5 wrestling rumors we hope are true and 5 we hope aren't: 'Endgame' for Roman Reigns' Universal title reign revealed, Canceled plan for WWE legend's return after 2 years

#5. Hope isn't true: WWE canceled plans for a legend's return before releasing AoP

Wasted potential?

The AoP, along with The Revival, are arguably two of WWE's wasted opportunities in the tag team division and otherwise. Everyone pointed out how AoP had a Legion of Doom-esque vibe to them, and Triple H certainly believed that when he paired them with Paul Ellering in NXT.

For unknown reasons, WWE decided to abandon Paul Ellering as their manager shortly after their RAW debut in 2018 and while they found some success, their time on the Red brand was unfortunately plagued with injuries. Rezar had suffered a bicep injury, putting both men off the shelf.

Dave Meltzer had revealed on the Wrestling Observer Radio that AoP's return plans weren't for them to re-align with Seth Rollins:

The only thing I had heard…because he had just gotten cleared and the idea was that he was not going to be back with Seth Rollins, which was their original role but they didn’t know where they would be.

It adds up, because WWE Hall of Famer and legend Paul Ellering had told The Two Man Power Trip Podcast that the original plan was for him to return and align with AoP, but the COVID-19 pandemic changed that:

Well, the idea was to bring me back in to manage them full time on Raw and go on the road with the Authors of Pain, but the pandemic happened. So with Covid going on, I’m not sure what happens next

We hope this isn't true, but if Paul Ellering had mentioned it himself, it probably was.