Tag: Cassie Lee

The IInspiration Returns: Former WWE Tag Champs Cassie Lee & Jessica McKay Resurface at TNA Against All Odds

TNA Wrestling just got a major boost to its Knockouts tag division — and fans of women’s tag team wrestling have a big reason to get excited.

In a surprise appearance at Against All Odds, former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Cassie Lee and Jessica McKay — known collectively as The IInspiration — made their long-awaited return to the company. The duo, best known to longtime WWE fans as The IIconics (Billie Kay and Peyton Royce), confronted current Knockouts Tag Team Champions Ash by Elegance and Heather by Elegance during the pre-show countdown, making their intentions crystal clear by gesturing to their waists: they’re gunning for gold.

This marks Lee and McKay’s first appearance in a wrestling ring since they quietly stepped away from the business in 2022. Their previous run in TNA (then IMPACT Wrestling) saw them quickly grab the Knockouts Tag Team Titles, cementing their place as top-tier competitors in the promotion before taking time off — both eventually becoming mothers during their hiatus.

Behind the scenes, Fightful Select reports the pair have officially signed new contracts with TNA Wrestling. The deals were finalized within the last few weeks, and while short-term (under a year), they reportedly include an option for mutual extension. Sources within the company also noted that recent regime changes helped pave the way for the duo’s return.

Lee and McKay bring both star power and championship pedigree wherever they go. After all, they shocked the world by capturing the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles at WrestleMania 35 in 2019, during a near seven-year WWE run that showcased their charisma, chemistry, and comedic timing. When they were released by WWE in 2021, they didn’t waste time rebuilding their momentum, debuting as The IInspiration at Bound for Glory later that year and immediately winning gold.

Now, with the Knockouts tag division heating up again, the return of The IInspiration adds a dose of experience, flair, and serious in-ring credibility. Don’t be surprised if their second TNA run is even more iconic than the first.

Stay tuned — the Knockouts tag scene just got a whole lot more… inspirational.

Cassie Lee Making In-Ring Return Next Month

Former WWE Superstar & Impact Knockout Cassie Lee will be making her return to the ring next month in her native Australia.

On her Instagram Stories, Lee revealed that she will be part of World Series Wrestling’s ‘Full Throttle’ tour that will see her appear in Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane & Sydney.

Lee has not competed since April 2022, when she and Jessica McKay lost to Madison Rayne & Tenille Dashwood on the Impact Rebellion kickoff show.

In August 2022, Lee and her husband Shawn Spears announced they were expecting their first child and would welcome their son Austin Jay in January 2023.

Cassie Lee (Peyton Royce) Returning To The Ring With World Series Wrestling

Cassie Lee – former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Peyton Royce – will be returning to the ring later this year. Australia’s World Series Wrestling promotion has confirmed that Lee will be a part of their Full Throttle shows in Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane, and Sydney in October. The Australian-born wrestler seemingly revealed on social media that she would be wrestling on the tour. She wrote, “Let’s grapple! @WSWWrestlingAUS.” Lee posted those words along with a GIF saying “I’m back in the game.” 

Lee’s most recent match came in April 2022 on Impact Wrestling’s Countdown to Rebellion show, where she and former IIconics teammate Jessie McKay — formerly Billie Kay in WWE — unsuccessfully challenged The Influence’s Tenille Dashwood and Madison Rayne for the Impact Knockouts Tag Team Championship. A few days after that title clash, Lee and Kay announced that they would be stepping away from the ring. Later that summer, Lee and AEW’s Shawn Spears – real name Ronnie William Arneill — revealed that they were expecting their first child. The married couple welcomed their son Austin Jay Arneill to the world earlier this year. 

Lee began her pro wrestling career in February 2009. She signed for WWE in April 2015 following a tryout in Australia. Lee debuted as Royce on “WWE NXT” later that year before moving to the main roster with IIconics partner Kay in April 2018. The duo went on to capture the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship at WrestleMania 35 in a Fatal Four-Way match. Lee and Kay joined Impact Wrestling a few months after being released from their WWE contracts in April 2021. The pair departed Impact the following year after announcing their decision to step away from the ring indefinitely. 

Source: Wrestling Inc.

The IInspiration Announce They Will Be Stepping Away From Wrestling Indefinitely

WWE released more than 80 wrestlers in 2021, and among those let go were Peyton Royce and Billie Kay. Formerly known as The Iiconics, the Aussie pair switched things up and now go by their real names, Cassie Lee and Jessica McKay and calling themselves The IInspiration. The pair were absent for a short while before signing with Impact Wrestling, and it now seems they will be stepping away from the business for even longer after a short stay with the company.

Lee and McKay, who dubbed themselves The Iinspiration upon arriving in Impact, released a joint statement today revealing that there time with Impact has come to an end. Not only that, but they will be taking a break from wrestling entirely, writing that they will stepping away from in-ring action indefinitely.

“We will cherish these IMPACT memories forever. We are excited to start a new chapter in our lives and explore other opportunities that may come our way,” the statement reads. Lee and McKay signed with Impact in October, six months after they were part of WWE’s April 2021 cuts. The two won Impact’s Knockouts Tag Championships in there very first match.

Source: TheSportster

Former WWE Stars Sign With Impact Wrestling

The IInspiration (Cassie Lee and Jessie McKay) are making their way to Impact Wrestling.

Just as Knockouts Knockdown was closing, it was revealed in a video (below) that Lee and McKay are to arrive at Bound For Glory on Saturday, October 23.

Formerly known as Peyton Royce and Billie Kay, both women were let go from WWE during its second massive round of budget cuts in April of this year. Following their release, both women expressed how they wanted to remain a tag team no matter where they ended up. Impact Wrestling will be their first promotional appearance since being let go.

It’s been confirmed that Lee and McKay have officially signed with Impact Wrestling.

Source: Wrestling Inc.