Jessica McKay and Cassie Lee finished up with TNA Wrestling on the promotion’s AMC debut show last month, where they dropped the Knockouts Tag Team titles to The Elegance Brand. In this week’s edition of The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer wrote that there has been “a lot of talk” about the team potentially coming into AEW.
Meltzer wrote:
“We’ve heard a lot of talk of The Iinspiration (Jessica McKay & Cassie Lee) coming in, really ever since they left TNA for another opportunity right after losing their tag titles to The Elegance Brand on the AMC debut show on 1/15.”
Previously known as Billie Kay and Peyton Royce in WWE as The IIconics, McKay and Lee were with the company from 2015 until they were released as part of roster cuts following WrestleMania 37 in 2021. The pair debuted for TNA Wrestling later that year before announcing a hiatus from wrestling in April 2022.
They returned to TNA in June and went on to regain the Knockouts Tag Team titles. During their time with the company, they became two-time Knockouts Tag Team Champions, in addition to holding the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles once during their WWE run.
The former IIconics are reuniting for a tag team match in April, and their opponents for the bout are now set.
Cassie Lee and Jessica McKay will team for the first time since 2022 at indie promotion Prestige Wrestling’s Thursday, April 17 Nothing to Lose event in Las Vegas, and the duo will face indie veterans Nicole Matthews and Kylie Rae as the wrestling world descends on Vegas for the kickoff of WrestleMania weekend.
🚨 BREAKING NEWS 🚨
The IInspiration return to the ring to face Nicole Matthews & Kylie Rae at #NothingToLose!
April 17th, 2025 @ The MEET Las Vegas All Ages (bar with ID)
Lee and McKay will wrestle as The IInspiration, the moniker they adopted for their post-WWE run that included capturing the TNA Knockouts Tag Team titles together in 2021. McKay has not wrestled since 2022, while Lee has not wrestled since 2023.
As Peyton Royce and Billie Kay, Lee and McKay won the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles at WrestleMania 35 in 2019. The duo were released by WWE in 2021 after a six-year run with the company between NXT and the main roster.
McKay and her husband welcomed their first child in 2023. Lee and husband Shawn Spears have two children, one born in 2023 and one in 2024.
Minoru Suzuki vs. Adam Priest, plus Michael Oku vs. El Phantasmo are also set for Prestige Wrestling Nothing to Lose on Thursday, April 17.
PLUS:
Minoru Suzuki vs Adam Priest
Michael Oku vs El Phantasmo
Hijo De Dr Wagner Jr, Shun Skywalker, Vaughn Vertigo, Lykos Gym & more!
The former Billy Kay announced on Instagram today that baby Cooper was born on December 20. She had previously revealed she was pregant with her first child back in June.
“Cooper ♥️12/20/2023. So in love with our little Coop,” she wrote.
“Awww congrats mama! Welcome to the club. It’s the best ever,” wrote Madison Rayne.
“Jeeeeeesssssss! Massive congrats to you!!!! So elated for you and your lovely husband,” wrote Big E.
“Ahhhhhh Welcome to the world Cooper!!!” Dasha Fuentes wrote.
Angelina Love, Natalya, Deonna Purrazzo, Tay Melo, Alexa Bliss, Matt Camp, Renee Paquette and others offered their congratulations as well.
McKay has not wrestled since April 2022 when her and Lee announced they were stepping away indefinitely from wrestling. McKay was cast in the film The Charisma Killers a few days later, where she plays the role of Swinger Wife Claire.
Lee and McKay’s podcast “Off Her Chops” is available on YouTube.
The Undisputed Tag Team and Women’s Tag Team titles will be defended on next week’s WWE Raw episode.
It was revealed during Monday’s Raw that both sets of Tag Team Championships will be on the line next week, as The Judgment Day defend the Undisputed WWE Tag titles against The Creed Brothers, while Chelsea Green & Piper Niven will defend the WWE Women’s Tag titles against Katana Chance & Kayden Carter.
The Creed Brothers won a Tag Team Turmoil match on the November 27 Raw to earn the number one contendership to Damian Priest & Finn Balor’s Undisputed Tag titles, while Chance & Carter defeated former top contenders Natalya & Tegan Nox on the December 4 Raw to stake their claim as number one contenders to the Women’s Tag Team titles.
