The Authors of Pain

AOP (shortened from their previous name of The Authors of Pain) is a professional wrestling tag team performing on the Raw brand. The team is composed of Akam and Rezar. They are former one-time Raw Tag Team Champions and one-time NXT Tag Team Champions.

The Authors of Pain
Akam (left) and Rezar (right) with Ellering (back, on ring apron) in April 2018
Tag team
MembersAkam
Rezar
Name(s)AOP
The Authors of Pain
Billed heights6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) – Akam
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) – Rezar
Combined
billed weight		620 lb (280 kg)
Akam (290 lb), Rezar (330 lb)
Former
member(s)		Paul Ellering (manager)
Drake Maverick (manager)
Seth Rollins (manager/leader)
DebutJune 8, 2016
Years active2016–present (inactive)

Akam and Rezar first teamed up in June 2016, paired with manager Paul Ellering in WWE's then developmental league NXT. AOP won the 2016 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, leading to them winning the NXT Tag Team Championship. In early 2018, Akam and Rezar were promoted to the Raw brand, with Drake Maverick taking over as their manager. AOP took a hiatus in early 2019. They returned later that year, but without Maverick as their manager, and later allying themselves with Seth Rollins.

WWE

NXT Tag Team Champions (2016–2018)

The team made their televised NXT debut on June 8, 2016 at NXT TakeOver: The End, attacking American Alpha (Jason Jordan and Chad Gable) after they had lost the NXT Tag Team Championship to The Revival (Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder). Paul Ellering appeared on the ramp following the assault, signaling his association with the two.[1]

The Authors of Pain, accompanied by Ellering, as NXT Tag Team Champions in February 2017.

On June 15 episode of NXT, they won their first televised match and were accompanied by Ellering.[2] On November 19, the duo won the 2016 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, defeating TM-61 in the tournament final at NXT TakeOver: Toronto. On the January 11, 2017 episode of NXT, they assaulted #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) after they retained the NXT Tag Team Championship against The Revival.[3] At NXT TakeOver: San Antonio, they won the NXT Tag Team Championship by defeating #DIY.[4] On the March 1 episode of NXT, The Authors of Pain defended their titles against #DIY in a rematch, which ended in a no contest after The Revival interfered and attacked both teams. They retained the titles at NXT TakeOver: Orlando by both defeating #DIY and The Revival in a triple threat elimination match after eliminating both teams.[5] At NXT TakeOver: Chicago, the duo participated in the first-ever ladder match for the NXT Tag Team Championship against #DIY, which they won.[6]

On the July 26 episode of NXT, the two were set to compete, but their opponents were attacked by SAnitY before the match began. They then brawled with Alexander Wolfe and Killian Dain, disposing of the two before a staredown, thus turning them face for the first time.[7] Two weeks later, SAnitY called out The Authors of Pain, who were attacked by Eric Young as they made their way down the ramp. Young zip-tied Rezar to the barricade, allowing SAnitY to beat down Akam. Rezar eventually made his way to the ring, but was ultimately attacked as well.[8] At NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III, The Authors of Pain lost the NXT Tag Team Championship to SAnitY, who were represented by Wolfe and Young after the latter replaced Killian Dain mid-match, marking their first loss in NXT.[9] At NXT TakeOver: WarGames, they teamed with Roderick Strong in a WarGames match against SAnitY and The Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Kyle O'Reilly, and Bobby Fish), who won the match. At NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia, The Authors of Pain unsuccessfully challenged The Undisputed Era for the NXT Tag Team Championship. In what was their last match in NXT, they again challenged The Undisputed Era for the NXT Tag Team Championship in a triple threat match also involving the team of Strong and WWE United Kingdom Champion Pete Dunne at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans, where they failed to win after Strong turned on Dunne and joined The Undisputed Era, allowing them to retain the titles.

Beginnings in the main roster (2018–2019)

On the April 9 episode of Raw, The Authors of Pain, along with Ellering, made their main roster debut as heels, defeating Heath Slater and Rhyno. After the match, Akam and Rezar ended their partnership with Ellering by pushing him away and leaving him ringside as they returned backstage.[10] On the September 3 episode of Raw, The Authors of Pain, now under the shortened name of "AOP", were accompanied to the ring by the 205 Live General Manager, Drake Maverick, who announced himself as their new manager.[11]

On the November 5 episode of Raw in Manchester, England, AOP defeated Seth Rollins in a handicap match to win the Raw Tag Team Championship. They went on to defeat SmackDown Tag Team Champions Cesaro and Sheamus in an interbrand Champion vs Champion match at Survivor Series. The following night on Raw, AOP suffered an upset loss to the team of Bobby Roode and Chad Gable, marking their first loss on the main roster. On the December 10 episode of Raw, they lost their tag titles to Roode and Gable in a three-on-two handicap match that also involved their manager Drake Maverick. Maverick was the one pinned, ending AOP’s reign as Raw Tag Team Champions at 35 days. After this, the team went on hiatus due to Akam having knee surgery in January 2019.[12] Maverick would subsequently go in his own direction, maintaining his duties as the 205 Live General Manager and then chasing after the WWE 24/7 Championship introduced in May. AOP returned during the 51-Man Battle Royal at the 2019 Super Showdown, but they were both eliminated during the match.[13] On June 18, during SmackDown Live, Akam and Rezar were seen coming out of Baron Corbin's dressing room right before a segment involving The IIconics and The Kabuki Warriors.[14] On the September 19 episode of Raw, AOP (without Maverick) returned in a vignette where they called out the Tag Team Division for being soft and weak and announced their intentions of returning. The following week, they would attack Heath Slater and No Way Jose backstage.

