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AOP and Paul Ellering recently returned to WWE to form an alliance with Karrion Kross and Scarlett. Dutch Mantell, formerly known as Zeb Colter in WWE, has major doubts about the new faction's potential.
On January 5, Bobby Lashley and The Street Profits cut an in-ring promo on SmackDown before being interrupted by Ellering, Kross, and Scarlett. AOP duo Akam and Rezar then attacked Angelo Dawkins, Montez Ford, and Lashley before Kross joined in with the beatdown.
Mantell said on Sportskeeda Wrestling's Smack Talk that he was not impressed with the newly formed stable. On his Story Time with Dutch Mantell show, the veteran booker and manager elaborated on why he thinks they will fail:
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"I'm not changing my attitude on him [Kross]," Mantell stated. "It's dead on arrival. The people are just not responding to him because there's nothing to respond to. I mean, if he's gonna do anything, he needs to do something to somebody that the fans give a s**t about. Going in there, I don't think The Street Profits, I don't think nobody really cares about them." [24:20 – 24:52]
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AOP, also known as The Authors of Pain, last appeared on WWE television in 2020. They won the RAW and NXT Tag Team Championship during their previous run with the company.
Dutch Mantell raises concerns about Karrion Kross
WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H presented Karrion Kross as one of NXT's top stars during his time with the developmental brand. Since Kross rejoined WWE in 2022, however, he has struggled to hold down a regular spot on SmackDown.
Dutch Mantell is unsure why the two-time NXT Champion continues to receive opportunities:
"You cannot do anything without creative getting behind you, so why hasn't creative got behind this guy? Do they see the same thing I see in him? Zero. Triple H, does Triple H like him? Why's he out there? (…) If I was on creative, I'd say, 'Hey, best thing to do is keep him off TV as long as we can and put him on right when his contract's coming up.' And that's probably when he'd get over." [28:42 – 29:30]
Kross' most recent televised match ended in defeat against Bobby Lashley on the December 8, 2023, episode of SmackDown.
What do you make of AOP and Karrion Kross' new faction? Let us know in the comments section below.
Please credit Story Time with Dutch Mantell and give a H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription if you use quotes from this article.