A future Intercontinental Championship match was also agreed to during Monday’s Raw, as Gunther accepted a challenge from The Miz with the stipulation that Miz will never again challenge Gunther for the title should he lose. No date has been announced for that title bout.
The announced lineup for the Monday, December 18 Raw:
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Damian Priest & Finn Balor defend against Julius Creed & Brutus Creed
Women’s Tag Team Champions Chelsea Green & Piper Niven defend against Katana Chance & Kayden Carter
On next week’s Raw, Tegan Nox & Natalya are getting their WWE Women’s Tag Team title shot.
Nox & Natalya will challenge for Chelsea Green & Piper Niven’s championships on Raw next Monday (November 27). The announcement of the match was made on Raw Talk last night.
Nox & Natalya earned the title shot by winning a fatal four-way number one contender’s match on last night’s Raw. They defeated Ivy Nile & Maxxine Dupri, Kayden Carter & Katana Chance, and Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell.
To win the number one contender’s match, Nox rolled through on a crossbody and pinned Dupri for the victory.
Niven became Green’s new Tag Team title partner this August, taking over for Sonya Deville after Deville was forced out of action due to a torn ACL.
Raw is taking place from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville next Monday. The following matches have been announced for the show:
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Chelsea Green & Piper Niven defend against Tegan Nox & Natalya
Tag Team Turmoil match for Undisputed WWE Tag Team title shot: New Day vs. Alpha Academy vs. The Creed Brothers vs. DIY vs. Imperium vs. Indus Sher
Former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion and Impact Knockouts Tag Team Champion Jessica McKay announced Thursday that she and her partner are expecting their first child.
McKay, the former Billie Kay in WWE, revealed the news on Instagram that she is expecting in December.
McKay will join longtime tag team partner Cassie Lee (formerly Peyton Royce in WWE) in being a mom. Lee and husband Shawn Spears welcomed their first child this past January.
The soon-to-be 34-year-old hasn’t wrestled since April 2022 when she and Lee were unsuccessful in defeating then-Knockouts Tag Team Champions Madison Rayne & Tenille Dashwood for the titles.
Last month, Lee announced her impending return to the ring for Australia’s World Series Wrestling as part of their October Full Throttle tour. She also has not wrestled since April 2022.
McKay is the latest notable pro wrestling name to announce their pregnancy recently as AEW’s Tay Melo & Sammy Guevara revealed last month they are expecting their first child in addition to WWE’s Alexa Bliss and singer/husband Ryan Cabrera.
The former IIconics have officially unveiled their new tag team name.
Cassie Lee (formerly known as Peyton Royce) and Jessie McKay (formerly known as Billie Kay) will be known as “The IInspiration” going forward. Lee and McKay filed a trademark for the name this June.
“Finally, IInspiration returns to professional wrestling,” Lee and McKay wrote today. “Cassie Lee and Jessie McKay present The IInspiration Tour Dates and cities to be announced soon.”
Highspots has announced that The IInspiration will be taking part in a virtual gimmick table on their Facebook page on Thursday, October 21. Highspots will also be presenting Lee & McKay as guests at WrestleCade Revenge weekend this November. The convention is taking place at the Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina from Friday, November 26 to Sunday, November 28.
Lee and McKay were both released by WWE during a round of roster cuts this April. At the time of their release, Lee and McKay were on different brands and their tag team had been broken up. They held the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles together from April 2019 to August 2019.
A look at the life and wrestling career of Bob Armstrong is the lead in this week’s double issue of the Observer. We go through what made him a star, his appeal in the Southeast, his role in the famed Atlanta promotion war, what his booking by Bill Watts in Florida inspired more than a decade later, the Roddy Piper feud, the numbers Georgia wrestling did on cable, his success in different territories and his authority roles later in his career.
Also in this issue:
Thunderdome, what hit, what missed, what audience came back for it, what has been learned so far, the sweetheart business deal, the Payback card and booking, plus match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.
Television situation changing for Bellator and what that means, including the unique nature of their ownership that explains why it was purchased in the first place.
