Tag Team Makes Long-Awaited Return Alongside WWE Hall Of Famer

A new faction was formed on WWE SmackDown.

On the January 5th episode of the blue brand, Bobby Lashley announced his entry into the Royal Rumble flanked by the Street Profits. With the trio standing tall they were attacked by the Authors of Pain as Paul Ellering, Scarlett and Karrion Kross watched on from the top of the ramp.

However, Kross made sure to get involved in the action, going to the ring to attack Lashley.

The return of the Authors of Pain came after their appearance was teased in a vignette weeks earlier.

When Did Authors Of Pain Last Appear In WWE?

The appearance on SmackDown was the first time the Authors of Pain had been in a WWE ring since September 2020.

Akam and Rezar began performing together in NXT back in 2016 and quickly found success winning the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic as well as becoming NXT Tag Team Champions, all under the guidance of Ellering.

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