Great-ing Gimmicks of the Past: Chyna
History
In 1997, the man who is today known as Triple H was someone very different. Hunter Hearst Helmsley was a snob from Greenwich, Connecticut who came out to Beethoven’s Ode to Joy while accompanied by a lovely valet. At this time, Helmsley was best known for two things – one of his valets (Sable) had been taken in by Wildman Marc Mero, and his utter obliteration by the returning Ultimate Warrior at Wrestlemania XII.
As the WWF headed into the Final Four pay-per-view, Helmsley was furious. At Raw he had just lost his Intercontinental title to rookie Rocky Maivia. Still, it all wasn’t bad. After all, he had a rematch set for the PPV.
Unfortunately, Hunter lost again. This time, it was thanks to Goldust (Dustin Runnels), who provided a distraction that allowed Rocky to get the win. Afterward, Goldust and Hunter were facing off when a strange woman jumped the rail and started attacking Marlena (better known as Terri). As security dragged the woman away, Goldust made sure Marlena was all right.
Goldust and Marlena were doing an interview the next night on Raw when Hunter showed up. He threw a drink in Goldust’s eyes and attacked. The woman from the PPV showed up again as well and attacked Marlena. The segment ended with security dragging the stranger away and Goldust carrying Marlena out.
Hunter was absent the next week, but returned on the March 3rd Raw. The show opened with Hunter taking on Bret Hart. Bret accidentally knocked the referee down for the DQ, which brought the woman out to stare down Bret.
On Raw, a six-man luchador match was taking place between Heavy Metal, Pierroth and Pentagon vs. Latin Lover, Hector Garza, and Octagon. Suddenly we saw the Amazon woman sitting at ringside. Security was quick to usher her out. The announce team was quick to add that she’d been arrested.
In the semi-main event later that night, Goldust was taking on Tim McNeene. At least, that was the plan. Before the match could even start, Helmsley and the “arrested” Amazon woman made their way to the ring. She distracted Goldust and Helmsley was able to launch a sneak attack. Marlena had had enough and jumped on the woman’s back. Finally the referees came out to break this up. The mystery woman (now known as Chyna) simply picked up one of the referees over her head and threw him onto the others before she left with Hunter.
On Shotgun Saturday Night Hunter got an easy win over Bob Holly.
The next week on Raw Hunter took on Flash Funk. Chyna provided the distraction, and Hunter got the win.
On that week’s Shotgun, Goldust got a quick win over Tony Devito. Devito is notable for his recent ECW appearances as a priest and as Macho Libre.
That brought us to Wrestlemania XIII. Goldust had just gained the advantage when Chyna went after Marlena. Chyna attacked as Hunter was able to hit the Pedigree on Goldust.
Two weeks later, Hunter and Goldust faced off again – this time with their managers barred from ringside. As Goldust gained an advantage, Chyna hit the ring to save Hunter (and get him disqualified in the process). That brought the referees out to break the fight up. Hunter and Chyna took down Pat Patterson and beat him up.
And that was that.
Analysis
This angle worked perfectly to introduce Chyna. And this wasn’t the Chyna we know today – no, this was a pre-plastic surgery Chyna, which meant that this was a Chyna who looked like she could take you apart with no problems.
Further, the feud with Goldust and Marlena showed the differences between a traditional female manager like Marlena and the rough-and-tumble Chyna, who was ready to fight a former multi-time champion like Bret Hart without a moment’s hesitation.
Where are they now?
Chyna (Joanie Laurer) would remain by Hunter’s side as he morphed into Triple H and formed D-Generation X with Shawn Michaels. In 1999, Chyna turned on D-X and joined Vince McMahon’s Corporation, where she was soon joined by Hunter. Chyna would go on to become an Intercontinental champion and would also win the Women’s belt. In 2001 she left the WWF. She has done very little wrestling since, preferring instead to focus on a film and musical career. Today, Laurer has made some film appearances and can next be seen in VH1’s Surreal Life: Fame Games.
Triple H remains with the WWE. He is currently on Raw, where he has reformed D-X with Shawn Michaels.