Karrion Kross injury and Tuesday’s NXT show to fill the title vacancy.
A look back at the first NXT Takeover and at the 30th show, with match-by-match coverage, star ratings and poll results.
New Japan’s first major outdoor stadium show in 21 years, the last non-Tokyo Dome stadium show before this, what Jingu Stadium is most known for historically, an show preview and a look at this past week’s Korakuen Hall show.
The economics of WWE, the Sonya Deville court hearing, return to action of the U.K. crew and plans, Renee Young talks her time in WWE, Big E/Miz talk, WWE new hires, Orton and Flair talk their angle, how wrestling did compared to other sports this past week, Canadian & U.K. ratings, rewriting of Raw this past week, most watched shows on WWE network this past week and company current market value.
Saturday’s UFC show with business notes and match-by-match coverage.
Return of CMLL, its plans for this year’s anniversary show and how the voting for specific matches is doing.
Television viewers per home for the biggest sports events of the past week and how wrestling fits in.
Ratings of all the major shows, the key demos and quarters for AEW and WWE, what happened head-to-head and what can be learned from them.
Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week.
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Damien Priest will be the guest on this week’s After the Bell with Corey Graves.
Wade Barrett on Twitter noted that he would be back to call NXT next week.
Peyton Royce wrote the following on Instagram: “24 hours removed from this moment & it’s been a rough day. I’m emotionally exhausted, I’m so sad but I realize there is a silver lining. I believe everything happens as it is supposed to. @billiekaywwe & I have been the eyes in the back of each other’s heads for 5+ years. It’s time for us to make some growth as individuals. I know we can do this, it just sucks I won’t have her by my side through all of it. Thank you for bringing me so much happiness, adventure & fun. You are one in a million & you’re so incredibly talented. The whole world knows it!”
Billie Kay also took to Instagram about her run with Royce: “Last night was one of the most emotional nights of my life. Realizing that The IIconics are no more was devastating & heartbreaking. @peytonroycewwe you have been my rock, my strength, my heart & inspired me for the past 5+ years. Having that being taken away is extremely scary… but that’s life. We have to evolve, we have to learn, we have to keep going. I’m so proud of us & excited for what the future holds for us. Even though you won’t be able to see me, I will always be in your corner cheering you on. You’ll always be my high school sweetheart, my life partner, my iconic duo, my icon.”
Drew McIntyre has continued to trade words with Tyson Fury, writing today in response to a video from Fury: “Every time I thought this video was about to end you carried on. The only thing your doing with that fist is tickling my chin you big feather duster. I’m going to kick that shiny bald head off that dad bod of yours. @tripleh do us all a favor & have a word with this fraud.”
WWE posted a clip of Stone Cold Steve Austin talking to Jerry Lawler about his favorite Stone Cold moment.
WWE 2K19 will be part of Sony’s PlayStation Now streaming service this month. 15, 16, and 18 are already available.
Other Wrestling
Casey Michael, who was the owner of Squared Circle Sirens and had covered women’s professional wrestling for years, has passed away at the age of 26. Squared Circle Sirens wrote the following: “It’s with a heavy heart we inform you that our beloved friend and @SCsirens owner Casey Michael (@ifyouseekcasey) has passed away at age 26. His contributions to women’s wrestling and the friendships made will live on in his memory forever We love you, Casey.”
Tenille Dashwood returned to Impact on last night’s show after being gone for several months, confronting Jordynne Grace and Knockouts champion Deonna Purazzo.
Peyton Royce and Billie Kay lost tonight to The Riott Squad tonight on Raw after Billie Kay was pinned following a pinfall counter by Ruby Riott. Per the stipulations of the match, The Riott Squad will now receive a shot at the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles. But the IIconics, as a result of losing, will now have to split up.
It was reported on the August 10, 2020 edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that during a recent backstage meeting, Vince McMahon saw Peyton Royce and Bianca Belair as potential stars.
The IIconics started to team together in 2016 on NXT. The two were called up as a team the day following WrestleMania 34 under the name The IIconics. The following year, the two were part of a Elimination Chamber match that would determine the first WWE Women’s Tag Team champions. That match was won by Bayley and Sasha Banks. The duo would later win the titles at WrestleMania 35.
