The Authors of Pain


AOP 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.
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, attacking American Alpha after they had lost the NXT Tag Team Championship to The Revival. Paul Ellering appeared on the ramp following the assault, signaling his association with the two.
On June 15 episode of NXT, they won their first televised match and were accompanied by Ellering. On November 19, the duo won the 2016 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, defeating TM-61 in the tournament final at. On the January 11, 2017 episode of NXT, they assaulted #DIY after they retained the NXT Tag Team Championship against The Revival. At, they won the NXT Tag Team Championship by defeating #DIY. 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 by both defeating #DIY and The Revival in a triple threat elimination match after eliminating both teams. At, the duo participated in the first-ever ladder match for the NXT Tag Team Championship against #DIY, which they won.
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. 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. At, 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. At, they teamed with Roderick Strong in a WarGames match against SAnitY and The Undisputed Era, who won the match. At, 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, 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. 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.
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. 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. 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. On the September 19 episode of Raw, AOP 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–present)

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. 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. Two weeks later on Raw, AOP and Rollins attacked Owens backstage. This would solidify Rollins' heel turn and confirm his association with AOP.
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.
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