35-year-old reveals upcoming major debut was set in stone immediately after WWE release
WWE released plenty of its talents between September 2023 and April 2024. Part of the most recent cuts included Chinese professional wrestler Xia Li. She predominantly performed in NXT but for a brief period, was part of the SmackDown roster, too.
Xia Li was a guest on the Busted Open podcast recently. She discussed a variety of topics, including her upcoming MMA debut.
Now that the workload of WWE is no longer on her shoulders, Li can move on and look forward to her MMA debut, which is due on August 3, 2024. Under her real name Zhao Xia, she will take on Xiomara Lee at a Combat Night MMA event.
"I had many things even before I’m in the WWE but now, I feel more freedom. Yes, and right now, I can do fight. I’ve been (wanting a) fight for many years. Last time, I was in NXT. I almost get a fight but they find out so I had to cancel. So, the first day I get out, so I called my coach, ‘Hi coach. When is the next fight?’ And then my coach is like, ‘Oh, August.’ I was like, ‘Okay, I’m in.’ That’s the first thing after release, I call my coach. So I can get this back," Li said.
She signed to WWE in January 2017 and remained with the company until April 2024. Li moved to SmackDown in 2021 and had a brief run on RAW in 2023.
Xia Li clarifies there is no ill will towards WWE after getting released
Xia Li had a notable storyline with Becky Lynch in the second half of 2023, while also simultaneously feuding with NXT Women's Champion Lyra Valkyria. In the end, though, Li failed to win the title.
Regarding her WWE release in April, Xia Li was asked about her frustrations. Things did not take off despite her best efforts to come up with ideas and hard work to make it to the main roster. The stalwart clarified that there is no ill will towards the promotion because she feels she did whatever she could:
"You know, I think it’s a lot like that happen. The only thing I can do (is) do everything I can do anyway. Train harder, bring ideas, everything. So, be on TV, I can’t control. They pick who gonna be the next so, I don’t feel any bad… Because I feel I give them all I can so I feel fine for me… Of course, I wish I could get more opportunity. That’s every talent there want to be that. But, we can’t help that, you know? I wish I can do more, I can show people more. But now, I’m free, I can show more. I can show whatever I want," she added.
Triple H and his team are known to bring back talents eventually. Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes are prime examples, who went on to win world titles in the company upon return. ECW legend Tommy Dreamer recently believes another former WWE Superstar could make a comeback down the line.