After spending most of 2020 off of WWE television, The IIconics resurfaced in May and had spent the summer feuding with both Liv Morgan and Ruby Riott, which eventually led to the reformation of the Riott Squad.
The next chapter in the heated rivalry between The Riott Squad and The IIconics will be written when they clash during the WWE Payback Kickoff show, tomorrow night at 6 ET/3 PT.
Ruby Riott found herself on the receiving end of mockery from Peyton Royce & Billie Kay in recent weeks, with the Australian duo claiming Riott had no friends. But after apologizing to her estranged partner Liv Morgan, The Riott Squad was back in action and the odds evened against The IIconics. But in several bouts pitting members of the two teams against each other, it seemed as though Riott and Morgan needed to get back on the same page, while The IIconics often had the last laugh.
Will The Riott Squad be able to shut The IIconics up, or will Billie Kay & Peyton Royce be laughing once again? Find out during the WWE Payback Kickoff, streaming tomorrow night at 6 ET/3 PT on the award-winning WWE Network, WWE.com, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Twitch and TikTok!
Riott & Morgan most recently faced off with The IIconics as part of a six-woman tag match on Raw this week. Bianca Belair, Riott & Morgan defeated Zelina Vega & The IIconics in that match. After Riott & Morgan took out The IIconics, Belair hit the KOD on Vega to get the win.
Here’s the updated card for Payback:
Universal Champion “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt defending against Braun Strowman and Roman Reigns in a no holds barred triple threat match
Keith Lee vs. Randy Orton
Women’s Tag Team Champions Sasha Banks & Bayley defending against Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax
United States Champion Apollo Crews defending against Bobby Lashley
Rey & Dominik Mysterio vs. Seth Rollins & Murphy
Matt Riddle vs. Baron Corbin
Big E vs. Sheamus
Ruby Riott & Liv Morgan vs. The IIconics (pre-show)
Bayley & Sasha Banks’ first title defense as new Women’s Tag Team Champions will take place at Backlash.
WWE announced today that Bayley & Banks will defend their Women’s Tag Team titles against Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross and The IIconics in a triple threat match at the pay-per-view. It’s taking place on Sunday (June 14).
The announcement comes in advance of Bayley & Banks appearing on tonight’s episode of Raw. In the main event of SmackDown this past Friday, they won the titles from Bliss & Cross.
This is Bayley & Banks’ second reign with the Women’s Tag Team titles. They were the inaugural champions after the titles were introduced in 2019 but lost them to The IIconics at WrestleMania 35.
Bayley is also the current SmackDown Women’s Champion.
Bliss & Cross have been feuding with The IIconics since prior to losing the Women’s Tag Team titles to Bayley & Banks.
Here’s the updated card for Backlash:
Edge vs. Randy Orton
WWE Champion Drew McIntyre defending against Bobby Lashley
Raw Women’s Champion Asuka defending against Nia Jax
Universal Champion Braun Strowman defending against The Miz & John Morrison in a handicap match
Women’s Tag Team Champions Bayley & Sasha Banks defending against Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross and The IIconics in a triple threat match
After an extended time away from WWE television, former Women’s Tag Team Champions The IIconics returned on tonight’s episode of Raw.
Peyton Royce & Billie Kay appeared on a Moment of Bliss segment with current Women’s Tag Team Champions Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross. It led to Royce & Kay defeating Bliss & Cross in a non-title match.
As the referee’s attention was turned away, Kay struck Bliss in the throat near the end of tonight’s match. The IIconics then hit a double-team facebuster to get the win.
This was Royce & Kay’s first match on WWE TV since November. They moved to the Raw roster in October’s WWE Draft.
At WrestleMania 35 in April 2019, The IIconics defeated Sasha Banks & Bayley, Nia Jax & Tamina, and Natalya & Beth Phoenix in a fatal four-way match to win the Women’s Tag Team titles. Bliss & Cross then won the titles in a fatal four-way elimination match in August. Bliss & Cross lost the titles to Asuka & Kairi Sane in October but won them back at WrestleMania 36.
