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WWE has seemingly made its first mass talent release of 2024. Backstage sources report that one release has been brewing since the Vince McMahon era.
World Wrestling Entertainment released five superstars on Friday night during SmackDown - Xia Li, Jinder Mahal, Veer, Sanga, and Xyon Quinn. Regarding Li, she joined the company in January 2017 after impressing scouts at a tryout in Shanghai, China. Li debuted in the inaugural Mae Young Classic, and became the first Chinese woman to compete in a WWE ring. The 35-year-old was called up to SmackDown from NXT in the 2021 Draft, then sent to RAW in the 2023 Draft.
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While it looked as if officials were pushing The Protector at times, the momentum never amounted to anything significant. Now a new report from PWInsider reveals how there's an internal feeling that Li suffered because of the frequent start-stop pushes and introductions from the Vince McMahon era.
Li was said to be "extremely well-liked" within the company. Out of Friday's releases, there was great sympathy in the locker room for Li and Mahal specifically.
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Li's last match was a loss to Natalya on last week's Main Event episode, which came almost two months after her Main Event loss to Ivy Nile. Before that, she worked the February 19 RAW Battle Royal and defeated Gigi Dolin on Main Event three weeks prior. Li's only other 2024 match was the Women's Royal Rumble.
Xia Li thanks Triple H following WWE release
World Wrestling Entertainment released multiple superstars last week. It's been reported that the releases were made as a part of budget cuts, despite a record-breaking WrestleMania 40.
Li leaves the company as the first Chinese woman to ever compete in a World Wrestling Entertainment ring. She took to X to issue a lengthy statement, while thanking the company, the Chief Content Officer, and the fans in the caption.
"Thank you @wwe Thank you @TripleH Thank you #WWEunivers[e]," Xia Li wrote.
The wrestlers released on Friday are reportedly under a 90-day non-compete clauses. Li, Mahal, and others will be able to sign with any other wrestling promotion after Thursday, July 18.
