Another faction bites the dust. The Authors of Pain (AOP) and their Hall of Fame manager Paul Ellering have been released from WWE, bringing their second run with the company to a screeching halt.
This news drops alongside the release of Cedric Alexander, making it another Friday Night Future Endeavor Special™.
AOP & Ellering: A Short-Lived Return
AOP, once dominant NXT Tag Team Champions, came back to WWE in January 2023 after a three-year absence. This time, they aligned with Karrion Kross & Scarlett in The Final Testament, a faction that… well, existed.
Their biggest moment? Defeating the Wyatt Sicks on Raw in December. Their last match? A January 2nd Main Event taping (which, let’s be honest, is never a great sign). After that, they vanished, leaving Kross to fend for himself.
Why Were They Released?
According to reports, AOP came into WWE with “heat” due to outside projects, and some believe they were paired with Kross to smooth things over.
Oh, and they insisted that Paul Ellering return with them—probably a good move, since he was a key part of their original NXT success. But apparently, WWE had no long-term plans for them, and after one big win over the Wyatt Sicks, that was it.
AOP’s WWE History: From Dominance to Disappearance
AOP first arrived in NXT in 2016, quickly bulldozing the tag division and winning the NXT Tag Team Championships. Under Ellering’s guidance, they looked like the next big thing.
Then came the main roster, where:
✅ They won the Raw Tag Team Titles in 2018
✅ Lost Ellering almost immediately after getting called up (bad move)
✅ Briefly worked with Seth Rollins before disappearing in 2020
This second run? No titles, barely any matches, and now, another release.
What’s Next?
- AOP: Will they finally wrestle outside of WWE for the first time? TNA? AEW?
- Paul Ellering: The man is a legend—he’ll be fine.
- Karrion Kross: Now fully solo on Raw, left with a faction name but no faction.
Final Thoughts:
- AOP: Came back, won one big match, and vanished.
- Ellering: Back for one more run, but it ended before it really started.
- WWE: If you’re bringing back people just to cut them a year later… why bring them back at all?
Where do you think AOP will end up next? Sound off! 👇