Former WWE Star Wins Combat Sports Debut

WWE

A former WWE star and current TNA Wrestling name won their Muay Thai debut match, which had been years in the making.

With Xia Zhao – aka TNA Wrestling’s Léi Yǐng Lee, fka WWE’s Xia Li – having her Combat Night MMA debut delayed due to illness, she finally stepped into the cage on May 17.

Zhao faced off against Myriam Essalki, who had a 1-0 record after winning her own debut in October 2024.

Xia Zhao was ultimately victorious, defeating Essalki via split decision after three two-minute rounds of action.

You can view highlights from the match below.

Many fans will know Zhao from her time as Xia Li in WWE, being the first Chinese woman to ever compete in a WWE ring during the 2017 Mae Young Classic tournament.

She wrestled for NXT, Raw and SmackDown during her seven year stint with the company ahead of her release in April 2024.

Zhao currently wrestles for TNA Wrestling as Léi Yǐng Lee, officially debuting for the promotion in September 2024. Her most recent wrestling match saw her and Xia Brookside face Harley Hudson & Myla Grace during the May 2 TNA iMPACT taping.

For the latest TNA Wrestling updates and news stories, click here.

Some highlights of Xia Zhao’s debut win for Combat Night MMA! @TheLeiYingLee 🔥 pic.twitter.com/dOV1MQaIMI

— BODYSLAM.NET | WWE & AEW Wrestling News (@BodyslamNet) May 18, 2025

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• Combat Sports
• Lei Ying Lee
• Xia Li
• TNA
• MMA
• wwe

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