Wrestler and reality star Joanie Laurer, known professionally as Chyna, died on April 21, 2016 but now her brain could go on to help make strides in science.
Chyna’s manager Anthony Anzaldo told the Los Angeles Times, that the former wrestler’s brain will be examined by Dr. Bennet Omalu, the Nigerian doctor Will Smith portrayed in the 2015 film Concussion. Omalu is a forensic pathologist, and neuropathologist who discovered chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) from examining athletes, specifically football players.
According to Anzaldo, Chyna was asked to join a concussion lawsuit filed in 2015 by former wrestling stars. The suit implied that the WWE did not protect the athletes from repeated brain injury. Anzaldo alleges that Chyna opted to not participate in the suit because she did not want to be bothered with the paperwork.
No cause of death has been released for Chyna, though her manager insists it was an accidental overdose, not suicide. The Los Angeles County coroner’s office has stated that it could take several months for the toxicology results, to determine cause of death.
Chyna was transparent about her struggles with addiction on VH1’s Surreal Life and Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew in the early ’00s.