WWE Superstar Triple H pays tribute to "ground breaking pioneer" Joanie 'Chyna' Laurer

Chyna - billed as the Ninth Wonder of the World during her ring days - first rose to fame as the bodyguard of the 14-time world champion.

The 5ft 10in grappler became the first and only woman to win the Intercontinental Championship and the first to enter the Royal Rumble.

However, the former women's champion left WWE in 2001, following the break-up of her off-screen relationship with Triple H.

Speaking to the Mirror during the current WWE tour of the UK, he said he was still coming to terms with the sad news.

Triple H said: "It is obviously tragic and clearly my well-wishes go out to her friends and family.

"Brilliance sometimes, and that ability to push barriers and boundaries and be a pioneer, is often connected closely with other things that aren't so positive sometimes, and demons, and unfortunately that is the case.

"Man, [she was] just a great person, an amazing talent, a ground breaking pioneer, that was never afraid to go out on a limb and blaze her own trail through life.

"She never took, and when you're choosing a path [you can say] 'hey here is a path let's go down that one' or you can blaze your own path and burn it up and create something for others to follow, and that's what she did, and that star shone bright, but unfortunately burned out way too fast."

The New York native was a founding member of the acclaimed 'Attitude Era' faction D-Generation X with HHH and Shawn Michaels.

However, she was also known outside the ring for posing nude, a sex tape, a career in porn and problems with substance abuse.

She had been pushing to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, but her former boyfriend previously said this was unlikely, despite acknowledging her many worthy achievements.

In 2014, he said Chyna's history was an issue in case young fans researched who she was online.

Asked today if he would like to see Chyna posthumously inducted, Triple H told the Mirror she 'definitely warranted' a place.

WWE's executive vice president of talent, live events and creative said: "You know it's not my decision, but I definitely think, as I have said before, that what she did in her life certainly warrants it.

"There was never anybody like her before her, and there will never be anybody like her after.

"It's certainly warranted and I'm sure at some point when the time is right, hopefully, that could happen."

Chyna reportedly died from a possible overdose, although a cause of death is yet to be officially confirmed.

She was found in her California apartment by a friend on Wednesday.

Chyna was released from her WWE contract in 2001 and for many years alleged that Triple H was responsible.

According to Chyna, she was forced out of the door after her then boyfriend - real name Paul Levesque - began dating Stephanie McMahon, the daughter of WWE owner Vince McMahon, to whom he is now married.

Triple H and WWE have always denied these claims. WWE say they couldn't agree on terms when Chyna was renewing her contract.