9 Things That Must Happen At NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia
5. Goodbye, Authors Of Pain
Ever since losing the NXT Tag Team Championships to SAnitY back at TakeOver: Brooklyn III, the Authors of Pain have been in a little bit of a holding pattern. Akam and Rezar were thrown into the WarGames match alongside Roderick Strong, with many assuming that a main roster call-up was imminent. That call is yet to come, but it is definitely a case of ‘when’ as opposed to ‘if’.
The Authors will changed Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish for the tag belts at TakeOver, in a match that few people predicted. It will be an almighty shock if Paul Ellering’s boys won the titles for a second time, and the bout will likely act as their NXT sendoff.
WWE is in a difficult position when it comes to the Authors of Pain. There is nothing left for them to do in NXT, as they have dominated the tag division from day one. Despite this, the duo are still too inexperienced for the main roster. It could be a case of too much, too soon. The next six months are going to be the most important of their lives to date.
Whether they are ready or not is somewhat immaterial, as their time in NXT is done. The Authors will come up short on Saturday night, before making the jump to the main roster either at the Rumble or soon after.