It has been a long road for Léi Yǐng Lee. Formerly known as Xia Li when she was with WWE, Lee made history at NXT Gold Rush Week 2, capturing the TNA Knockouts World Championship from Kelani Jordan in a triple threat match also involving TNA legend Jordynne Grace. Not only did her win bring the Knockouts World Championship back to TNA, ending Jordan’s reign at sixty days, but it was also Lee’s first ever title in her professional wrestling career. As such, Lee was understandably emotional in her post-match video.
The first ever Chinese champion in the over decade long history of Total Nonstop Action, Lee began the video saying “I finally made it.” Debuting with WWE in 2017 as part of the inaugural Mae Young Classic, Lee’s road has been with a plethora of ups and just as many downs. After being released by WWE on April 19,2024, after seven years with the company, there were certainly questions surrounding what Lee was going to do next. Adopting the new name of Léi Yǐng Lee, she would join TNA in September of that year, quickly establishing herself as one pillar of the Knockouts division. Now just over one year later, she’s reached the apex of the mountain, making both personal and wrestling history with her victory at The Theater at Madison Square Garden.
Near the end of the video, Lee took the time to thank her fans and everyone who has been there for her throughout her career. Fellow wrestlers Wendy Choo, Xia Brookside, and three time Knockouts champion Deonna Purrazzo also offered congratulations to Lee, showing the respect she’s built up amongst her peers. With a rumored TV deal on the horizon for TNA, it’s easy to imagine Lee being one face of the Knockouts division from now on, with her win on such a grand stage cementing that.
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