Ex-WWE Star Tried To Quit On Day Of Main Roster Debut

A former WWE star has looked back on their time with the company.

Akam and Rezar began performing together in NXT back in 2016 and were given the name The Authors of Pain. The duo quickly found success, winning the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic as well as becoming NXT Tag Team Champions, all under the guidance of Paul Ellering.

The pair made their way to the main roster two years later, going on to become Raw Tag Team Champions.

However, they were released in September 2020, before eventually returning in January 2024 as part of The Final Testament with Ellering and Karrion Kross and Scarlett. But despite some initial promise, they were released in February 2025.

Authors Of Pain Made Immediate Decision To Quit WWE

While speaking to The Metro, Rezar, real name Gzim Selmani, reflected on his WWE career and explained why he feels it was such a missed opportunity.

The star began by looking back at the Authors of Pain’s debut on the main roster in 2018 and their quick split from Ellering, who had been by their side through their dominant run in NXT. Incredibly, he said that he and Akam had to be talked out of quitting by Ellering because of the split.

“That was the day that we decided 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’.” He said it was Ellering himself who convinced them to stay. “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.”

When discussing the reason behind the change, Rezar said it came down to Vince McMahon not wanting someone as old as Ellering on television.

“He 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.”

With regard to their return to WWE as part of The Final Testament, Rezar said that Triple H was initially excited and made lots of promises, but they didn’t come to fruition. Despite this he said he’s got nothing bad to say about working for The Game.

In an interview back in August, Paul Ellering explained that he felt WWE dropped the ball with The Final Testament. He said that the group “never got the push it deserved,” and that the writers could have done more with it.

Although they initially remained on television, Karrion Kross and Scarlett left WWE for a second time on August 10 after their contracts expired. Although Kross has since admitted he’d like to return to WWE, the husband and wife team have already resumed their careers on the independent scene.

For Scarlett, this means getting back in the ring, despite not having wrestled a singles match for over two years.