Paul Ellering and the AOP had been a part of the Final Testament since the faction came together, working alongside Karrion Kross and Scarlett. Now, the trio’s time with WWE is seemingly over with reports that they have been released.

Mike Johnson of PWInsider first reported the news that Ellering had been let go from WWE. Sources who spoke to Fightful Select later confirmed news of his exit. PWInsider were also the first to report that AOP have been released from WWE.

Ellering is known for his run with the Legion of Doom, which earned himself and the tag-team a Hall of Fame induction in 2011. In 2016, Ellering returned to WWE to align with AOP (Akam and Rezar) who debuted in NXT by attacking American Alpha. When AOP returned to WWE in 2023, Ellering returned with them.

Ellering’s exit from WWE raises questions as to what’s next for the WWE Hall of Famer. Ellering’s daughter Rachael is signed to AEW and also competes for Ring of Honor, so fans can’t count Paul being brought in to manage his daughter. Rachael is also a former Impact Knockouts Tag Team Champion, and previously worked in WWE as Rachael Evers.

The exit of AOP also brings an end to the Final Testament who had been regulars on TV during their feud with the Wyatt Sicks. It remains to be seen if the trio’s exit will be referenced on WWE TV.

The WWE Universe could be in store for a Philadelphia Street Fight in a matter of days at WWE WrestleMania 40, it has been claimed. 

WrestleMania 40 will be the promotion’s fifth two-night WrestleMania, a tradition that began in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The show will take place on April 6 and April 7 from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA.

WrestleMania Card Schedule

As of writing, 12 matches have been confirmed for WWE WrestleMania 40. Dave Melzer of F4W Online reports that 13 matches will take place at WrestleMania. This will be divided over the two nights with seven matches on WrestleMania 40: Saturday and six matches taking place on WrestleMania 40: Sunday.

A Philadelphia Street Fight

Meltzer adds that the Street Profits & Bobby Lashley vs. Karrion Kross & Authors of Pain was made “obvious” during the March 29, episode of WWE SmackDown but has yet to be announced. It’s also noted that as of last week, it was booked within WWE to be a ‘Philadelphia Street Fight.’

On SmackDown, the Profits faced Grayson Waller & Austin Theory in a tag-team ladder match qualifier. Karrion Kross and Scarlett attacked Lashley and B-Fab backstage with the distraction costing the Profits the match. 

WWE WrestleMania 40

Here is the card as it stands for WWE WrestleMania 40:

WrestleMania 40: Saturday

The Bloodline (The Rock and Roman Reigns) vs. Cody Rhodes and Seth “Freakin” Rollins

WrestleMania 40: Sunday

• Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre (WWE World Heavyweight Championship)

• Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes (Undisputed WWE Universal Championship)

Night TBA

• Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley (WWE Women’s Championship)

• Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch (WWE Women’s World Championship)

• Gunther (c) vs. Sami Zayn (WWE Intercontinental Championship)

• The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) vs. The Awesome Truth (The Miz and R-Truth) vs. The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) vs. A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory and Grayson Waller) vs. New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate) (Six-Pack Tag Team Ladder match, Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships)

• LA Knight vs. AJ Styles

• Jey Uso vs. Jimmy Uso

• Logan Paul (c) vs. Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens (WWE United States Championship)

• Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, and Naomi vs. Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai, Asuka, and Kairi Sane)

• Latino World Order (Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee) vs. Santos Escobar and “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio

Faction warfare is set to unfold on WWE SmackDown with the groups led by Bobby Lashley and Karrion Kross both getting names this week. 

Last year, Lashley returned to WWE programming and immediately aligned himself with the Street Profits. The faction has proven to be a force to be reckoned with on SmackDown though have so far been unable to capture championship gold so far. The All Mighty is seeking to bring out a new level of aggression from Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins. 

