WWE discussed bringing another act back (Patreon)

WWE has had internal discussions about bringing back a big act, physically especially.

Fightful Select has learned that Akam and Rezar, collectively known as the Authors of Pain or AOP, have been discussed for a potential return to the WWE. Both were an integral part of the NXT Black and Gold brand before being called up to WWE Raw.

In addition, the possibility of their longtime, original manager Paul Ellering was also discussed. He managed them during their NXT run before being abandoned on the main roster. The duo remained close with Ellering, and got his blessing to name themselves Legion of Pain outside WWE. There were originally rumors Ellering didn't want to do the main roster travel, which he's refuted.

Both men are still under 30 years old, and haven't wrestled in nearly three years. They were released in 2020, and largely were out of the wrestling business, besides their ill-fated promotion attempts with WES in 2022. Rezar had told some promoters and writers prior to that he was "retired" or "wasn't a wrestler anymore," which clearly changed as they were set to wrestle in the summer of 2022.