If They Only Knew
Published on 5. February 2001
Book
Hardback
336 pages
978-0-00-710669-1 (ISBN)
Description
The story of Chyna - wrestling's first-ever female intercontinental champion - who showed tremendous personal and physical courage to overcome childhood abuse, and prejudice in later life to establish herself as the First Lady of WWF.
Following in the tradition of the huge bestsellers, Mankind and The Rock Says... comes the emotionally charged and inspiring true story of Chyna - the first woman to infiltrate the male dominated world of professional wrestling.
As a child, Chyna was the victim of an alcoholic mother and a father who starved her. Feeling like an outsider, this straight-A student left home at 15 and took refuge in academia. Graduating from the University of Tampa after only two years, she joined the Peace Corps and travelled to Costa Rica.
But her near-obsession with weight training and success in several fitness contests, persuaded her to change direction. Hoping to find a career that would exhibit her strength, athleticism and desire to be an entertainer, she met with strong opposition, but eventually found the world of professional wrestling.
In 1995, Chyna signed up, alongside three men, for entrance into Walter "Killer" Kowalski's wrestling school. Despite brutal competition she was the only one remaining after the first week.
Shortly after graduation, Chyna began wrestling for the PGWA where she was voted Rookie of the Year. Yet it was her WWF debut in 1997 that stunned fans everywhere when she joined Triple H in the ring with Goldust and Marlena.
Now an overwhelmingly popular wrestling superstar, Chyna was the first woman ever to compete in both the Royal Rumble and King of the Ring tournament, as well as the first-ever female Intercontinental champion.
Following in the tradition of the huge bestsellers, Mankind and The Rock Says... comes the emotionally charged and inspiring true story of Chyna - the first woman to infiltrate the male dominated world of professional wrestling.
As a child, Chyna was the victim of an alcoholic mother and a father who starved her. Feeling like an outsider, this straight-A student left home at 15 and took refuge in academia. Graduating from the University of Tampa after only two years, she joined the Peace Corps and travelled to Costa Rica.
But her near-obsession with weight training and success in several fitness contests, persuaded her to change direction. Hoping to find a career that would exhibit her strength, athleticism and desire to be an entertainer, she met with strong opposition, but eventually found the world of professional wrestling.
In 1995, Chyna signed up, alongside three men, for entrance into Walter "Killer" Kowalski's wrestling school. Despite brutal competition she was the only one remaining after the first week.
Shortly after graduation, Chyna began wrestling for the PGWA where she was voted Rookie of the Year. Yet it was her WWF debut in 1997 that stunned fans everywhere when she joined Triple H in the ring with Goldust and Marlena.
Now an overwhelmingly popular wrestling superstar, Chyna was the first woman ever to compete in both the Royal Rumble and King of the Ring tournament, as well as the first-ever female Intercontinental champion.
Reviews / Votes
Yes, the spelling is correct and the Internet even has a shrine to her because Chyna (born Joanie Laurer) is one big, strong woman - with a figure fit for Playboy - and the first to infiltrate the male-dominated world of professional wrestling. Although under wraps (because of a serial deal), her autobiography is bound to fascinate because of her alien and enigmatic career. She came from a dysfunctional family, with an alcoholic father and a mother who eventually married five times. She had teen-age bulimia yet was a brilliant scholar. Despite such academic promise she tried all things physical, including belly dancing, because she yearned for athletics and entertainment. Success eventually came in wrestling - training with killer Kowalski and taking on men at their sport. Here are the screw-ups and confrontations, the insults and humiliations, the bodybuilding and fighting back. Chyna, no holds barred.More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
HarperCollins Publishers
Illustrations
75 b/w illus, 18 col plates (16pp)
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 159 mm
Weight
690 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-00-710669-1 (9780007106691)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Chyna was the first female to break into the malke dominated world of professional wrestling in 1995. She was the first-ever female Intercontinental champion, and the first to compete in the Royal Rumble and King of the Ring tournaments.