Seth Rollins' enforcers (2019–2020)

During the 2019 WWE Draft in October, AOP went undrafted, becoming free agents and able to choose which brand to sign with. Three days after the draft's conclusion, AOP signed with Raw to remain on the brand (Maverick was drafted to SmackDown, reaffirming the end of their partnership).[15] They made their in-ring return on the November 25 episode of Raw defeating Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder. Later that night, they interrupted the main event between Seth Rollins and Kevin Owens by attacking Owens but refused to attack Rollins.[16] Two weeks later on Raw, AOP and Rollins attacked Owens backstage. This would solidify Rollins' heel turn and confirm his association with AOP.[17]

On the January 13, 2020 episode of Raw, following his third loss to Aleister Black, and after getting requested for help by Rollins, Buddy Murphy would assist Rollins and The AOP in their Fist Fight main event against Kevin Owens, Samoa Joe, and Big Show, therefore aligning himself with the faction as their new member.[18]

On March 2020, it was reported that Rezar suffered a bicep injury, therefore putting the team on hiatus.

Other media

Akam and Rezar made their video game debut as playable characters with Ellering appearing as their manager in WWE 2K18, they also appear as playable characters in WWE 2K19 and WWE 2K20.

Championship and accomplishments
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gollark: Yes you do? Why do you think servers have really fast SSDs now?
gollark: That sounds hilariously slow.
gollark: There are probably applications in parallel or low power stuff.
gollark: Biology has annoying constraints and can't do clock rates anywhere close to silicon stuff, and serial tasks are important.

References
  1. "Legend, bald beauty, and snazzy dresser, Paul Ellering appears after a mysterious duo attacks American Alpha: NXT TakeOver: The End..." WWE. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
  2. Tylwalk, Nick (April 3, 2016). "NXT: Finn Balor finds out what's next". Slam! Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
  3. Fiorvanti, Tim (November 19, 2016). "NXT Takeover Toronto: Match recaps and ratings". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
  4. Powell, Jason. "1/28 Powell's NXT Takeover: San Antonio Live Review – Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Bobby Roode for the NXT Title, DIY vs. Authors of Pain for the NXT Tag Titles, Asuka vs. Nikki Cross vs. Billie Kay vs. Peyton Royce for the NXT Women's Title". Pro Wreslting Dot Net. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
  5. James, Justin (April 1, 2017). "NXT TAKEOVER REPORT 4/2: Ongoing coverage of event headlined with Nakamura vs. Roode live from Orlando". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
  6. Silverstein, Adam (May 21, 2017). "NXT TakeOver: Chicago results, review -- Outstanding matches, a monster heel turn". CBS Sports. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
  7. "NXT results, July 26, 2017: Hideo Itami puts his friendship with Kassius Ohno to sleep". WWE. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
  8. "NXT results, Aug. 9, 2017: Fiery Zelina Vega guides Andrade "Cien" Almas to big victory and TakeOver: Brooklyn III match". WWE. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
  9. Winter, Arya (August 19, 2017). "NXT TakeOver Brooklyn III live results: Bobby Roode vs. Drew McIntyre". Wrestling Observer/Figure Four Online. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
  10. Benigno, Anthony. "The Authors of Pain def. Heath Slater & Rhyno". WWE.com. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  11. "AOP def. Keith Thompson & Jimmy James". WWE.com. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  12. "Report: Akam Of The Authors Of Pain Cleared To Return To In-Ring Competition - Fightful Wrestling". www.fightful.com.
  13. P., Leon (June 8, 2019). "There Were Actually 51 Competitors in the Super ShowDown Battle Royal, Complete List". PWInsider. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  14. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98i6xNfPK8Q&t=9s
  15. "Breaking news regarding WWE Crown Jewel, free agency and the Intercontinental Title: WWE Now". WWE. October 17, 2019. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  16. Powell, Jason (November 25, 2019). "11/25 WWE Raw Results: Powell's review of the night after Survivor Series edition with AJ Styles vs. a four-way winner for the U.S. Championship, Charlotte Flair vs. Asuka, Seth Rollins' town hall meeting". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  17. Powell, Jason (December 9, 2019). "12/09 WWE Raw Results: Powell's review of Rey Mysterio vs. AJ Styles for the U.S. Championship, Rusev and Lana divorce, the brand's final push for the WWE TLC pay-per-view". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  18. Powell, Jason. "01/13 WWE Raw Results: Powell's review of Seth Rollins and AOP vs. Big Show, Samoa Joe, and Kevin Owens in a fistfight, Randy Orton vs. AJ Styles vs. Drew McIntyre, Aleister Black vs. Buddy Murphy, and Rusev vs. Bobby Lashley, Brock Lesnar latest appearance". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  19. "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2017". The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
  20. "NXT TakeOver: San Antonio results". WWE. January 28, 2017. Retrieved January 28, 2017.


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