WWE wrestling legend Chyna has died aged 45 due to a 'possible overdose', it has been claimed.

Chyna - real name Joan Marie Laurer - is believed to have been found in her bedroom at her home in Redondo Beach, California on Wednesday.

Police are investigating suspicions the champion fighter died of a drug overdose, TMZ claimed.

The 'true icon's' death was announced in a statement, which was posted on her official Twitter account and signed by 'Felix'.

It said: 'It is with deep sadness to inform you today that we lost a true icon, a real life superhero... the 9th wonder of the world has passed away. She will live forever in the memories of her millions of fans and all of us that loved her.'

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WWE wrestling legend Chyna has died at the age of 45 after a possible overdose, reports claim

Chyna, whose real name was Joan Laurer, is pictured here with Jay Leno in October 2000

Redondo Beach Police Officers said they attended the house after receiving a 911 call from a friend.

They said: 'The Redondo Beach police received a 911 call from a friend of the apartment unit resident that the female inside was not breathing.

'The friend told [police] that the female had not answered her phone in a few days, and went to the location to check on her welfare.

'Officers arrived on scene and discovered a deceased female inside the location. From the preliminary investigation, it appears that the deceased passed away prior to being discovered by the friend.'

There are no indications or signs that the death was a result of foul play, officers added.

Hundreds of people in the industry last night paid tribute to the star, who they described as a 'pioneer'.

Stephanie McMahon, who plays a lead role in the organisation, wrote on Twitter: 'I just heard the tragic news that @ChynaJoanLaurer has passed.

'She was truly a pioneer in our industry and she will be missed.'

Hundreds of people in the industry last night paid tribute to the star, who they described as a 'pioneer'

Legendary wrestler Kevin Nash, who performed under the ring name Diesel, said: 'May the peace you were seeking put you at rest my friend. So sorry for not seeing the pain... We've shared so much.'

And Ken Shamrock, a MMA fighter turned professional wrestler, added: 'RIP Chyna great memories good times you will always be a great part of my life during a great time of my life you will be missed' (sic).

Storming onto the wrestling scene in 1997, Laurer quickly earned the nickname 'Ninth Wonder Of The World'.

Her profile on WWE brands her 'the most dominant female competitor of all time'.

She was the first woman to win the WWE Intercontinental championship, and was the first woman to compete in the organization's Royal Rumble contest.

'Ninth Wonder Of The World': Chyna's profile on WWE brands her 'the most dominant female competitor of all time'. She also dabbled in acting, wrote an autobiography, and graced the pages of Playboy

Among her many accolades, she boasted victories over leading male wrestlers such as Chris Jericho and Eddie Guerrero.

And she was one of the founding figures in D-Generation X.

Beyond wrestling, which she quit in 2001, Laurer was a vegan and an animal lover.

She also dabbled in acting, and performed in six porn movies between 2004 and 2013.

In 2005 she appeared in the reality show The Surreal Life.

And she wrote an autobiography If They Only Knew, which made it onto the New York Times bestseller list.

In 2010, she was hospitalized after overdosing on sleeping pills.

Champion: Laurer pictured lifting Eddie Guerrero, one of the top male wrestlers who she famously dominated

Among her many accolades, she boasted victories over leading male wrestlers such as Chris Jericho and Eddie Guerrero. Chyna, real name Joan Laurer, is pictured here with Michael 'Crash' Lockwood in 2000

The New York-born wrestler was the first woman to win the WWE intercontinental championship, and was the first woman to compete in the organization's Royal Rumble contest

It came two years after she appeared on Celebrity Rehab With Dr Drew in 2008 to discuss her battle with drugs and her fractured relationship with her mother.

After her 2010 overdose, Laurer moved to Japan to teach English. It is not clear when she returned to the United States.

According to her website, a documentary was made, or being made, about the woman behind the headlines.