Xia Li Claims WWE Obligations Led to MMA Fight Cancellation

Xia Li made headlines as the first Chinese talent to join WWE a few years ago. After developing her skills in NXT, she debuted on Friday Night SmackDown in 2021. Recently, Li revealed that she had to cancel plans to compete in an MMA fight while she was part of WWE.

Earlier this year, Xia Li announced her departure from WWE, surprising many fans who were eager to see what she could achieve as a Superstar, but many felt she simply could not reach her true potential there.

It was previously announced that Xia Li will face Xiomara Lee on August 3rd in Kissimmee, marking Li’s MMA debut. Xiomara holds a 1-0 record as an amateur in MMA, while Xia Li brings her experience from training and competing in the martial art of wushu to the bout

While speaking on Busted Open, Xia Li revealed that while she was in NXT, she almost secured a fight, but WWE discovered her plans, leading to its cancellation. After leaving the company, her first action was to contact her training coach about the next available fight date. Xia mentioned that she had previously taken fights in China over a decade ago.

Li expressed that she now feels a greater sense of freedom and is excited to pursue fights again. She noted that she had been wanting to fight for many years. Xia recounted that after her release, she immediately reached out to her coach to inquire about the next fight, and her coach informed her about an opportunity in August. Xia promptly committed to it, emphasizing her eagerness to return to fighting.

”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.”

Xia Li will be using her wushu skills again once she competes in MMA this year and she is more than happy to finally be doing what she always wanted to do, so we’ll have to see how Li will fare in her MMA debut.

What do you think of Xia Li not being able to compete in an MMA fight during her time in WWE? Let us know in the comments section below!