Cassie Lee, best known to WWE fans as Peyton Royce, has offered candid insight into the stark creative differences she experienced between WWE and Impact Wrestling (formerly TNA). Speaking on TMZ Sports’ Inside The Ring podcast, Lee praised TNA’s creative environment for its trust and freedom, contrasting it sharply with the restrictive and protracted processes she endured in WWE.
According to Lee, working in WWE’s creative system was “somewhat of a battle,” where even the slightest change—like altering a single word in a promo—required arduous approval processes that could take hours. This bureaucratic approach limited performers’ ability to fully express their characters or deliver lines authentically. Lee described scenarios where talent needed to “wait outside of an office for 6 hours” just to get minor tweaks approved, which stifled spontaneity and freedom on the microphone[2].
In contrast, the Impact Wrestling creative team’s more open and trusting approach has allowed Lee and her tag team partner Jessica McKay (formerly Billie Kay in WWE) to thrive. Now known collectively as The IInspiration, the duo relishes being able to cut promos or deliver backstage segments in ways that feel “genuinely” like themselves—free to banter, improvise, and showcase their true personalities[2][6].
This shift has clearly reinvigorated Lee’s passion for wrestling. Speaking about her time in WWE, she noted that although some moments were spectacular, particularly during their NXT days, moving to the main roster changed their creative trajectory. The team became less threatening competitors and shifted more toward comedic roles, as Vince McMahon reportedly favored their humor over portraying them as dominant athletes. Lee admitted that this transition required her to “just know that we’re not threats anymore,” highlighting the tug between being entertaining personalities and credible in-ring contenders[3][4].
Sources close to Lee confirm that this friction with WWE’s creative team was a significant factor in their release—a decision that surprised both women, given Vince’s initial enthusiasm for their debut promo. After their departure, the freedom at Impact Wrestling has felt like a breath of fresh air and a chance to reconnect with wrestling on their own terms[5][6].
Industry experts note that WWE’s tightly controlled creative environment often prioritizes long-term storytelling overseen by management, which can be challenging for performers seeking improvisational creativity. Conversely, promotions like Impact Wrestling tend to afford talent more agency to shape their characters and promos, fostering a freer atmosphere that some wrestlers find refreshing.
WWE.com’s archives of The IIconics’ run highlight a journey from NXT’s creative experimentation to the main roster’s scripted approach. While the former showcased their strengths as fierce competitors, the latter pushed them to adopt more comedic gimmicks, reflecting WWE’s broader strategic shifts during that period. This context helps explain why Lee described WWE creative as a “battle” — the conflict between creative control and talent autonomy was persistent and draining[3][4].
Cassie Lee’s experiences underscore a broader discussion about wrestler creative freedom in professional wrestling. As talents move between companies, the contrast in creative philosophies impacts not only their in-ring style but also their morale and connection to the audience.
In summary, Cassie Lee’s testimony provides a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how creative control varies widely in the wrestling business. WWE’s layered approvals and management oversight contrasted with Impact Wrestling’s trust in talent deliver a compelling narrative about what wrestlers need to thrive artistically. As The IInspiration, Lee and McKay continue to capitalize on their newfound creative freedom, championing a model where wrestlers have more say in their characters and promos—a shift that could influence industry standards going forward.
Sources: TMZ Sports’ Inside The Ring podcast, 411Mania, Fightful, Diva Dirt, WWE.com archives, Wrestling News.