Introduction
Zhao Xia (simplified Chinese: 赵夏; traditional Chinese: 趙夏; pinyin: Zhào Xià) 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. 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.
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. Wrestling at this event made her the first Chinese woman to ever compete in a WWE ring. Li was eliminated in the first round. In 2018, Li competed in her second Mae Young Classic and was eliminated in the second round. Throughout 2017 and 2018 Li only wrestled at NXT live events outside of the Mae Young Classic. In January 2019, Li competed in the second women's Royal Rumble match, the first for her.
NXT (2019-present)
Xia then made her NXT television debut on the February 20, 2019 episode, losing in a singles match to Mia Yim. On the May 1, 2019 episode of WWE NXT, Li picked her first televised win by defeating Rachel Evers.