"The Protector" Xia Li makes her long-awaited debut tonight on WWE Smackdown. We had the chance to talk to the WWE Superstar. The former Wushu champion made it to WWE during an open tryout in China.
Xia Li’s talks about her journey from WWE’s developmental brand NXT to the main WWE roster and which WWE Superstars have really been looking out for the first Chinese female sports entertainer. The build-up for Li saw motion comic vignettes, giving us the backstory on Li's character where we see her as "The Protector" of her family. Li opens up about her family and what it means to them for her to make her mark in WWE.
Screen Rant: I'm really excited about your debut on SmackDown. What does it mean to you to be the first Chinese female performer to compete in a SmackDown ring?
Xia Li: You know, this my dream, finally came true. This Friday is the biggest day of my whole life. I'm so excited. I can't wait to say hi to everybody to say hi to the WWE Universe. I'm so excited, I even couldn't sleep well.
I've been a really big fan of the vignettes, the motion comics that we've been seeing about Xia Li's storyline. It's amazing. I know you did Wushu, and at a very high level, how did that help you prepare for your experience in WWE?
Xia Li: I think actually it helped a lot, like how I wrestle in the ring, my style, and it helped my character a lot to separate from other superstars. People know this is Xia from China, she knows Kung Fu, so that's helped a lot. I think this helped me learn stuff quickly.
Wrestling culture, it's totally different. Kung Fu helped me learn [wrestling] fast because English is my second language. It's too hard to learn new things, but martial arts, like Wushu, helped me so I can watch, I can learn anything fast.
You and Aliyah both came over from NXT. How has the journey been from you moving from NXT to SmackDown so far?
Xia Li: For me, when I first joined WWE, this was my dream, and I finally I got here, five years [later]. But I also like NXT and what I [was] doing over there. NXT is like my family and they saw me growing up and helped me with everything so I can perform on the WWE main roster. It’s kind of like when the parents see your children go to the next level and congratulate them for their courage and then they have their own lifestyle.
This week's SmackDown, you're making your long-awaited debut. I'm really excited for it. I know that you are in the SmackDown locker room. Has there been anybody to instill some good advice on you for handling your journey through SmackDown?
Xia Li: There's always some good people, always helping me and giving me advice. I'm very thankful for that. Like Sasha Banks, Kevin Owens, there are a lot of people. Even in NXT, they give me advice also. When I started dark matches for three months, they watched me wrestle, and then they gave me advice. I'm very happy about that, and that makes me get better.
They are all very good people and they are very good WWE Superstars that very much impress me. They are hard workers, that's why they are on the top. I learn a lot from them.
Sasha Banks has been really adamant about wanting you to join SmackDown for a while and work with her. Who were you most excited to share the ring with on SmackDown?
Xia Li: Before I had a little story with Shayna Baszler and she also has a fighting background. I'm very excited for the future and maybe we are going to have some fun stories. I can’t wait for that to happen. Also, Sasha is a very good person. She has been helping me a lot. When I first got here, I couldn't speak well. She always invites me to her house for things like Christmas, and New Year to celebrate together. She is already on top. I'm just beginning, she still invites me and is very nice to me. I'm very grateful so I want to have a good match with her. I'm very excited. One day I can wrestle her and she said that too.
You've been into two previous Royal Rumbles for the last two years and this could possibly be your third Royal Rumble. If you are in the Royal Rumble this year, what are some of your goals?
Xia Li: I wish I can be the number one contender. That's my goal.
I know that coming to the main roster on SmackDown, that's huge. That's a spot that anyone in WWE would want to be in. I know you were trained by Tyler Breeze and Shawn Spears, and they're going to be seeing you when you do your debut match. What did they instill in you when they were training you? And what are you hoping for them to see when you make your debut for SmackDown?
Xia Li: They’ve helped me a lot. I want to prove myself, and thank them for helping me be this Xia, right now. They've been helping me a lot, so I want to show them I can do good in the ring.
Now, the things that we've been seeing in your vignettes, the motion comics about The Protector have all really been about protecting your family. But I really wanted to talk to you about your family. Now that you're going to actually make your debut on SmackDown as the first Chinese female superstar. What does this mean to your family?
Xia Li: I remember I showed my sister the vignette. She was crying just like me and she knew where all the story came from. She had the same feeling as me. So she told me she’s very proud of me.
They call me many times. They worry about me. They know I'm here, lonely. They are very proud of me that I am able to stay this long. The whole family is just very proud and very happy for me. They are very proud of what I did right now and they are also very excited. My future, what's going to happen, is I wish one day I can bring them over here to live with me. Then they can go to the show and watch me compete. I hope that they will come soon.
WWE SmackDown airs December 10 at 8 PM on WWE Network, Peacock, USA Network, & Fox.