Wrestler Chyna remembered during memorial service in Los Angeles

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Thursday, June 23, 2016
Wrestler Chyna remembered during memorial service in Los Angeles
Hundred of friends and fans gathered in Los Angeles to celebrate the life of wrestler Chyna.

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Although she was known as Chyna in her professional career, many of her close friends knew her as Joanie Laurer.

After a tumultuous life with alcohol and drug problems, Laurer died in April at 46 years old. Her manager, Anthony Anzaldo, believes she accidentally overdosed on the prescription drugs she was taking for anxiety and insomnia.

Anzaldo organized the memorial to celebrate her life.

"I wanted to send her out in the right way, you know. She's such a target, you know, everybody's got no problem, you know, when she's a train wreck, but nobody talks about when she's just so awesome, and that's what this is about," Anzaldo said.

Hundreds of fans and friends came to pay their respects. Friend Natasha Bardon flew in from Hawaii.

"No matter where she's at, I'll fly. Sorry, I'm sorry. It's kind of hitting me harder," Bardon said, as she held back tears.

Famous friends Coolio and Barry Williams also attended the event.

"She cared about people. She cared about the environment. ... She was a deep person, and ... people didn't really get to know her," Coolio said.

"Chyna has been a friend of mine for years, and I didn't really know her from the wrestling world. I knew her more from the personal side. I didn't get to say goodbye so this is a way to honor her," Williams said.

The memorial service was also a kickoff event for the Ninth Wonder of the World Foundation, which will raise money for charities that Laurer was passionate about such as animal rescue and children's programs.