In September of 2020 it was revealed that the Authors of Pain, Akam and Rezar, were released by WWE. Eventually they returned to the company in 2024, but were later released again in February of 2025.
Speaking to Ariel Helwani, Gzim Selmani (Rezar) revealed that an altercation with the Wyatt Sicks led to Authors of Pain and Paul Ellering getting released from the company a second time.
“There was an incident, very unprofessional from one of those guys. I don’t know their names and don’t want to go into it too deeply, but there was an incident at one of the Holiday tours we did, somebody tried to switch up the match during the match, and that’s just a no go for me, especially if you’ve just been in the company for a little bit, and we were already there for a long time. You don’t do that. I just let somebody know, and that was the end of it.
“Yeah, they tried to switch up the match in the middle of the match. I’m a professional, even if I’ve got to take a beating in a wrestling ring I’ll do it, and if you’re gonna be a scared little bitch, it’s not my fault, I’ll let you know backstage.
“It was certain moves we did, certain guys didn’t want to take it, because we’re big guys. So if we lift you up and double Spinebuster you five nights in a row, the sixth night somebody can complain, but don’t change it during the match.
“Yes (there was an argument backstage). It happened, I’m okay with it. That was it, we knew that was it. Paul (Ellering) and Sunny (Akam), we talked together and obviously we leave the door open, but for me it was clear I had to go back to combat sports and do my thing.”
