Last August, Cassie Lee took to social media to announce that she and her husband Shawn Spears were expecting the birth of their first child.
The announcement came via a heartwarming video that showed her revealing the positive pregnancy test to her husband inside a gift wrapped box, and the two were overjoyed at the news.
Now, Shawn Spears has taken to social media once more to announce that their child, a son named Avery Jay, was born on January 17th.
Austin Jay 💙
1/17/23 pic.twitter.com/NAxwiSVEC4
— Shawn Spears™️ (@ShawnSpears) January 19, 2023
Many wrestling fans will know Cassie Lee best from her time in WWE as Peyton Royce, one half of the former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, The IIconics. Lee, alongside tag team partner Jessie McKay – Billie Kay – was released from the company in April 2021.
The duo then spent some time in IMPACT Wrestling where they also captured tag team gold before leaving the promotion and announcing a hiatus from the wrestling ring.
Shawn Spears was a key contributor to the MJF and Wardlow feud in AEW and had been one of the founding members of The Pinnacle before that. After a months-long hiatus, he returned to AEW Dynamite on the October 12th episode in Toronto, ON, reuniting with former Pinnacle members FTR to confront The Embassy.
Spears’ most recent AEW bout took place the following Friday on Rampage, where he teamed with FTR to defeat The Embassy’s Bishop Kaun, Brian Cage, & Toa Liona.
Shawn Spears Paid Tribute To His Late Mother Following His AEW Dynamite Return, Saying She Was Watching Over His Baby Boy
After the October 12th episode of Dynamite went off the air, Shawn Spears took to the microphone to explain his long absence from the company as his last bout had taken place the previous May. He revealed that he lost his mother during that time, but said that it was a blessing to be able to spend time with her, and that he knew his future son had a guardian angel.
“So I’ve been gone for a long time, and there’s been some speculation as to why: Injuries, different plans, none of that’s true. I don’t know if it’s because I’m in Toronto. I don’t know if it’s because I’m home. I’m a pretty private person, but I feel like I owe you all an explanation.
“Two months ago, I Iost my mom. And she would have been front and center like she has been at every other show if she was here tonight. But that woman is a Perfect 10 in every way, shape, and form.
“Two blessings came out of that. Number one, we had time to say everything we ever wanted to say, to make her feel as loved as she possibly could. Most people don’t have that luxury. The second blessing was that on this Mother’s Day, she was the very first person to know that I was gonna be a father. So the way I see it, there’s a Guardian Angel looking over my soon-to-be beautiful baby boy.
“So I’ve been pulled in a bunch of different directions mentally, and emotionally. But I knew that coming home, each and every one of you would show up. Goddamn, did you ever. From the bottom of my heart, I will never, ever forget this day, and I have you all to thank for that.
“In this ring stands four men that I greatly admire. I admire them all as talents, I admire them all as men. Hey, Dax — if I could be half the father that you are to Finley, then I’m gonna be okay.
“I love you, Canada. Thank you for having us. We will be back.” (h/t Cageside Seats)
Inside the Ropes sends our congratulations to Shawn Spears and Cassie Lee as their family has grown!