Bobby Lashley’s Faction Name

Before this week’s SmackDown, it was reported that The Pride was the expected name of Lashley’s faction. On Twitter, Lashley confirmed this new name for the group, as he stated in his Twitter bio that he was the leader of The Pride. Interestingly though, Lashley would change his bio shortly after to remove all references to The Pride. His bio currently reads as: 

#SmackDown’s All-Mighty | Former WWE Champion. MMA Fighter | Professional Wrestler | Business Professional | Nutrabolics Athlete

Karrion Kross’ New Faction

Lashley’s faction didn’t confirm its new name on this week’s SmackDown, but Karrion Kross’ group did. On last week’s Smackdown, Kross and the returning AOP attacked Lashley, while Scarlett and Paul Ellering watched on. 

During this week’s show, Lashley called out AOP and Kross but only received Ellering. The legendary manager pointed to the titantron where a video promo from Kross played. In it, the two-time former WWE NXT Champion confirmed his group’s name as The Final Testament.

Things didn’t go exactly according to plan during this week’s SmackDown… 

WWE brought New Year’s Revolution for fans on SmackDown on January 5th. The show also marked the return of a pair of former Tag Team Champions.

AOP Returns To WWE

During WWE SmackDown this week, Akam and Rezar made their long-awaited return to WWE television. This went down in Vancouver, and fans were very excited to witness WWE history first-hand.

The Authors of Pain were paired up with Karrion Kross and Scarlett. They will battle Bobby Lashley and the Street Profit’s new trio to start things out for themselves in the WWE landscape once again.

AOP made their return during SmackDown, as they interrupted a promo from Bobby Lashley and the Street Profits. After revealing Paul Ellering on the entrance ramp, Akam and Rezar laid waste to Bobby Lashley and the Street Profits. Karrion Kross then joined them in the ring to finish Lashley off.

The segment concluded with Bobby Lashley and the Street Profits laid out in the middle of the ring. Karrion Kross and the newly returned AOP stood tall.

WHAT?!?! AOP IS BACK??? ? ? ?

Just moments after @fightbobby declared for the #RoyalRumble match, @realKILLERkross and @Lady_Scarlett13 were joined by AOP's Akam, Rezar and Paul Ellering who took out The #StreetProfits and Lashley! #SmackDown: New Year's Revolution pic.twitter.com/I2pzXdftNA

— WWE (@WWE) January 6, 2024

Who are AOP?

Authors of Pain achieved the WWE NXT Tag Team Championship once, and also secured the WWE Raw Tag Team Championship on one occasion. Additionally, they clinched the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic in 2016.

Hints About AOP’s WWE Return

Hints about the Authors of Pain’s return to WWE have been impossible to avoid at this point. Akam and Rezar were teased to join Karrion Kross.

AOP’s return is a long time coming, as rumors of their comeback have been going around for a while. Now they are back on WWE television, so Triple H can book them in his vision. 

WWE started off 2024 for RAW in a huge way with Day 1. That included The Rock’s return. It is SmackDown’s turn now, as they have New Years Revolution ready to go. That may include a long-awaited return.

Possible Spoiler for 1/5 WWE SmackDown

PW Insider reports that Paul Ellering has been spotted in Vancouver, the site of WWE’s New Years Revolution SmackDown. Naturally, an AOP return is expected for tonight’s show.

WWE Hall of Famer Paul Ellering was spotted in Vancouver this morning. 

The expectation, as PWInsider.com reported previously several weeks ago, is that he and The Authors of Pain will return to WWE on tonight’s Smackdown as part of an alliance with Karrion Kross and Scarlett.

Authors of Pain Future in WWE

Many WWE Fans expect that Karrion Kross will be aligned with the Authors of Pain upon their return. That could be a powerful faction with Kross, Scarlett, Paul Ellering and AOP.

I was told that Authors of Pain were quietly signed to new deals well over a year ago. It’s been the plan to pair them back up with Paul Ellering as well. That trio was a favorite of Triple H’s, one that Vince McMahon disbanded upon AOP’s entry onto the WWE main roster.

