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1999 The Year of Chyna

By Kevin Kelly

Chyna has achieved what no woman was ever expected to in the World Wrestling Federation and it’s not necessarily just because of her athletic skills. Not underestimating a physique reminiscent of a leather-clad sculpture–perhaps it is because the Ninth Wonder of the World refused to listen when others said, “No.”

Chyna knew she could compete against the men, but the purists needed to be enlightened. Beginning with the Royal Rumble, 1999 has been a series of ground-breaking triumphs countered only by miniscule setbacks.

While the role of women in society continues to evolve, albeit rather slowly, the former bodyguard has seized the means of production and created her own revolution. How did this once stoic, solitary revolutionary become the tombstone by which all women in the next century will be measured and compared? It all began with a painful childhood.

In an interview in the October 1998 issue of the World Wrestling Federation Magazine Chyna described her early family life as “dysfunctional.” After leaving home at the age of 15 the future athlete excelled in high school, regularly making the Dean’s list, and later graduated from the University of Tampa (Florida) with a double major in Spanish and Literature in just two and a half years. Prospective employers like the United Nations and the U.S. Secret Service would have to wait, however.

During her college years, Chyna had discovered a talent for weight training. Combined with a lifelong desire to perform the groundwork was set, almost as though destiny had a hand in molding the sculpture that is the Ninth Wonder of the World.

Questioned many times about the prospect of competing against other women in the ring, Chyna has consistently stated that it would not be challenging enough. Trained by Killer Kowalski in a class of all-male wrestlers, even the World Wrestling Federation Hall of Famer knew that the skills of his prized pupil were far from common. Even before entering the Federation in 1997, Chyna was aware that to make an impact she would have to compete against the men.

First as bodyguard for Triple H and then the unifying glue of DX, Chyna preyed upon the weaknesses of men. Her notorious low blow proved that any man of any size could be felled like a tranquilized elephant with one upward thrust of her powerful arm. If retribution was due for the sins she had committed, Chyna knew that generally men would not want to strike out at her because of the childhood rule: Don’t hit girls. To this day, many of her victims blindly look at gender and wind up temporarily paralyzed because they are not “allowed” to hit a woman.

At the 1999 Royal Rumble, Chyna made history as the first woman ever to compete for the privilege. Having thwarted the other D-Generates, Vince McMahon stood triumphantly while Chyna made her way to the ring as the final DX member in the Rumble qualifier. No one expected her and that element of surprise has been a persistent weapon against Chyna’s opponents.

In time, however, that element of surprise began to dissipate. Chyna needed to show that she was more than just a Mexican uppercut. She did that in her attempt to win King of the Ring. With Triple H at ringside providing guidance, Chyna proved to the world–and more important, to herself–that she could do it.

As the old saying goes, “Good talent can make anyone look good in the ring.” The Ninth Wonder was in there with the best of the best, and despite not coming away with the victory in the perennial June tournament, Chyna put herself on the roster as a competitor. She was credible, believable. It appeared to be more like rediscovering the talent she had been born with than something she had learned. Chyna had evolved once again and the sculpture was almost complete.

“SummerSlam was supposed to be my time!” Triple H bellowed at Chyna after the Ninth Wonder of the World became the number one contender. Chyna would not wilt under the intense heat of the spotlight. No one doubled her spot now because she had earned all our respect.

In that same ‘98 interview, the Ninth Wonder said, “There is a lot of mystery to Chyna and she hasn’t been unleashed yet. We can do so much with my character…”

The stories that can be told about the Ninth Wonder of the World are as limitless as the imagination. Her “character,” as in integrity, is unparalleled. Chyna and Triple H are the quintessential professionals. That being said, will Chyna remain a part of Triple H’s career? There have been rumors that their partnership may be nearing an end.

When Triple H became the Federation Champion the night following SummerSlam, it wasn’t without assistance. Chyna has been a steadfast, reliable accomplice for Triple H for nearly three years. Critics of Triple H argue that the network of assistants has hindered his credibility. Would Chyna remove herself from that role in Triple H’s life in response to the critics?

Whatever future career decisions Chyna makes will not be in response to outside detractors. Throughout her life, Chyna has fought when most would have packed up and moved on. With minimal parental guidance as a young woman, Chyna completed high school and graduated from college with honors.

After stumbling onto weight training and a desire to compete in the fitness field, Chyna heard the naysayers and went on to make history on a televised event. Although the wrestling business wanted no part of her, the Ninth Wonder refused to be ignored and simply kicked the door in. Now, Chyna is approaching legendary status in the renaissance of sports-entertainment and the World Wrestling Federation–a history maker, a trendsetter, a one of a kind.

This has been the year of Chyna. Her improvement and development will continue into the next century as well. One thing is certain–Chyna will constantly stay one step ahead and keep everybody guessing what is next for the Ninth Wonder of the World.

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toraskiii

4 years ago