DATE: November 2001
COMPANY: Star Tribune
AUTHOR: CORY HAVENS

At times, it's tough to tell whether Joanie Laurer is grappling with her World Wrestling Federation alter ego, Chyna, or embracing her.

On the one hand, Laurer -- who will be in town Friday for the Blueberry Extreme Monster Truck Nationals at Plymouth Speedway -- confirms she is leaving the "sports entertainment" organization to pursue other interests.

Most notably, Laurer just wrapped up shooting on "Tracker," a movie that will serve as the pilot to a syndicated series.

And she'll be in theaters next spring in "Frank McKlusky, C.I.," a feature comedy co-starring Randy Quaid and Dolly Parton.

"I'm expanding," Laurer said. "I've done everything I can do with the WWF.

"I've milked that cow."

Laurer is eager to put wrestling behind her and provide women and girls with strong images.

"I'm able to give them something more than fluff now," she said.

On the other hand, though, she is not quite ready to relinquish the persona of "The Ninth Wonder of the World," the first female wrestler to compete against the men and win a title.

"A lot of people keep asking what I'll do now that I'm not Chyna anymore," Laurer said.

"I am Chyna. Joanie is Chyna.

"Joanie is the one who performed in front of thousands of people, the one who traveled the country."

She's still traveling, be it to filming locations in Canada and the U.S., or public appearances like the one at Plymouth Speedway.

"The main objective is since I'm not with the WWF anymore, I spent six years developing a character and a fan base," she said. "I want them to grow along with me."

She plans to appear at venues like the speedway and fairgrounds and autograph sessions every weekend for the next year.

The monster truck Grave Digger is slated to run at the Blueberry Extreme Monster Truck Nationals at the Plymouth Speedway on Friday and Saturday. Photo provided

That schedule allows her to press flesh with her fans and still focus on television and movie projects during the week, she said.

Acting will give her the chance to show more vulnerability, she said.

Though Laurer's physique makes Xena: Warrior Princess look more like The Princess Bride, Laurer assures she does have a vulnerable side.

"When I first started wrestling I had to put on a lot of weight," she said. "I had to if I was going to be credible in the ring with 300-pound men.

"After I had established that credibility, I was able to relax a little bit and lose some of that weight.

"That's when I started some story lines that allowed me to do more acting, allowed me to be more vulnerable.

"I got to have some fun curling my hair and wearing more sparkly outfits."

Laurer enjoys sporting sparkly, frilly clothes and curly hair, in fact, in her "Tracker" television pilot.

"It was cool," she said. "I play an alien who overtakes a hooker's body.

"I get to look good and kick ass and be an alien."

Perhaps the most Laurer has opened herself up to her fans was in her recent autobiography, "If They Only Knew."

The book details events from Laurer's childhood in Rochester, N.Y., including dealing with family problems such as alcoholism by throwing herself into a fitness regimen.

The feedback from readers inspired by her perseverance has moved Laurer.

"When you open up and make yourself vulnerable to people, that means a lot to them," she said. "I've had girls come up to me in tears; checkout clerks, doctors, lawyers.

"It's wonderful they're able to relate to me. I won't necessarily call myself a role model. But people do look to me to see what I do."

And on Friday, they need look no further than Plymouth Speedway, where she'll be rubbing elbows with Grave Digger, Stone Cold 3:16 and other famous monster trucks.

"When I was little, my mother used to take us to the stock car races and the monster truck rallies," Laurer said. "I love them.

"I'm not a very understated person, so I love the noise and the trucks, the nitty-gritty."

There will be plenty of that Friday, and even Saturday night, after she leaves town.

Most notably, local fans will have the opportunity to see Grave Digger, the No. 1-rated monster truck in the world.

The 11-foot-tall, 10,000-pound, 1950 Chevy boasts 1,600 horsepower and tires as tall as most people.

Fans will see Grave Digger compete in the Tuff Truck Competition, and will even have the opportunity to purchase monster truck rides in Sgt. Smash.

Laurer is in negotiations to participate in future monster truck events in another capacity.

"We're even talking about doing my own truck now," she said. "A BodybyJoanie truck would be just great."

And don't expect it to let the male trucks push it around.