Rumors that former Raw and NXT Tag Team Champions The Authors Of Pain are set to return to WWE have been swirling throughout the latter half of this year. Akam and Rezar, who were released from the promotion just over three years ago, are said to have re-signed with WWE sometime last year and even appeared on an internal travel list earlier this year. Moreover, the duo was reportedly featured in the Survivor Series: WarGames program last month, suggesting their return to the company’s programming was imminent.
It’s been almost a month since that Premium Live Event and there’s still no sign of either man on WWE programming. However, a new report has provided some new insight into the situation. Fightful reports that plans are in motion for The Authors of Pain to return to WWE TV shorly, specifically on SmackDown. Additionally, the outlet notes that they will be accompanied by Paul Ellering once more when they make their long-awaited return to the company.
Should Akam and Rezar return to WWE as rumored, it would mark their first pro wrestling appearance in well over three and a half years. The duo last competed on the March 9th, 2020 edition of Raw where they were victorious in an 8-man tag team match alongside Murphy and Seth Rollins over The Street Profits and The Viking Raiders. Unfortunately, Rezar reportedly suffered an arm injury during the bout which led to both men being taken off TV until their releases in September later that year.
Last year, the former WWE stars announced the founding of Wrestling Entertainment Series, their own independent promotion where they would have competed collectively as The Legion of Pain. However, its debut event in Nottingham, England was canceled mere days before it was set to take place due to “so many talent not showing up.” That statement led to a backlash from several talents booked for the event including Chelsea Green, Nia Jax, and Lince Dorado over various backstage issues surrounding the promotion.