Xia Li
| Xia Li | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Zhao Xia |
| Born | Chongqing, China[1] |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Xia Li |
| Billed height | 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m)[1] |
| Billed from | Chongqing, China |
| Trained by | WWE Performance Center |
| Debut | July 13, 2017 |
Zhao Xia[2] (simplified Chinese: 赵夏; traditional Chinese: 趙夏; pinyin: Zhào Xià; Chongqing, July 28, 1988) is a Chinese professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Xia Li (simplified Chinese: 里夏; traditional Chinese: 裡夏; pinyin: Lǐ Xià). She is currently signed to WWE performing on their NXT brand.[3][4] She is the first Chinese woman to ever compete in a WWE ring.
Professional wrestling career
Before joining WWE Xia Li was a lifelong combat-sport athlete, fighting in the martial art of wushu.[5]
WWE
In January 2017, she joined the WWE Performance Center after she had impressed talent scouts at a tryout in Shanghai, China. In 2017 Li made her debut for WWE competing in the inaugural Mae Young Classic.[6] Wrestling at this event made her the first Chinese woman to ever compete in a WWE ring.[5] Li was eliminated in the first round. In 2018, Li competed in her second Mae Young Classic and was eliminated in the second round.[2] Throughout 2017 and 2018 Li only wrestled at NXT live events outside of the Mae Young Classic.[7] In January 2019, Li competed in the second women's Royal Rumble match, the first for her.[6]
NXT (2019-present)
Xia then made her NXT television debut on the February 20, 2019 episode, losing in a singles match to Mia Yim.[7][8] On the May 1, 2019 episode of WWE NXT, Li picked her first televised win by defeating Rachel Evers.[9]
References
- ^ a b "Xia Li". WWE.
- ^ a b "Chongqing wrestler strikes spicy tone as she makes WWE history". Chinadaily.com.cn. 2018-10-03. Retrieved 2019-03-19.
- ^ "Csonka's NXT Review 2.27.19". 411MANIA. 2019-02-27. Retrieved 2019-03-19.
- ^ "NXT Daytona Beach, FL Live Event Results (2/23/19): Velveteen Dream Defends NXT North American Title | Fightful Wrestling". Fightful.com. 2019-02-24. Retrieved 2019-03-19.
- ^ a b "Xia Li". WWE. 2018-08-22. Retrieved 2019-03-19.
- ^ a b "Xia Li". WWE. Retrieved 2019-03-19.
- ^ a b "Matches « Xia Li « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net.
- ^ https://prowrestling.net/site/2019/02/20/moores-nxt-tv-live-review-nxt-announcement-johnny-gargano-vs-velveteen-dream-for-the-nxt-north-american-championship-aleister-black-vs-roderick-strong-xia-li-vs-mia-yim-matt-riddle/
- ^ https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=18830&page=4