With the show taped before Raw at Madison Square Garden, it had a different feel this week. The IIconics returned to Main Event to quickly see off the team of Sarah Logan & Dana Brooke, while Boston Celtics center Enes Kanter, who had been billed as a mystery guest, won and then lost the 24/7 Championship to R-Truth.
**********
The IIconics defeated Sarah Logan & Dana Brooke (2:24)
The IIconics haven’t been on Main Event since back in April. They came out and cut a pre-match promo, claiming that Logan and Brooke had no chance to make a name for themselves against them. The fans weren’t much into it at all.
Logan and Brooke have been feuding for months on this show, including the match that had to be stopped due to Brooke suffering a facial injury. But here they teamed up with zero explanation for the viewer. And while they were good together, it was a short-lived deal.
After some brief back and forth, Kay nailed Brooke from behind so that Royce could pick her up and put her in the wheelbarrow position. Kay then used a punt kick to the head and covered Brooke for the win.
Enes Kanter, R-Truth WWE 24/7 title segment
It was only a matter of time before the 24/7 title became a part of this show. The wrestlers who swap it each week have about the same status as the talent who wrestle on Main Event. But its position on the show took away an opportunity for some talent to have an actual match.
They had announced a mystery guest before the break and we returned to Charly Caruso in the ring. She introduced Enes Kanter, who received a very mixed reaction given that he’s currently a Boston Celtic.
Before he could speak, R-Truth came out holding his title. He skipped, danced, and hugged Kanter. As he was talking about how they were friends, Kanter face-palmed Truth, quickly covered him, and a ref dived in to count the pin.
Kanter posed with the title, unzipping his tracksuit top to reveal his Celtics jersey. But before long, Truth rolled him up from behind and regained the title.
Before Kanter could do much about it, Truth was off and running because Drake Maverick, Curt Hawkins, Zack Ryder, No Way Jose, and others were chasing him off into the crowd.
It was nice to see something different on Main Event. But given that it was their return to MSG, I’d think this is more of a one-off than a sign of things to come.
Drew Gulak will defend the Cruiserweight Championship against Oney Lorcan, Women’s Tag Team Champions Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross will defend their titles against Peyton Royce & Billie Kay, and Apollo Crews will face Buddy Murphy.
Bliss & Cross vs. The IIconics and Crews vs. Murphy are new additions to SummerSlam, while Gulak vs. Lorcan had already been set for tonight’s card.
Bliss & Cross became Women’s Tag Team Champions by defeating Royce & Kay, Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville, and Asuka & Kairi Sane in a fatal four-way elimination match on Raw last week. Royce & Kay were the champions heading into the match but were eliminated first.
WWE has already announced that Asuka & Sane will challenge for the Women’s Tag Team titles on tomorrow’s post-SummerSlam episode of Raw.
The Roman Reigns mystery attacker angle continued on SmackDown last week, with Murphy accusing Rowan of being the person who attacked Reigns. Reigns beat Murphy down until Murphy would give him an answer.
Tonight’s two-hour pre-show begins at 5 p.m. Eastern time. The PPV is taking place at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Two more matches have been added to the lineup for tonight’s SummerSlam go-home show.
WWE has announced that Women’s Tag Team Champions Peyton Royce & Billie Kay will defend their titles against Asuka & Kairi Sane, Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville, and Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross in a fatal four-way elimination match on Raw. Rey Mysterio vs. Andrade is also set for tonight’s episode.
Royce & Kay vs. Rose & Deville in a non-title match was set up for last week’s SmackDown, but the match didn’t end up happening. WWE uploaded a video where The IIconics claimed that Kay had “puppy fever” and couldn’t wrestle on the show. Rose & Deville and Asuka & Sane then argued over who should get the next title shot.
Bliss & Cross defeated Bayley & Ember Moon on SmackDown last week.
Andrade eliminated Mysterio during a gauntlet match on last Monday’s Raw. He then ripped off Mysterio’s mask in a post-match angle.
Ricochet won the gauntlet match and will challenge for AJ Styles’ United States Championship at SummerSlam.
The PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is hosting tonight’s Raw. Becky Lynch & Charlotte Flair vs. Natalya & Trish Stratus, a Miz TV segment with Shawn Michaels and Dolph Ziggler, and an appearance by Brock Lesnar have also been confirmed for the episode.
