• Legendary Attitude Era Wrestler Passed Away 5 Years Ago Today
On this day in 2016, we lost Old School WWF Attitude Era Diva “The Ninth Wonder of the World” Chyna (Real name: Joan Laurer) at the age of 46 due to an alcohol & drug overdose.
Chyna first showed up WWF TV in 1997 as the female bodyguard (& real-life girlfriend) of Hunter Hearst Helmsley, but would soon turn into a member of one of the most famous factions in Professional Wrestling history: D-Generation X.
Chyna left the World Wrestling Federation in 2001 and was only seen in Total Nonstop Action! (TNA) a couple of times in 2004 & 2011 after her WWF departure.
She was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2019, as a member of D-Generation X, with the entire group being inducted.
† REST IN PEACE CHYNA
December 27, 1969 – April 20, 2016
• On This Day In Pro Wrestling History (April 20, 1999) – WWF Legend Passed Away
On this day in 1999, we lost Old School Wrestling Legend “Ravishing” Rick Rude (Real name: Richard Rood) at the age of 40 due to an accidental overdose.
Rude wrestled for the World Wrestling Federation from 1987 until 1990 and then went to Ted Turner’s World Championship Wrestling in 1991.
His great career was cut short due to an injury that happened during a match against Sting in 1994, but even after retiring from active professional wrestling, Rude still appeared as a manager on WWF Television, where he managed D-Generation X, and later on WCW TV where he became a non-wrestling member of the nWo New World Order.
Still to this day, Rick Rude’s physique is unmatched in the wrestling business, so his body is considered one of the best in professional wrestling history.
In 2017, he was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by his old WWF/WCW rival Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat.
† REST IN PEACE RICK RUDE
December 7, 1958 – April 20, 1999
