• It’s Fn Crazy That Karrion Kross Didn’t Become The Face Of WWE, Says Released Star
The Authors of Pain had a successful run in NXT. However, they were never able to shine on the main roster due to inconsistent booking and a number of injuries.
In an interview with Metro, Rezar revealed that WWE wanted to split AOP and make him a singles star.
“A lot of people backstage were pushing to do that. But I made my name in a tag team. I don’t go behind someone’s back. The talks were there, but I was never really interested.”
The former Tag Team Champion also talked about his second run in WWE, where AOP was a part of The Final Testament alongside Karrion Kross and Scarlett. He said that the leader of the group could have become a top star if Triple H booked him properly.
“Kross has all the talent in the world to become a WWE Champion and be the face of WWE, and they just didn’t give it to him. It’s f***ing crazy.”
He went on to say that Triple H promised a lot of things to the group that never came into fruition. The WWE Chief Content Officer was “very excited” about the group at the beginning. He was always respectful towards them, which is why Rezar feels he has nothing bad to say about him.
• Why Vince McMahon Removed Paul Ellering As AOP’s Manager
The Authors Of Pain were booked to be a very dominant team when they joined NXT under Triple H. However, things went downhill for them once they arrived on the main roster.
Rezar of AOP recently discussed his time in WWE in an interview with Metro.
The former Tag Team Champion said that the duo almost walked out of WWE during their first run because Vince McMahon found AOP’s manager Paul Ellering too old to be featured on TV.
“That was the day that we were deciding to stop with WWE. The first day at the main roster, they were telling us, ‘You have to leave Paul Ellering.’ And me and my tag team partner Akam… he said, ‘Yo, let’s just give our resignation letter and just leave’. Paul told us, ‘Try it out. I’ve helped you guys to get there, so much hard work, we can always get the band back together later’.
He (Vince) didn’t like older people than him or people his age on the show. He wanted to be the only elderly person who would be in the spotlight at the time.”
Rezar further expressed his disappointment about AOP’s run on the main roster and said the team was never happy there.
“We were never happy on the main roster. We couldn’t do our thing, we felt like a piece was missing.”
AOP’s first run with the company ended when they were released in 2020. They returned in 2024 and were let go once again earlier this year.
• Top Star Says AEW Pays Wrestlers Fairer Share of Revenue Than WWE
WWE has been in a war with AEW since Tony Khan started the Jacksonville-based promotion. There are several things the young company does better than the global giant, which makes it more attractive to wrestlers. But, WWE being a household name gives it a huge advantage against its top rival.
In an interview with Jon-Bernard Kairouz, Bryan Danielson, who has worked for both companies, revealed that AEW pays its stars a fairer share of revenue than WWE, despite the former making less money.
“Wrestlers are being paid more now than ever from a sports rights perspective. So, for example, in most major sports in the United States, the players get anywhere between 40 to 50% of the revenue. WWE was paying their wrestlers nowhere close to that.
Now, keep in mind, they’re still not paying anywhere close to that, but they do have to pay more, because if they don’t, the talent is going to leave and go to AEW. AEW does pay that 40 to 50% of their revenue to their wrestlers. You know, despite making much less money. I mean, our TV rights deal was incredible, but we’re still the challenger brand catching up on however many years WWE has.”
The American Dragon recently questioned why WWE wants to counterprogram AEW, and said that Cody Rhodes would have never become a big star and CM Punk would have never returned to pro wrestling if Tony Khan didn’t start his promotion.