Vince McMahon wanted someone younger, and an active wrestler, to lead AOP to the ring. That is why Paul Ellering was replaced by Drake Maverick. Now, Ellering is getting back with AOP.

This week’s SmackDown will be their New Years Revolution show. They have a loaded card planned, which you may find below.

Second Possible Spoiler For 1/5 WWE SmackDown

Pretty Deadly has a match against Butch this week on SmackDown. Butch needs to find a partner for that match. It was also noted on PW Insider that Sheamus is expected to fill that slot.

Sheamus, whose WWE contract expires this year, has been out of action with a shoulder injury. He sat on the sidelines while other members of the Brawling Brutes carries on without him. This week may see the Celtic Warrior’s return.

WWE SmackDown January 5th New Years Revolution Card:

• Roman Reigns returns LIVE to SmackDown 
• AJ Styles, Randy Orton and LA Knight to collide in Triple Threat Match 
• Kevin Owens battles Santos Escobar in the United States Championship Tournament Final 
• Logan Paul comes to SmackDown
• Butch must find a partner to take on Pretty Deadly

WWE dropped a bombshell on fans during the pre-taped December 22nd episode of SmackDown. Karrion Kross teased the return of AOP during his promo, and fans won’t have to wait much longer to see the former Tag Team Champions return.

SPOILER On AOP’s WWE Return

According to PW Insider, AOP will make their return to WWE television during the January 5th episode of SmackDown. That New Year’s Revolution will see the start of their regular return to the company.

The trio will officially return to WWE at the 1/5/24 Smackdown episode and will be back regularly at that point, PWInsider.com is told by WWE sources.

Akam, Rezar, and Paul Ellering were all at the WWE Performance Center in September. They were also around for an NXT taping, but Triple H had other plans for them.

WWE’s Creative Plan For AOP’s Return

Karrion Kross has been mostly absent from WWE since his return to the company. He had his segments pushed back in the past, but he has recently started getting promo time on the blue brand.

During the December 22nd, 2023 episode of WWE SmackDown, Karrion Kross cut another promo, where he said that this next chapter of his story needs “authors.” Then they flashed the silhouettes of three men.

AOP and Paul Ellering will be joining Karrion Kross and Scarlett. Kross also said “vision” in a way that makes us wonder if that will be a part of their new possible faction’s name.

Exclusive Insight into AOP’s WWE Return

I was told earlier this year that Akam and Rezar were re-signed in late 2022. They were just waiting for the right moment to make their return. Sean Ross Sapp and Mike Johnson also reported the same over the year.

Over the last year, I’ve asked multiple times about AOP’s status and was told the same thing, that they are waiting with no immediate word on their return. Now, it appears that they will debut in 2024, or at least that is the new current plan.

Paul Ellering will return alongside AOP as well. Vince McMahon made the call to nix him as their manager and put Drake Maverick in his place. Triple H put that original trio together in the first place years ago in NXT, so he knows how well it works.

Akam and Rezar will apparently be aligned with Karrion Kross in some way, and that will be a good ally for them. It will be interesting to see how they mix things up in the tag team division, because AOP could have championship gold in their future.

WWE signed a long list of talent after Triple H took over the creative reins of the company. While some of them returned with great fanfare, one pair of signings haven’t been seen yet, but things are expected to change for AOP soon enough.

WWE’s Plan For AOP’s Return

Sean Ross Sapp reported on Fightful Select that word is that AOP is making their return to WWE television sooner than later. It was also specifically noted that their home is expected to be on the SmackDown brand.

Fightful Select has learned that the Authors of Pain aka AOP are planned for a return to WWE TV soon. Specifically, we’re told that the working plan for them as of now is for them to appear on the Smackdown brand, though that could always change.

Akam and Rezar were spotted at the WWE Performance Center in August 2022 as well. Hopefully, fans will see them again soon.

The report from Sean Ross Sapp also confirmed that, “Paul Ellering has been expected to join the two, which had long been an important factor to them.” 

