Did Chyna Take Steroids? WWE Legend’s Truth
The “Ninth Wonder of the World” Physique
When Joanie Laurer debuted in the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE) in 1997 as “Chyna,” she brought a physical presentation never before seen in mainstream women’s wrestling. Billed at 5’10” and varying between 180 and 200 pounds of heavily muscled mass, she regularly wrestled and physically dominated male performers.
From a biological perspective, female physiology generally lacks the natural testosterone levels required to build and maintain the sheer volume of lean muscle mass, vascularity, and shoulder width that Chyna displayed at her peak. This biological reality made steroid speculation an constant shadow throughout her career.
Chyna’s Own Admissions
In her 2001 autobiography, If They Only Knew, Chyna directly addressed the steroid rumors. She made a specific, qualified admission:
- Early Career Use: She admitted that prior to her wrestling fame, while competing in fitness and bodybuilding competitions, she did take anabolic steroids for a brief period. Her stated goal was to gain the necessary size to stand out in a highly competitive field.
- WWE Era Denial: However, she claimed in the book that she ceased taking steroids once her professional wrestling career began, attributing her WWE physique to grueling, high-intensity workouts and strict dieting.
Peer Allegations
Despite her claims of stopping PED use before WWE, several industry peers contradicted this narrative. Most notably, her former boyfriend and fellow wrestler Sean Waltman (X-Pac) stated in interviews that she actively used anabolic steroids during her wrestling career, suggesting that the pressure to maintain her unique, hyper-muscular gimmick necessitated chemical assistance.
The WWE Testing Environment
Context is crucial when evaluating steroid use in 1990s professional wrestling. Chyna’s prime years in WWE (1997–2001) occurred during the famous “Attitude Era.”
During this period, WWE’s drug testing policies were notoriously lax compared to today. The federal steroid trial of 1994 was in the rearview mirror, and the modern WWE Talent Wellness Program (which features strict cardiovascular screening and regular, mandatory PED testing) was not instituted until 2006, following the death of Eddie Guerrero.
Consequently, athletes in the late 90s faced immense pressure to look larger-than-life with very little institutional deterrent against PED use.
The Reality of Female Virilization
When female athletes use anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS), they often experience virilization—the development of male secondary sex characteristics due to exogenous androgens. During her peak muscular years, analysts noted physical traits in Chyna consistent with virilization, including:
- Deepening of the vocal pitch
- Changes in facial bone structure (jawline squaring)
- Extreme shoulder and trap hypertrophy (areas highly responsive to androgen receptors)
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but with a caveat. In her autobiography, she admitted to using steroids during her early fitness career to gain size, but claimed she stopped before joining the WWF/WWE.
During her peak years (1997-2001), WWE did not have the strict Talent Wellness Program that exists today. Drug testing for PEDs was significantly less rigorous or largely unenforced during the Attitude Era.
The official coroner’s report stated she died from an accidental overdose involving a lethal mixture of alcohol and various prescription medications, including painkillers and muscle relaxers.
Because women produce only a fraction of the testosterone that men do, reaching extreme levels of muscle mass and ultra-low body fat required for open bodybuilding divisions is physiologically impossible without exogenous androgens (steroids).
Yes. Her former partner, Sean Waltman (X-Pac), stated in interviews that she used steroids during her wrestling career, contradicting her claim that she stopped before joining WWE.
