Gail Kim Confirms That Former WWE Talent Has Signed With TNA

Following video vignettes on their weekly television show, former WWE talent Xia Li debuted for TNA at their San Antonio tapings last month, defeating indie wrestler Hyan. And now Gail Kim, who works as a producer for the company, has confirmed during a virtual signing that Li, who is now going by the ring name Léi Ying Lee, has inked a deal with the promotion, meaning she’ll be a regular despite also having MMA commitments.

“Xia’s great. She’s with us. Yeah, [she’s signed]. I’m really excited for her. She’s such a hard worker. She’s so passionate, and experiencing that first match with TNA with us, because that’s all she’s had so far, was really nice. She actually exceeded my expectations. What a presence. I think a lot of people were surprised that she was let go.”

36-year-old Li broke into the business in 2017, having been scouted by WWE in her home country. Subsequently, she competed in the inaugural Mae Young Classic and, after eight months of additional training, began working on NXT house shows against names like Shayna Baszler, Rhea Ripley, and Aliyah. From there, she notably entered the 2019 women’s Royal Rumble match and, after proving herself as part of NXT, was called up to SmackDown due to the 2021 draft. Still, her time on the main roster was unremarkable, resulting in few fans being surprised when she was released.