Insight Into AOP’s WWE Return

I was told that AOP was signed in late 2022, but they never debuted. I was also able to confirm reports about Paul Ellering’s involvement a long time ago. He was also involved in talks to bring them back.

AOP was around the WWE Performance Center last year, and they were even backstage during NXT one week. That didn’t translate into their return, but they apparently inked deals.

There have been rumors about their on-screen return for a while now. It wouldn’t be a big surprise to see them return as a big surprise to create the biggest moment possible. 

AOP burst onto the WWE scene with an impactful debut in 2016. Hailing from the world of mixed martial arts, they quickly made a name for themselves with their powerful and dominating presence in the ring. They were also a favorite of Triple H’s NXT during their time, and now Triple H will apparently get a chance to book them on the main roster. 

Two more WWE stars could be making a return to the company as WWE has had internal discussions about bringing back Akam and Rezar, collectively known as the Authors of Pain or AOP.  The news comes courtesy of Fightful Select.

The report noted that bringing back the tag team has been at least discussed. AoP was integral to the NXT Black and Gold brand before being called up to WWE Raw. They were pushed as a monster team, some even comparing them to the legendary Road Warriors. 

Paul Ellering Returning?

The possibility of their longtime, original manager Paul Ellering was also discussed, as he managed them during their NXT run before being abandoned on the main roster. 

Since the split, they’ve stayed close and got his blessing to name themselves Legion of Pain outside WWE. There had been rumors Ellering didn’t want to do the main roster travel with AOP, which he’s refuted in past interviews. 

AOP hasn’t wrestled in nearly three years but remain young, as both are still under 30 years old. In 2020, WWE released them, and AOP was out of the wrestling business, besides their ill-fated promotion attempts with WES in 2022.

The WWE release of Authors Of Pain or AOP came as a surprise to many, especially because they were being pushed on Raw as part of Seth Rollins’ stable before being taken off TV due to Rezar’s injury.

Dave Meltzer provided some update on the situation in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter and he revealed that Vince McMahon had already given up on the duo in 2019.

McMahon had lost hopes even before the team was paired with Rollins. It was the former Raw Executive Director Paul Heyman who saw potential in AOP and brought them back.

• Also Read: Jim Ross Reveals His Thoughts On Roman Reigns’ Heel Turn

Heyman reportedly wanted to give the duo a major push when Rezar returned from injury but Paul himself was removed from the position at Raw before the former tag champions could return.

Rezar had recovered from the injury and he was ready to return a few weeks before his release. However, the company decided not to use the two and made the decision to let them go instead.

There is no word yet on what the two are planning for their future after getting released from WWE and it would be interesting to see if AOP remains a tag team or if they go on their separate ways.

Akam and Rezar are no longer under contract with WWE. 

The company announced on Friday that they have decided to release the two stars from their contracts. WWE issued the following statement on their departures:

“Akam and Rezar released. WWE has come to terms on the release of Akam and Rezar (AOP). We wish them all the best in their future endeavors.”

As of this writing, the Authors of Pain have yet to comment on the news. Kevin Owens did comment on WWE’s decision by writing the following: 

“Those guys beat the hell out of me for months…and I can say with complete honesty that I enjoyed every second of it. Good luck, boys. Hopefully, we’ll share a ring again one day and if so, you can bet you have some receipts coming you way!”

Rezar suffered a bicep injury in March. This injury put the team on the shelf once again. As a result, it halted their push on the RAW brand and ended their alliance with Seth Rollins. 

It had been reported that Paul Heyman was a big fan of the tag team when he was working creative as the RAW Executive Director at that time.

Because Rezar was out of aAkam and Rezar Released By WWEction, the decision was made then to also pull Akam off TV until Rezar was able to return.

The tag team was created in February of 2016 where they would hold the NXT Tag Team Titles once. 

Seth Rollins Comments On Turning Heel, Alliance With AOP & Murphy