#2 Chyna vs. Marlena
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This was a short rivalry that ultimately played second fiddle to a wider story involving Goldust and Hunter Hearst Helmsley back in 1997, but it did mark the debut of one of WWE’s most iconic female stars.
In an In Your House PPV early in 1997, in a match between Goldust and Triple H, a woman, seemingly from the audience, climbed over the barricade and started attacking Goldust’s wife, thus causing a distraction to allow Helmsley to pick up the win. JR and King, who were commentating on the match, did a great job of making the whole affair feel real. Two security guards came and wrestled Chyna away from Marlena and proceeded to carry her out of the building.
Chyna would, of course, go on to have bigger and better feuds, but this first rivalry with Marlena did an excellent job of introducing the WWF audience to the “Ninth Wonder of the World” and future DX founder. The contrast in size between the two ladies signalled that Chyna's introduction marked a real game changer in terms of how the company would be using their female stars going forward.
No longer would the majority of women be used as managers like Miss Elizabeth/Sensational Sherri, but they would now be introduced as part time in-ring competitors who would occasionally become deeply involved in the men’s roster.
Goldust did a lot for Triple H’s earlier career in WWF, but the same must also be said for Chyna and her ability to manhandle the other women in the company with sheer ease.
