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January 2024
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Part 2: Chyna6/23/2021 This is the part that is hard to put into words, Joanie wanted to return to WWE, she wanted to be a reclamation project. I will not comment on much that was talked about during the documentary, but if you can go out of your way to watch it, then make a point to do so. Vice has done it again!! They have been producing the best wrestling documentaries around which really make us think about well the dark side of wrestling. Conversations with her former employer could've been done differently and in an attempt to slowly rebuild the bridge by taking it slow. I don't know how bad the bridge was burned, but I do wish Joanie would've been able to reclaim her place in WWE history. This is the part that is tough to talk about, "Vice Versa" hit a home run and made you think about how things could've been different. In my opinion, WWE put Chyna in the same category as Chris Benoit which is horrible and that is an understatement. Chyna helped Chris Jericho and Eddie Guerrero find their place in WWE and without her who knows where these two legends would've ended up. Had Chyna stuck around a little longer, she could've helped Trish and Lita find their place a bit sooner within the company. Lita was one of Chyna's final feuds within WWE in 2001. Mental health is the hardest thing to assist someone with, because you have to know where to start, and they have to accept your help. Trying to help someone who isn't ready won't work! They will push you away, and 99% of the time it will leave those around you confused why nobody asked for help or offered to help. Chyna needed help, Chyna wanted to be accepted, Chyna wanted to find someone who loved her for her. She had that, but someone needed to step in and give her the knowledge again, she never lost those things. It is hard to speak on this subject, because not every person has the same battle so making a generalization makes it even harder. The right way to talk about this, is remembering that even when the chips are down, someone is out there that will listen. People have tools nowadays that weren't around ten or fifteen years ago, and even though talking about this is more accepted, that doesn't make it easier. Mental health is a hard subject to speak on without having expectations about the conversation before the conversation happens. Meaning you think that someone will have a negative reaction or a one-sided reaction sorta like pitying you for your issues instead of just listening or actually talking to you. Please know that if you need help know that there are people that are there to help even if you just need someone to listen to you so you can vent.
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Part 1: Chyna6/21/2021 Honestly, it is hard to put into words what last night I watched the Vice documentary centered around Joanie Lauer aka Chyna. It is impossible to explain the amount of times I was at a loss for words watching the documentary. I remember watching the final episode of Dark Side of the Ring in this part of season 3 when I saw the promo for the upcoming documentary on Chyna. Unfortunately, for various nobody has been able to tell the story of Joanie in the world of wrestling even though she more the deserved her story being told.
Joanie made her debut in WWE in 1995 attacking Terri Runnels aka Marlena who at the time was Goldust's valet. Upon her arrival, it took a little while for her to get her feet under her in WWE, but once she did, the rest became history. Chyna became one of the biggest stars during the "Attitude Era" through her part in D-Generation X. Once the faction ran its course Chyna joined Triple H jumping ship to the Corporation joining the faction that was the opposite of what DX had been. The Corporation didn't last as a faction and within a year of turning heel and joining The Corporation the faction had split, merging together with the Ministry of Darkness. By the middle of 1999, Chyna had become one of the biggest stars in all wrestling. In October 1999, Chyna became the first women's wrestler to win the Intercontinental Championship. From there a feud with Chris Jericho proceed becoming the reason Jericho found his footing in the WWE. Chyna would move on to help another future legend find his footing in a new company as his "Mamacita." Eddie struggled from his debut due to sustaining injury very early in his run and didn't get comfortable until he was able to stand alone and develop his chemistry with Chyna. Suddenly, Chyna would make the move back to the Women's division after spending the better part of the last two years competing with men. According to reports, it was Vince that wanted her to go back to fighting Women instead of staying in the ring with her male counterparts. Without Chyna who knows the career that Chris Jericho and Eddie Guerrero would've had in WWE. Chyna would depart WWE in the middle of 2001 after seven years under the WWE banner and becoming one of the biggest stars the company had made. It is unquestionable to say that Chyna was a major piece of the "Attitude Era" and stood out as someone the company was able to build from the ground up. I will not discuss the relationship with Hunter or anything about that, because it is a very personal subject and a touchy one to discuss. I could continue talking about this documentary for hours, but we will split this discussion into two parts. |