WWE's Xia Li (real name Zhao Xia) was drafted from NXT to SmackDown during the company's 2021 roster shakeup, making her the first female Chinese wrestler to appear on the main roster.
"What an amazing night, My dream has come true," Li tweeted just after the draft. "To be the first Chinese female superstar on WWE main roster." The next day, she followed up by tweeting an imposing, ring-ready photo. "If you want something and you want it so bad… you need to prepare yourself, and be patient," she wrote. "Because when the opportunity comes. It’s time for you to shine."
Li joined WWE in 2017 and debuted in the inaugural Mae Young Classic, where she was eliminated by Mercedes Martinez. She would compete in the tournament again the next year, only to be eliminated in the second round by Deonna Purrazzo.
In 2019, after two years of competing primarily in non-televised matches, Li entered the women's Royal Rumble match. The following month, she finally made her NXT television debut and entered her first major feud by the end of the year.
Li joined her first faction in April 2021 called Tian Sha, which consisted of her, Boa and Mei Ying. While Li's status in this group has been in question since NXT's recent rebranding, her move to SmackDown all but confirms she's no longer part of the stable. That said, SmackDown's Sasha Banks has previously expressed interest in having Li join her, Carmella and Zelina Vega, and while the latter two have shifted to Raw, Banks remains on WWE's blue brand, so a team-up of some kind between herself and Li remains a possibility.
Source: WWE, Twitter