The Authors of Pain

The Authors of Pain
Akam (left) and Rezar (right) in April 2018
Tag team
Members Akam
Rezar
Drake Maverick (manager)
Name(s) The Authors of Pain
AOP
Heights 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) – Akam
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) – Rezar
5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) -Maverick
Combined
weight		 760 lb (340 kg)
Akam (290 lb), Rezar (330 lb) , Maverick 140 lb (64 kg)
Former
member(s)		 Paul Ellering (manager)
Debut June 8, 2016
Years active 2016–present

AOP (formerly known as The Authors of Pain) are a villainous professional wrestling tag team performing on WWE's Raw brand. The team is composed of Akam, Rezar, and manager Drake Maverick .

History

NXT (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]

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.

Raw (2018–present)

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]

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.

Championship and accomplishments

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. 1 2 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. 1 2 "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2017". The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
  13. ↑ "NXT TakeOver: San Antonio results". WWE. January 28, 2017. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
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