Tag: Jessie McKay

The IInspiration Are Officially All Elite After AEW House Rules Debut

The IInspiration are officially All Elite.

Jessie McKay and Cassie Lee made their in-ring debut for All Elite Wrestling at Sunday’s AEW House Rules live event, and by the end of the night, they made it clear their arrival wasn’t a one-off appearance. The former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions confirmed to the live crowd that they have signed with AEW, kicking off a brand-new chapter in their already decorated careers.

Competing in tag team action against Frankie P and Ayesha, McKay and Lee wasted little time reminding fans why they’ve been one of the most recognizable duos in women’s wrestling over the past several years. The IInspiration picked up a decisive victory before addressing the audience and proudly declaring themselves “All Elite.”

However, the celebration didn’t last long.

Moments after their announcement, The Brawling Birds — Jamie Hayter and Alex Windsor — made their way to the ring, creating immediate tension. Rather than engage, The IInspiration opted for a strategic exit, but the message was clear: AEW’s women’s tag team division just gained another potential rivalry. While the official #AllElite graphic has yet to be released as of this writing, their status with the company appears to be firmly locked in.

Multi-Year Deal Finalized Following TNA Exit

According to Fightful Select, McKay and Lee quietly signed multi-year contracts with AEW nearly a month ago. The agreements reportedly came together shortly after they wrapped up their run with TNA Wrestling at the January 15 episode of iMPACT on AMC.

During that appearance, the duo dropped the Knockouts World Tag Team Championships to The Elegance Brand, closing the book on their most recent title reign. Interestingly, reports indicate their TNA contracts had technically expired around Bound For Glory last October, and they continued working without formal deals in the months that followed. Their departure from the promotion is said to have been amicable.

There had also been speculation surrounding their future earlier this year. WWE sources reportedly believed that if The IInspiration did not appear in the January 31 Royal Rumble, AEW would likely be their landing spot — which ultimately proved to be the case.

A Familiar Theme — With An AEW Connection

One intriguing detail from the report involves AEW’s Harley Cameron. Cameron is credited as the lyricist behind The IInspiration’s long-running entrance theme, a track the duo has carried with them across multiple promotions. That behind-the-scenes connection now adds another layer to their AEW arrival.

A Proven Résumé Enters AEW

McKay and Lee bring significant experience and championship pedigree to AEW’s growing women’s division. Wrestling fans first saw them rise to prominence in WWE as The IIconics, where they captured the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships and built a strong following thanks to their charisma and character work.

Following their WWE release, they signed with TNA in 2021 and went on to become two-time Knockouts World Tag Team Champions. After a brief hiatus and eventual return to TNA at Against All Odds, their run officially concluded last month, paving the way for this new opportunity.

More Signings on the Way?

The IInspiration are reportedly part of a larger group of recent AEW signings that have yet to be formally unveiled. One name already making waves is Lena Kross, who debuted at Grand Slam: Australia aligned with Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford.

With McKay and Lee now in the fold, AEW’s women’s tag team division gains instant depth, personality, and star power. The teased tension with The Brawling Birds could be just the beginning, and with several emerging teams in the mix, there’s no shortage of potential storylines.

Whether they’re chasing gold or stirring up chaos, The IInspiration’s presence immediately elevates the landscape. AEW’s women’s tag team scene just got a lot more interesting.

The IInspiration Reportedly Departing TNA

The IInspiration’s latest run in TNA appears to have reached its final chapter.

On the debut episode of TNA iMPACT! on AMC, Cassie Lee and Jessie McKay dropped the Knockouts Tag Team Championships to The Elegance Brand, a result that now carries much bigger implications. According to a report from Fightful Select, the former champions are expected to be finishing up with the company following the title loss.

While Lee and McKay were still prominently featured on television, their contractual status had already been a talking point for months. The duo’s TNA deals officially expired back in October, even as they continued working with the promotion and eventually captured the tag titles. Rather than locking into new long-term agreements, The IInspiration continued on a series of short-term arrangements.

Despite being open to staying with TNA under the right circumstances, both sides ultimately decided this week would be the right time to move on. With the titles now off them and the AMC era of iMPACT officially underway, their exit neatly closes the book on their most recent TNA chapter.

The report also notes that there is outside interest in Lee and McKay, suggesting this may not be the last fans see of the popular tag team anytime soon. Given their name value and experience, that’s not much of a surprise.

Before returning to TNA, Lee and McKay were best known to WWE audiences as Peyton Royce and Billie Kay, where they enjoyed a long run and held the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. Their chemistry and character work made them one of the more memorable women’s teams of the modern era.

For now, The IInspiration’s future destination remains unclear — but with momentum, name recognition, and championship pedigree, their next move will be worth keeping an eye on.

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.