Over the last few years a number of wrestlers have been released from WWE, and it was revealed back in September of 2020 that the Authors of Pain, Akam and Rezar, had been let go. Eventually they returned to the company in 2024, but were later released again in February of 2025.
Recently Gzim Selmani (Rezar) appeared on the Ariel Helwani Show, and he 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 I don’t want to go into it too deeply, but there was an incident at one of the holiday tours that we did. Somebody tried to switch up the match during the match. 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 had to let somebody know, and that was the end of it.
“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 b***h, it’s not my fault. I will let you know backstage.
When asked if their opponents tried to change the result of the match Selmani said, “No. It wasn’t like that. It was certain moves we did. Certain guys they don’t want to take it, because we’re big guys. So, if we lift you up and double spinebuster somebody five nights in a row, then the sixth night somebody can complain, but don’t change it during the match.”
He then confirmed that there was an argument backstage, which led to his release from the company. When asked if he thought it was fair Gzim Selmani added, “It happened. I’m okay with it. That was it. We knew that was it. Especially, Paul (Ellering) and Sunny (Akam), we talked together and obviously we always leave the door open, but for me it was clear I had to go back to combat sports and do my thing.”
Authors of Pain worked with The Wyatt Sicks a number of times on the WWE Holiday Tour in December of 2024 when they teamed up with Karrion Kross & Scarlett to face Dexter Lumis, Erick Rowan, Joe Gacy & Nikki Cross. They last faced off against The Wyatt Sicks at the 12/29/24 live event at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois, and last appeared on WWE programming when they defeated the LWO on the 12/30/24 episode of Main Event.