The brain of troubled former pro-wrestler Joanie Marie Laurer - better known to fans as "Chyna" - will be donated to science to check for signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).  The former WWE wrestler turned porn star was found dead last week.

"We want to donate her brain.  We want to know what made Chyna tick," said her manager Anthony Anzaldo.  He was the person who found Ms. Laurer in her apartment in Redondo Beach, apparently dead for a few days, with prescription pills nearby. 

But the decision to donate Laurer's brain came long before her death at age 45.  Lawyers taking part in litigation against the WWE approached Laurer and Anzaldo some time ago.  Anzaldo said they didn't want to take part in the lawsuit, but they did want to know what happened to her brain.  The examination will be taken care of by D. Bennet Omalu, the famous forensic pathologist who discovered CTE by examining professional football players.  He was played by Will Smith in the movie "Concussion".  It may be that the outcomes of matches are predetermined in storylines written by the promoters, but the athletes are still out there smacking each other on the head with folding chairs.

Many other wrestlers are not waiting until they're dead to make arrangements to give their brains to Dr. Omalu.  John Cena is one of pro-wrestling's biggest stars.  He recently joined a growing list including fellow former WWE champions Mick Foley, Jeff Hardy, RVD, and Kevin Nash who have pledged to donate their brains to the CTE Center at Boston University and the Concussion Legacy Foundation, formerly called the Sports Legacy Institute.  

Professional wrestling has had a rash of early deaths in recent years.  One of the most infamous was that of Chris Benoit, who in 2007 murdered his wife and son before hanging himself in his home weight room.  Doctors examined Benoit's brain, and determine it resembled that of an 85 year-old with Alzheimer's disease.