5 Best Moments Of Chyna's WWE Career

Joanie Laurer, better known as Chyna, debuted in the then-WWF in early 1997, after she had been discovered in a bar by Shawn Michaels and Triple H.

Believing she had the ideal look to be a force in the WWF, they convinced WWF owner, Vince McMahon to sign her to a contract.

Initially brought in as Triple H's ringside bodyguard, she became a founding member of the influential group, D-Generation X with both Triple H and Michaels and the late Rick Rude.

Over the course of the next four years, Chyna broke new ground for women in the industry; becoming the first woman to enter the Royal Rumble as well as the first woman to win a male championship, the Intercontinental Title.

This slideshow counts down her five most memorable moments in WWE.

#5 Chyna escapes the shark cage

Chyna escapes the shark cage at Unforgiven: In Your House

In 1998, Chyna spent most of her time at the side of her D-X cohort, Triple H, routinely interfering in his matches. In a bid to even the playing field somewhat, WWF Commissioner, Sergeant Slaughter insisted she enter a shark cage which was lifted high over the ring, for Triple H's match with Owen Hart at Unforgiven: In Your House.

The cage may have been enough to hold most people, but not Chyna. In an incredible feat of strength, she bent the bars and escaped the cage, causing enough of a distraction for Triple H to pick up the win.

#4 Chyna eliminates Mark Henry from the 1999 Royal Rumble

ChynaÂ — Chyna shocks Mark Henry at the 1999 Royal Rumble

Chyna achieved many firsts for women in the WWF, but one of the most memorable was as the first female to ever enter a Royal Rumble match.

Chyna was the number 30 entrant in the 1999 Royal Rumble and shocked the world by eliminating the 400 pound, Mark Henry from the match.

It was an incredible moment and highlighted the immense strength she possessed.

#3 Chyna defeats Ivory for the Women's Championship

At Wrestlemania X-7 in March 2001, Chyna enjoyed one of her last memorable moments in the company.

After enduring months of torment from the group, Right to Censor, who had taken issue with Chyna's appearance as the center-fold in a 2000 issue of Playboy, the 9th Wonder of the World finally enacted her revenge in impressive fashion.

After suffering a purported broken neck at the hands of Right to Censor and re-injuring it in a match with Ivory at January's Royal Rumble, the stakes were high for this women's encounter.

However, Chyna brushed aside any concerns and defeated Ivory in double-quick time to win her first (and only) Women's Championship.

#2 Chyna debuts attacking Marlena

Chyna's debut still makes for captivating viewing over 20 years later. During Triple H's match with Goldust at the Final Four: In Your House event in February 1997, Chyna emerged from the crowd attacking Goldust's manager, Marlena.

Brutalising Marlena with a bearhug and throwing her around like a ragdoll, Chyna announced herself to the WWF audience.

The counter-point to what wrestling fans considered a female in wrestling to be, Chyna was nothing like anything they had seen before and was completely believable in what was to become her role as Triple H's bodyguard.

#1 Chyna wins the Intercontinental Championship

In what was the crowning glory of her wrestling career, Chyna became the first woman to win a male Championship in the WWF.

Challenging six-time Intercontinental Champion, Jeff Jarrett who had spent the previous month, belittling women, saying they belonged doing housework, Chyna defeated him in a "Good Housekeeping" match wherein items like vacuums and ironing boards and even the kitchen sink were utilized against the Champion.

Chyna made Jarrett eat his words to lift her first Intercontinental Title in a historic moment that is still fondly remembered to this day.