Pioneering WWE Wrestler Chyna Dead at 45

Pioneering WWE wrestler Chyna has died at the age of 45, her manager has confirmed.

A statement on the former grappler's Twitter page stated: "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."

Chyna—real name Joanie Laurer—was found dead in her apartment in Redondo Beach, California, on Wednesday afternoon. Police were called after concerned friends hadn't heard from her in the days prior to her death.

"The Redondo Beach Police received a 911 call from a friend of the apartment unit resident that the female inside was not breathing, the police department told the Los Angeles Times.

Laurer gained notoriety as one of WWE's breakout stars in the 1990s as a member of the group D-Generation X. She broke gender barriers in the male-dominated sport by wrestling almost exclusively against male rivals including Chris Jericho, Kurt Angle and The Rock.

The wrestler made WWE history as the first and only woman to win the prestigious Intercontinental Championship in 1999, and was also the first woman to compete in the Royal Rumble match and the King of the Ring tournament.

At the height of her popularity, Chyna featured on the cover of Playboy magazine and appeared in a recurring role on sitcom 3rd Rock From the Sun.

She left WWE in 2001 amid an acrimonious real-life split from fellow wrestler and boyfriend Triple H, who she alleged cheated on her with co-star Stephanie McMahon—the daughter of WWE CEO Vince McMahon and now the company's chief brand officer.

McMahon led tributes to Chyna on Twitter as news of her death broke in the early hours of Thursday morning. She wrote:

In later years, Chyna turned to pornography, appearing in a handful of movies for Vivid Entertainment.

More tributes from the world of wrestling include: