Xia Li

In January 2017, Li joined the WWE Performance Center after she had impressed talent scouts at a tryout in Shanghai, China.[5] On July 13, she made her debut for WWE competing in the inaugural Mae Young Classic, making her the first Chinese woman to ever compete in a WWE ring.[6] She was eliminated in the first round by Mercedes Martinez.[7] On September 19, 2018, Li competed in her second Mae Young Classic, defeating Karen Q in the first round,[8] but was eliminated in the second round by Deonna Purrazzo.[9] Throughout 2017 and 2018, Li only wrestled at NXT live events outside of the Mae Young Classic.[10]

On January 27, 2019, at the Royal Rumble, Li made her first appearance on a main roster pay-per-view by entering the women's Royal Rumble match at number 11, lasting 4:48 before being eliminated by Charlotte Flair.[11][12] She made her television debut on the February 20 episode of NXT, losing in a singles match to Mia Yim.[10][13] On the May 1 episode of NXT, she picked up her first televised win by defeating Rachel Evers.[10] In mid-November, she got into a feud with Aliyah and Vanessa Borne, getting back-to-back singles victories over the duo on the November 13 and 27 episodes of NXT, the latter of which saw her get attacked by NXT Women's Champion Shayna Baszler, Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke afterwards.[14][15] It led to a non-title match on the following week of NXT, with Li losing to Baszler by submission.[16] She would compete in the women's Royal Rumble match again at the namesake event on January 26, 2020, entering at number 24 and lasting 10:49, before being eliminated by Baszler.[17][18] Li fought with Yim again on the February 26 episode of NXT, this time winning the match with a roll-up after a distraction from Dakota Kai and Raquel González.[19]

On the March 25 episode of NXT, Li was set to face Aliyah in a qualifier to compete in a Ladder match to determine the number one contender for the NXT Women's Championship, but was injured by her backstage before the match started.[20] This led to a brief match between the two on the April 15 episode of NXT, with Li getting revenge by defeating Aliyah.[21] On the May 6 episode of NXT, Li had a match with Chelsea Green, which she lost due to a distraction from Aliyah.[22] This led to another match between the two on the June 17 episode of NXT, with Aliyah getting the victory after Robert Stone distracted Li by vomiting in the ring.[23] On the September 16 episode of NXT, she teamed up with Jessi Kamea in a losing effort against Kayden Carter and Kacy Catanzaro, with Li refusing to shake hands with them after the match.[24] The following week, she competed in a battle royal to determine the number one contender for the NXT Women's Championship, which was won by Candice LeRae.[25] 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.[26] The following week, after losing a match against Shotzi Blackheart, she was approached by Boa who gave her a letter and followed him afterwards.[27] On the October 21 episode of NXT, Li lost a match against Catanzaro. After the match, she attacked her and Carter, thus turning heel for the first time in her WWE career.[28]

On the November 25 episode of NXT, a vignette aired of Li and fellow NXT superstar Boa, both haggard in appearance, 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.[29] 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 paint.[30]

A transformed Xia Li returned to NXT on the January 6, 2021 episode of NXT. This was the New Year's Evil special event. Xi had a new look and squashed her opponent in dominant fashion. [31] On January 13, she defeated another jobber in two strikes, but then was wordlessly given an order by their master on the stage, resulting in Li tying up the opponent and taking more shots at her, possibly cementing a heel turn.