Backstage Rumor on WWE Possibly Re-Signing Former Tag Team Champions

– According to a report by Fightful Select, several sources have indicated that former WWWE NXT and Raw Tag Team Champions, the Authors of Pain (Akam and Rezar), were signed back to WWE as early as 2022. Earlier this year, there was said to be interest in WWE bringing back the Authors of Pain, but following that news, Fightful was reportedly informed that the team was back under contract with the WWE last year.

Fightful notes that the team was signed before Vince McMahon returned to the company as executive chairman earlier this year. A source stated, “It was before Vince McMahon came back because that put a halt on all signings besides new recruits.” While McMahon’s return to WWE halted signings, there have been some free agent signings in recent months. As noted, Brian Pillman Jr. has been signed and reportedly started working in WWE NXT.

Additionally, the AOP were on WWE’s internal travel list in May. The former champions also made sure that Paul Ellering was involved in their negotiations. Ellering managed the team while they were part of the NXT roster.

The AOP were released from WWE in 2020 as part of COVID-related budget cuts. They attempted to launch their own wrestling promotion, Wrestling Entertainment Series last year, but the promotion fell apart before they could get their first show off the ground. The promotion was also called out for advertising talent who were not going to appear.

AOP and WWE reportedly did not provide an answer when contacted directly about their re-signing.