Ranking 22 WWE Debuts And Returns In 2021
14. Xia Li
This is a really tough one to rank.
WWE clearly has invested some effort into developing Xia Li’s backstory and character – more so than they have for many superstars who debuted this year. The vignettes that hyped her arrival were creative, using graphic novel visuals to tell her story. In these tales, Li was introduced as a protector of those who have been oppressed.
This weeks-long story ran a parallel track with the ongoing abuse Naomi has suffered from Sonya Deville, who has used her position of power to keep the wrestler down. Those two arcs finally intersected on SmackDown this month when Xia debuted (with a flashy entrance, no less) to save Naomi from Deville, Shayna Baszler and Natalya.
The introduction and storytelling thus far is a really good sign. It’s just tough to rank this since her debut came just weeks before the end of the year. Here’s hoping she exceeds expectations.