Full Backstage Details On AEW Signing The IInspiration (AEW News)

Jess McKay and Cassie Lee are #AllElite.

By Andrew Pollard /

AEW

With AEW running a non-televised House Rules live event from Brisbane, Australia yesterday, those in attendance were surprised to see an appearance from Cassie Lee and Jess McKay, the IInspiration, fka the IIconics, as they picked up a dominant win over a couple of local talents, Aysha and Frankie B.

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Per Fightful Select, this appearance was not simply a one-off for the IInspiration, with the Australian tandem having signed multi-year deals with AEW. In fact, Fightful notes how Lee and McKay's signing had been a "forgone conclusion" for over a month, and that Tony Khan's promotion had "nailed down" the team nearly a month ago.

Most recently, the IInspiration had been working for TNA, where they were two-time Knockouts Tag Team Champions. However, the pair had been working without a TNA contract since Bound for Glory back in October, and they formally left the Anthem organisation after dropping the Knockouts Tag Titles to the Elegance Brand on TNA's AMC debut last month. Fightful adds that Cassie Lee and Jess McKay's TNA exit was an amicable one.

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Of course, there had been some speculation that Lee and McKay - or Peyton Royce and Billy Kay - could return to WWE after they wrapped up with TNA. On that topic, WWE sources told Fightful that if the IIconics didn't appear at the Royal Rumble, it was believed they'd be on their way to AEW. The former WWE Women's Tag Team Champions did not appear at the Rumble, and they are indeed now a part of AEW.

For those who missed it, Saturday's AEW Grand Slam Australia also saw another Australian talent join the company, with the impressive Lena Kross debuting by attacking Harley Cameron and Willow Nightingale, seemingly aligning herself with the Tiangle of Madness. Kross received the #AllElite graphic shortly after Grand Slam.

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