WWE News: Authors of Pain make their main roster debut on the RAW After Mania

What’s the story?

The Raw After WrestleMania is famously the biggest episode of the year and often features a main roster call-up or two from NXT.

Well, tonight saw the Authors of Pain make their main roster debut, answering an open challenge from Rhyno and Heath Slater - but the real drama happened after the match.

In case you didn’t know…

The Authors of Pain, Akam and Rezar, are arguably the most dominant tag team in NXT history. The pair are former NXT Tag Team Champions and boast a Dusty Rhodes Classic Tag Team Tournament win in 2016.

The heart of the matter

Authors of Pain moved up to the main roster this week after failing to win back the NXT Tag Team Championships at NXT TakeOver this weekend.

WAR is their PEACE and now #RAW is their HOME!@Rezar_WWE & @Akam_WWE are answering @HeathSlaterOMRB & @Rhyno313's challenge! #RAWAfterMania @PaulElleringWWE pic.twitter.com/rJCsghdZeb
— WWE (@WWE) April 10, 2018

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The pair debuted alongside manager Paul Ellering to face Heath Slater and Rhyno on an action-packed episode of RAW, finishing off the former SmackDown Tag Team Champions in a short match.

The #AuthorsOfPain @Akam_WWE & @Rezar_WWE appear ready to forge their own path of DOMINANCE on Monday Night #RAW! #AOP pic.twitter.com/LXXXGX6B1k
— WWE (@WWE) April 10, 2018

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The real drama happened afterwards, though, when the pair seemingly decided to cut all ties with manager Paul Ellering, the mouthpiece of the monstrous duo.

Are the #AuthorsOfPain closing the book on their alliance with @PaulElleringWWE?!? #RAW #RAWAfterMania @Rezar_WWE @Akam_WWE pic.twitter.com/tzCvuUjLAI
— WWE (@WWE) April 10, 2018

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What’s next?

What will happen next week? Will we see Authors of Pain on RAW without Ellering?

Or could we even see them shift to the blue brand in the Superstar Shake-Up? You never know in WWE.

Author’s take

Well, I've been calling for AOP to debut on the main roster for a while now.

I was saddened by the post-match move to ditch Paul Ellering as he really did add a new dimension to the pair, but you'd have to think that life on the road may just not be what he wants.

Personally, I love AOP and think, if booked the right way, they can be the red brand's version of the Bludgeon Brothers. The pair bring something to Raw that just isn't present in the tag team division right now, and I can't wait to see how they get on!