THIS Ex-WWE Star Pitched NXT Return Before Their Release

Yet another former WWE star asked to head to NXT shortly before being let go.

by Andrew Pollard
Peyton Royce
WWE

One of the many stars released by WWE this year, Cassie Lee has now detailed how she actually pitched to return to NXT prior to being let go by Vince McMahon's sports entertainment giant.

Speaking to Shakiel Mahjouri of Cageside Seats, the former Peyton Royce explained:

"I actually asked to go back [to NXT], and it was kind, you know, it 'was being looked into' is what I was told, and then I got released."

In this chat with both Cassie Lee and Jessica McKay, the pair also discussed how they wished they'd got to have a proper IIconics babyface run during their WWE tenure. Additionally, the duo made mention of how there were at least some talks of having them feud with the Bella Twins once The IIconics had captured the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship at WrestleMania 35.

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Lee and McKay were two of ten talents released by WWE on 15 April 2021, shortly after WrestleMania 37.

Nowadays known as The IInspiration, Cassie and Jessica have just started a signing tour that will run through October, although the pair have yet to confirm when and where there'll be returning to the ring. Wherever these charismatic performers wind up, they're guaranteed to be a welcome addition to any roster on the planet.

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Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main day job, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks, Jamie Hayer, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg. Where his beloved Wrexham AFC is concerned, Andrew is co-host of the Fearless in Devotion podcast, which won the Club Podcast of the Year gong at the 2024 FSA Awards.