Chyna passed away on April 20 of this year.

Foley said funds are limited but provided a link to where fans can help. Below is his full post:

PEACE FOR CHYNA

I had a nice talk with Joanie Laurer’s mom yesterday. While Joanie had been estranged from her mother for much of her adult life, including the entirety of her WWE run, the two eventually made peace and had become quite close by the end of Joanie’s life. Joanie’s mom is attempting to gain control of her daughter’s estate – but is trying to do it on a very limited budget, and the legal costs are more than she can handle. Don’t be fooled by the word “estate” – there is not a lot of money left, if any. But Chyna’s mom is attempting to do the right thing by allowing whatever personal effects she did leave behind to stay with the family and not with her manager, so that her family may finally be at peace with her loss. Whatever help you can give will be much appreciated. https://www.gofundme.com/discover/other-fundraiser

For those who have been suspicious of the motives of Chyna’s manager Anthony Anzaldo, whether in general or after the Bleacher Report profile of Chyna came out, this is fairly big news: Chyna’s estate is no longer in his control, instead going to her mother, Janet Laque. Laque sent this statement to Ryan Satin of Pro Wrestling Sheet:

My petition to the LA superior court to become Joanie’s estate administrator with “special letters” has been approved and gone through.  YEAH!!!!!!  This is a very big deal for me. Now I have to begin the work of getting it all together with the help of my wonderful CA attorneys and looking into what’s gone on since her death.  Should be interesting!!

For Anzaldo’s part, he told Satin that “I’m not at war with Chyna’s mother. She should be the executor. I was just here, merely, to help when it was asked upon me.”