On the March 25th episode of NXT, Li was scheduled to face Aliyah in a qualifier match to determine the number one contender for the NXT Women’s Championship. However, Aliyah was injured backstage before the match started. As a result, the match between the two was rescheduled for the April 15th episode of NXT. Li defeated Aliyah.
On the May 6th episode of NXT, Li wrestled Chelsea Green but was defeated due to outside distractions by Aliyah. The following month, Li and Aliyah fought again but Aliyah defeated Li after Robert Stone distracted her by vomiting in the ring. Li teamed up with Jessi Kamea in a losing effort against Kayden Carter and Kacy Catanzaro on the September 16th episode of NXT. The following week, Li competed in a battle royal to determine the number one contender for the NXT Women’s Championship. Li lost the match, which was won by Candice LeRae.
Xia Li Teams With Boa
Li went against Carter on the September 30 episode of NXT, losing the match and pushing her to the mat after being extended a hand. The following week, after losing a match against Shotzi Blackheart, she was approached by Boa who gave her a letter and followed him afterwards. On the October 21st episode of NXT, Li lost a match against Catanzaro. After the match, she attacked Catanzaro and Carter, thus turning heel.
On the November 25 episode of NXT, a vignette aired of Li and fellow NXT Superstar Boa, looking very rough, entering the backseat of a vehicle together before being driven to an unknown location. The same elderly man who handed Boa a letter on the November 11 episode of NXT appeared outside of the building, appearing to be waiting for them. Weekly vignettes began airing of both Li and Boa being brutally “punished for their failures”, all while being watched over by the elderly man and a mysterious woman in black-and-white face pain.
Li returned on January 6, 2021 during NXT’s New Year’s Evil special and defeated Katrina Cortez. The following week, she defeated another jobber in two strikes. But she was then wordlessly given an order by her master on the stage, resulting in Li tying up the opponent and taking more shots at her. On the February 10 episode of NXT, Li defeated Cora Jade quickly. During and after the match, Kacy Catanzaro and Kayden Carter came out to the ring to reason with her but she attacked them both for disrespecting her master Mei Ying. Li then defeated both Catanzaro and Carter in singles bouts on the February 24 and March 10 episodes of NXT. She beat them again in a handicap match three weeks later.
Li Begins a New Feud
In June 2021, Li began feuding with Mercedes Martinez over losing to her in the inaugural Mae Young Classic. She defeated her in a match at NXT TakeOver: In Your House. On the June 29th episode of NXT, she teamed up with Boa and defeated Martinez and Jake Atlas in a mixed tag team match. On the July 20th episode of NXT, Li challenged Raquel González for the NXT Women’s Championship but lost the match. During the match, she suffered an injury following a springboard senton splash, but appeared to be fine after the match.
As part of the WWE Draft in October 2021, Li was drafted to the main roster on the WWE SmackDown brand.
Li’s Main Roster Debut
Xia Li made her main roster debut on the December 10 episode of SmackDown as a face, protecting Naomi as she fought off Sonya Deville, Natalya, and Shayna Baszler. On the February 25, 2022 episode of SmackDown, Li made her in-ring debut by defeating Natalya. Li turned heel in a segment on the April 22nd episode of SmackDown. On the June 3rd episode of SmackDown, Li competed in a six-pack challenge to determine the number one contender to the SmackDown Women’s Championship. The six-pack challenge was won by Natalya.
The following week, Xia Li failed to qualify for the Women’s Money in the Bank ladder match after losing to Lacey Evans. She made her debut on the RAW brand on the June 27th episode. She competed in a Last Chance six-way elimination match to qualify for the Women’s Money in the Bank ladder match. Li was eliminated first by Becky Lynch.
On the August 5th 2022 episode of SmackDown, Li competed in a gauntlet match to determine the number one contender to Liv Morgan’s SmackDown Women’s Championship. The match was won by Shayna Baszler. The following week, she teamed with Shotzi to participate in the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Tournament for the vacant tag titles. Shotzi and Li were eliminated by Raquel Rodriguez and Aliyah. Li then teamed with Shotzi again to compete in a “Last Chance” Fatal 4-Way to be in the semi-final match of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Tournament on August 26.
Li’s Hunt for NXT Gold
At Royal Rumble on January 28, 2023, Li entered at number 14. She lasted 15 minutes and 30 seconds before she was eliminated by Zelina Vega. On the March 24th episode of SmackDown, Li teamed with Lacey Evans and unsuccessfully fought Natalya and Shotzi. The match was to determine who would qualify for the Women’s fatal four-way tag team match at WrestleMania 39.
As part of the 2023 WWE Draft, Li was drafted to the WWE’s RAW brand. On the June 8th episode of Main Event, Li lost to Candice LeRae. She then confronted Becky Lynch on the October 9th episode of RAW and asked for a title shot. On the October 30th episode of RAW, Li confronted Lynch again who was no longer the champion. Becky told Li that if she wanted to fight, they could fight right then. Li responded saying they will fight, but on her time. On the November 6 episode of RAW, while Becky Lynch was making her entrance for a Battle Royal match to determine the #1 contender for the Women’s World Championship, Xia attacked her. As a result, Lynch was not able to compete. As punishment, RAW General Manager, Adam Pearce, removed Xia from the match.
After defeating Indi Hartwell on the November 13th episode of RAW, Li’s celebration was interrupted by Becky Lynch. Lynch told Xia that she’s not waiting to fight on Li’s time. Instead, Lynch said it was her time and attempted to Manhandle Slam Li. Xia escaped Lynch’s attempted and rushed out of the ring. On the November 20th episode of RAW, Xia fought Lynch and lost. The following night on NXT, Li challenged NXT Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria for the title but was not successful.
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