Chyna, The 9th Wonder of the World: If They Only Knew [Mass Market Paperback]

Chyna (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2, 2001

The first woman to wear the Intercontinental Championship belt, Chyna gained the respect of men inside the World Wrestling Federation and the world at large. But these weren't her most significant battles. Chyna -- a.k.a. Joanie Laurer -- has battled her entire life: against a controlling mother, a scheming father, and a world with a predetermined view of what beauty and success should be. In this inspiring memoir, she shows what it's like to live your dream and overcome your nightmares. Offering a rare glimpse behind the scenes of the Federation and what it takes to get there, and filled with insights from other WWF Superstars, If They Only Knew is the story of how a real-life hero overcame adversity wherever she found it.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

With its beguiling blend of swagger and vulnerability, anger and poise, largesse and disgust, Laurer's tell-all tragicomedy will not disappoint her many fans. Sharp-tongued, idiom-slinging and wry, the voice encountered in these pages is both more and less than the Chyna who appears in the wrestling ring. Laurer's painful childhood and adolescence were characterized by her sense of her difference from her peers (taller, more muscular) and punctuated by the antics of her divorced mother and father. She leads us through the tribulations and joys of searching for her niche (belly dancing, selling pagers in inner-city neighborhoods); of getting the proper breast implant size; of changing the role of women in the WWF; of intra-WWF romance; of celebrity. In one memorable scene, while she is fighting for a spot in the WWF, she outdoes pro-wrestler Hunter (who later becomes her boyfriend) in the weight room. In another, terrible moment, her mother and stepfather burst in on her at the doctor's office, livid because her con-artist father had already used their insurance to cover thousands of dollars of his medical bills. As Laurer eloquently demonstrates, her chosen profession makes a fine metaphor for her life. The book successfully maintains Chyna's awe-inspiring, larger-than-life image at the same time that it imparts deeply personal, poignant and inspirational insight into Joanie Laurer. B&w photos. (Jan. 30) Forecast: With her recent Playboy feature, the book's excellent array of photos, Chyna's fan base, a planned author tour and a print run of 300,000 this book should sell big, as have other recent memoirs by wrestling stars.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Chyna made history in 1999 by becoming the first female to win the World Wrestling Federation Intercontinental Championship belt.She has appeared on 3rd Rock from the Sun and Mad TV, and recently encouraged young to "Smackdown the Vote" at the Democratic National Convention.This is her first book.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: HarperEntertainment (October 2, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061098957
• ISBN-13: 978-0061098956
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (89 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,089,438 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Let's Do The "Flippy Thing", March 2, 2001

By 

Chad Spivak (North Miami Beach, Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: If They Only Knew (Hardcover)

Yes, and I'm not only talking about flipping the pages. To learn more about the "flippy thing," you'll have to read the book.

Similar to Mick Foley's book, as well as somewhat with the Rock's book, Chyna speaks from the heart, and tells you her true-to-life story. We get to learn all about her dysfunctional family, her horrible luck with finding a proper job, and her unbelievble curse at fitness pageants. But, more importantly, we get to learn about Joanie Laurer and Chyna, two different personas, one outstanding person.

The thing that I liked most about the book was her sarcasm and humor. Not only did it help the book move along rather quickly, but it allows you to relate to her story more. Her witty comments and language made for more interesting reading.

The book's photographs are excellent, and the comments by Triple H and Mick Foley are nice additions. The only major beef that I had was using Michael Angeli to co-author the book. It often seemed as if he was not very knowledgeable about wrestling, and seldom watched it. But, other than that, this book is a real winner. The behind-the-scenes stories are incredible and the section involving Killer Kowalski is beyond funny.

Any fan of the World Wrestling Federation has to read this book. It won't take long to read, and you'll be glad that you did.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The ninth wonder of the world indeed, May 12, 2004

By 

Steven selfridge (Butler,PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: If They Only Knew (Hardcover)

I can say that Chyna is my favorite wrestler of all time,and I can also say that her autobiography was amazing,Most say it is poorly written,But I would say other wise...I found the book to be quite interesting and brought you closer to the WWE diva.It showed you how hard she had it growing up with her mother and father...and How she made her way into the WWF now WWE.She brings you in closer on her careers before wreslting and what it took to become the most celebrated diva in WWE history of her time.She proved she was just as good as the men if not better then most of them.She made you see who the real chyna is...The side we dont see,the side that is Joanie Laurer!!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Jumping off Track....., November 28, 2001

By 

Jessica K (Ohio, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: If They Only Knew (Hardcover)

I honestly have to say it was a good book towards the end. She jumps around so much with her stories that it is sometimes hard to tell which subject she was on. When she finally started getting to the stuff that had to do with wrestling I couldnt put the book down. I know she worked her (...) off to get where she was but it sounds like a lot of her moving up so quickly had to do with Triple H. Where would she have gotten if not for him? She sounds like a very self-centered person and I cant say that I would want her as a friend in my everyday life. She made herself out to be a person who would step on anyone to get what she wanted which it sounds like is what she did to Triple H who is the one person who got her where she is today. Sorry Chyna, I liked you much better before your book!