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IMPACT Wrestling’s IInspiration think The IIconics break-up needed to happen so they could grow
Name a more, ahem, iconic duo – we’ll wait (Picture: IMPACT Wrestling)
The IInspiration are back and better than ever in IMPACT Wrestling – and they think everything happened for a reason.
Beloved duo Cassie Lee and Jessie McKay – known as The IIconic stars Peyton Royce and Billie Kay before their WWE release in April – won the Knockouts Tag Team Titles at Bound For Glory two months ago, which came just over a year after they were broken up following a loss to the Riott Squad on Raw.
Jessie exclusively told Metro.co.uk: ‘It’s funny, because when you’re a tag team, people go, “What would you do if you guys got split up? What would you do in a singles career?” And then if it happens, people are like, “Noooo!”
‘It’s just confusing to follow. But one thing I will say – we’ve always supported each other, no matter what. Whether that’s singles or as a tag team, we’re always there for each other 110%.
‘I think [the breakup] needed to happen, because we both needed to grow individually. We had been together for so long, and it honestly makes The IInspiration at IMPACT so much more meaningful because we had a very long time away from each other, which was definitely hard but that’s life!
‘You’ve gotta go through that to have that personal growth. It all worked out in the end! I’m so happy with The IInspiration at IMPACT – we put our heart and soul into it, so I love it!’
The two champions revealed the biggest difference between The IInspiration and The IIconics is the former are ‘happy and living life’ and ‘enjoying every single minute’ of their time in IMPACT.
They’ve had a chance to learn from past experiences too, with Jessie admitting she has been able to develop as a character and performer after her time flaunting her resume in a more comedic role towards the end of her WWE tenure.
‘I definitely love making people laugh – that brings my heart so much joy. So, I did love that,’ she admitted. ‘But also, it’s so cool to come to IMPACT because I’m bringing a lot of elements of myself into the IInspiration. Elements I’ve never shown anyone before.
‘So, that’s why the IInspiration means so much to me, because it’s every single part of me rolled up into one, and it’s this evolution of our friendship and our tag team partnership that I love.
‘It’s so special to me, The IInspiration, and IMPACT is just the perfect place for us to showcase that.’
Similarly, Cassie feels rejuvenated by their new environment, particularly after a difficult period where she made waves with a fiery promo on Raw Talk and an equally impressive match with Asuka, but neither performance led to a sustained push on WWE TV.
‘Not much happened after those things that you just mentioned except getting fired,’ she deadpanned. ‘That’s no problem! My happiness and joy now being at IMPACT, I haven’t felt like this in so many years.
‘That’s what’s important to me – just Jess and I being able to make our own decisions creatively, and the brand that we wanna present to world, that’s what’s important to me.’
Although the pair certainly had their options after leaving WWE in April, they are delighted to have found their home in IMPACT – not least with the strength of its Knockouts division, and a sense of creative freedom.
‘Being able to show IMPACT and have them trust us, and have them believe in us, and to be able to show The IInspiration on IMAPCT has been incredible. So, we’re just really enjoying the process,’ Jessie explained.
‘There were many talks, discussions, being made, but when it came down to it, we got the best feeling from IMPACT. It felt like the right decision – not to mention, you have incredible women and an incredible Knockouts Tag Team division.
‘So, it really did all fit together. It seemed like the perfect option for us, and I’m glad we made that decision because it’s been the decision of our careers. We’re the best we’ve even been and that’s because of IMPACT.’
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And after the brief solo runs, it’s clear there was never any chance of them returning to wrestling as anything other than a tag team.
Cassie said: ‘There was no other consideration. Even after the split, we always knew our careers would come back together at some point, and we always knew that however long the rest of our wrestling journey, we would always finish it together.’
‘We know what’s gonna make money,’ she laughed. ‘And that’s the two of us together!’
*Fans in the UK and Ireland can watch IMPACT every week via the IMPACT Plus app and IMPACT Insiders YouTube subscription service.
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