Tag: jessica mckay

Former IIconics reuniting for first tag match since 2022

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Cassie Lee & Jessica McKay — the duo formerly known as The IIconics — are reuniting for their first tag team match in three years.

Indie promotion Prestige Wrestling announced today that Lee (the former Peyton Royce) & McKay (Billie Kay) will team up at their event in Las Vegas on April 17. The show, titled Nothing to Lose, is happening on the Thursday of WrestleMania week.

Opponents for Lee & McKay have not been named yet.

The two are former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions and later held Knockouts Tag Team gold for Impact Wrestling. While with Impact, they were known as The IInspiration. They are again using that name for this Prestige match.

In 2022, Lee and McKay announced that they were indefinitely stepping away from wrestling to focus on other opportunities. This will be the first time McKay has wrestled since then. Lee worked a tour of matches for World Series Wrestling in Australia in 2023.

Lee and McKay have both become mothers in recent years with Lee & Shawn Spears having two boys and McKay and her husband welcoming their first son.

Jessica McKay/Billie Kay welcomes birth of first child

Posted on by Ian Carey

Jessica McKay is now a mother. 

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. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C1KrFDlvBGd

Several wrestlers offered congratulations to Kay in the comments section of her post. 

“I love him ❤️❤️❤️” Wrote Cassie Lee/Peyton Royce, who welcomed the birth of her first child in January. 

“Yay congratulations!!!!” Kayla Braxton wrote. 

“Ahhhhhh ❤️ congratulations!!!” Tenille Dashwood 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. 

Jessica McKay/Billie Kay announces pregnancy

Posted on by Josh Nason

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.

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:CtPsCjLPORv

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 IInspiration off Impact Hard to Kill due to COVID-19 exposure

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A title match has been pulled from the Hard to Kill card due to COVID-19 exposure.

Impact Wrestling announced today that The IInspiration (Cassie Lee & Jessica McKay) will miss Hard to Kill due to being in close contact with someone who later tested positive for COVID-19. It was noted that, out of an abundance of caution and with the health of their co-workers in mind, Lee & McKay will self-isolate this weekend.

The IInspiration were scheduled to defend their Knockouts Tag Team titles against The Influence (Madison Rayne & Tenille Dashwood) at Saturday’s pay-per-view.

Lee & McKay won the titles from Rosemary & Havok at Bound for Glory last October. The match was Lee & McKay’s debut for Impact Wrestling.

Lee & McKay signed with Impact Wrestling after being released by WWE in April 2021.

“Impact’s COVID protocols are in place to keep our talent roster, staff and fans safe,” Impact Wrestling executive vice president Scott D’Amore said. “I am sure the fans will share The IInspiration’s and my disappointment that they won’t be in action at tomorrow’s stacked HARD TO KILL event, but we look forward to their return soon.”

The Factory in Deep Ellum in Dallas, Texas is hosting Hard to Kill on Saturday night. Here’s the updated card for the PPV:

  • Impact World Champion Moose defends against Matt Cardona and W. Morrissey in a triple threat match
  • Texas death match: Impact Knockouts Champion Mickie James defends against Deonna Purrazzo
  • X-Division Champion Trey Miguel defends against Steve Maclin (if Maclin loses, he can’t challenge for the X-Division title again while Miguel is still champion)
  • ROH World Champion Jonathan Gresham defends against Chris Sabin
  • Women’s Ultimate X match for a future Knockouts Championship shot: Jordynne Grace vs. Rosemary vs. Chelsea Green vs. Tasha Steelz vs. Lady Frost vs. Alisha Edwards
  • Josh Alexander vs. Jonah
  • Hardcore War 10-man tag match: Violent By Design (Eric Young, Joe Doering & Deaner) & The Good Brothers (Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows) vs. Eddie Edwards, Rich Swann, Willie Mack, Heath & Rhino
  • Chris Bey vs. Ace Austin vs. Jake Something vs. Laredo Kid (pre-show)

The IInspiration sign with Impact Wrestling, set for Bound for Glory

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The former IIconics are coming to Impact Wrestling.

During Impact Wrestling’s Knockouts Knockdown special on Saturday night, a video aired announcing that The IInspiration (Cassie Lee & Jessica McKay) are coming to Bound for Glory. The pay-per-view is taking place at Sam’s Town Live in Las Vegas on Saturday, October 23. It will start at 10 p.m. Eastern time.

PWInsider reported that Lee & McKay have signed with Impact Wrestling.

Lee was formerly known as Peyton Royce in WWE and McKay was formerly known as Billie Kay. They were released by WWE during a round of roster cuts this April.

Lee & McKay revealed “The IInspiration” as their new tag team name this August. They haven’t wrestled since being released by WWE. With them originally being from Australia, Lee & McKay had to settle their work visa situation before being able to wrestle in the United States again.

Lee & McKay were one-time Women’s Tag Team Champions in WWE, holding the titles from April 2019 to August 2019.

Bound for Glory will be headlined by Christian Cage vs. Josh Alexander for the Impact World Championship and Deonna Purrazzo vs. Mickie James for the Knockouts Championship.