5 Possible reasons why Drake Maverick is The Authors of Pain's new manager

This week’s episode of WWE Raw was full of surprising moments, with The Undertaker returning to confront Shawn Michaels and the entire roster bowing down to Baron Corbin’s demand to separate The Shield from Braun Strowman, Drew McIntyre and Dolph Ziggler.

However, arguably the most unexpected segment came midway through the show when Drake Maverick, the babyface 205 Live General Manager, accompanied The Authors of Pain to ringside for their match against two local competitors.

Maverick, dressed in full AOP attire, explained before the match that he will be the destructive duo’s new manager and that he will lead the two men to the Raw Tag Team Championships.

It seems an odd decision by WWE to put Maverick with AOP – he’s very different to their previous manager, Paul Ellering – and it also throws into question whether he will remain as a good guy on 205 Live and become a bad guy on Raw.

Either way, it’s got the WWE Universe talking and the reaction from fans on social media has been largely positive, with Maverick proving a popular figure since debuting on our screens in January 2018.

In this article, let’s take a look at five possible reasons why WWE decided to align him with the former NXT Tag Team champions.

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#5 AOP need a mouthpiece

Paul Ellering used to do AOP's talking for them

The Authors of Pain debuted on WWE television in June 2016 at NXT TakeOver: The End and it was clear from very early on that they were going to make a huge impression in the tag division, not just in NXT but also in WWE, in the years to come.

Within five months of their debut, Akam and Rezar won the 2016 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, defeating TM-61 at TakeOver: Toronto, and two months later they became NXT Tag Team champions when they defeated #DIY at TakeOver: San Antonio.

During their successful run in NXT, the duo had an aura about them that has been lacking on the main roster. They used to be the silent destroyers who walked the walk while their evil genius manager, Paul Ellering, talked the talk, but things haven’t been the same since they essentially fired him when they made it to Raw.

Perhaps WWE has seen that Akam and Rezar, who barely cut any promos during their time in NXT, needed a mouthpiece to return to their best – and that’s where Drake Maverick comes in.

#4 AOP needed to start afresh on the main roster

Akam and Rezar are yet to have a meaningful storyline in WWE

After debuting on the main roster the night after WrestleMania 34, The Authors of Pain made light work of Heath Slater & Rhyno in tag matches in back-to-back weeks before defeating local talents Francois & Jean-Paul on Raw a fortnight later.

Then, from 30 April to 25 June, the new call-ups from NXT didn’t appear in a single match on Raw and everybody was wondering why WWE brought them to the main roster at that time if there wasn’t already a storyline in place.

Since then, they have traded wins and losses with Titus Worldwide during a largely meaningless two-month rivalry, with fans pointing out on a seemingly weekly basis on social media that the duo are not the force they were in NXT.

The addition of Drake Maverick as their new manager allows AOP to start afresh on the main roster. No more Titus Worldwide matches. No more gibberish promos. Just two destroyers allowed to do what they do best: destroy.

#3 WWE wants AOP to have a lighter side to their characters

The former NXT Tag Team champions are similar to other tag teams

There’s no denying that The Authors of Pain are one of the most successful tag teams in NXT history, but let’s be honest: we’ve seen their gimmick time and time again over the years and the destructive duo act only has a limited shelf life before it gets tedious.

The Ascension had a very similar gimmick in NXT, but did their developmental success transition across to the main roster? Not at all. Besides, there are already two similar acts to AOP elsewhere in WWE right now: The War Raiders (NXT) and The Bludgeon Brothers (SmackDown Live).

Perhaps WWE is looking to add a lighter side to Akam and Rezar’s characters by having Drake Maverick – someone who is known to be more humorous than serious – manage them going forward.

#2 Raw has lacked storyline development with tag teams

Heath Slater & Rhyno are still on the Raw roster

WWE gave a surprising amount of television time to tag teams on Raw this week, with Chad Gable & Bobby Roode becoming a duo and Drew McIntyre & Dolph Ziggler taking the place of The Revival to defeat The B-Team for the Raw Tag Team Championships.

This week’s booking was a lot different to what we’ve seen in previous months from the Raw tag team division, which is stacked with duos who roll out the same act but seem to forever lack storyline development (The Ascension and Heath Slater & Rhyno being the biggest examples).

When The Authors of Pain have appeared on our screens over the last few months, we’ve generally known what we’re going to see from them, but the addition of Drake Maverick brings a new curiosity about Akam & Rezar that was lacking before.

#1 Is 205 Live getting a new GM?

Drake Maverick debuted on WWE television earlier this year

Drake Maverick has been the 205 Live General Manager since January 2018 when he was introduced into the role by Daniel Bryan, but can anybody really see him combining that position with being the manager of the villainous Authors of Pain on Raw?

As far as managerial positions in pro wrestling/sports entertainment go, Maverick’s two roles couldn’t be any more different, and it makes you wonder if WWE has decided to hire a new General Manager for 205 Live with Maverick becoming exclusive to Raw.

Before Maverick was named 205 Live GM, plenty of names were touted for the role instead of him, from The Hurricane and Rey Mysterio to Goldust and Drew Gulak, so perhaps WWE has decided to shake up the cruiserweight show by having someone else as GM, and that’s why Maverick has a new role as AOP’s new manager.