Peyton Royce is a smokin’ hot Australian-born wrestler and one of the newest members of the SmackDown Live roster. She made her official debut on the SmackDown after WrestleMania 34, alongside her partner in crime, Billie Kay. Collectively, they are known as The IIconics. Upon their debut, they assaulted Charlotte Flair; double-teaming the former multi-time women’s champion.
Royce’s real name is Cassie McIntosh. She was born on November 10, 1992, in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. At nine years old, she first began watching wrestling.
McIntosh made her pro-wresting debut in February 2009 at the young age of 16. Initially, she wrestled under the ring name of KC Cassidy. She cites the late Eddie Guerrero as her inspirational for pursuing a career in professional wrestling.
In August 2014, McIntosh received a WWE tryout in her home country of Australia. She was later called up to the company as a NXT trainee in April 2015. She made her NXT debut a month later, under the name KC Cassidy, wrestling against then-NXT Women’s Champion Sasha Banks in a losing effort. On August 7th of that year, her name changed to Peyton Royce.
Royce turned heel and eventually formed a partnership with Billie Kay. They called themselves “The Iconic Duo” initially, but their name was changed to “The IIconics” upon being moved up to the main roster in April 2018. Despite never winning the NXT Women’s Championship, Royce was a prominent fixture in the women’s division, racking up wins against the likes of Ruby Riott, Liv Morgan, Aliyah, and Ember Moon, among others.
The 25-year-old superstar made her official main roster debut at WrestleMania 34 as part of the event’s women’s battle royal. However, she did not win the match, as she was eliminated by The Riott Squad’s Sarah Logan. Two nights later on SmackDown Live, Royce and Kay arrived, attacking Charlotte Flair and hurting her bad enough for “Ms. Money In The Bank” Carmella to come along to pick up the pieces and the WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship.