WWE (2015–2020) (left) and Rezar (right) with
Paul Ellering (middle), as the
NXT Tag Team Champions in February 2017 Selmani got invited for a tryout in
Dubai, and it was
William Regal’s choice to get him to sign a contract for
WWE. In May 2015, it was reported that Selmani had signed a contract with WWE and would begin training to become a professional wrestler at the
WWE Performance Center. In October 2015, WWE confirmed that Selmani was a WWE developmental recruit already training at the Performance Center. He made his in-ring debut at a
NXT house show in
Venice, Florida on 30 January 2016, losing to Josh Woods. By February 2016, Selmani had formed a tag team with
Sunny Dhinsa, and they became known as The Authors of Pain by April 2016. Selmani and Dhinsa made their televised
NXT debuts on 8 June 2016 at
NXT TakeOver: The End; following the
NXT Tag Team Championship match, they attacked champions
American Alpha (
Chad Gable and
Jason Jordan) before leaving backstage with
Paul Ellering. On 15 June episode of
NXT, the Authors of Pain won their first televised match and were managed by Ellering. On 24 August episode of
NXT Selmani's ring name was revealed to be Rezar, while Dhinsa was billed as Akam. The duo won the 2016
Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, defeating
TM61 in the tournament final at
NXT TakeOver: Toronto. At
NXT TakeOver: San Antonio, the Authors of Pain defeated
#DIY to win the NXT Tag Team Championship. They retained the title at
NXT TakeOver: Orlando by defeating #DIY and
The Revival in a Triple Threat Tag Team Elimination match by eliminating both teams. At
NXT TakeOver: Chicago, the duo participated in the first NXT Takeover main event for the NXT Tag Team Championship by defeating #DIY in a ladder match to retain the title. At
NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III, the Authors of Pain lost the titles to
SAnitY. at
NXT TakeOver: WarGames, Authors of Pain and
Roderick Strong competed in a 3 team
WarGames match which was won by
The Undisputed Era. On 20 December episode of
NXT, Authors of Pain lost the NXT Tag Team Championship to
Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly. At
NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia, Authors of Pain got a rematch but were unsuccessful. At
NXT TakeOver: New Orleans, Authors of Pain competed in a Triple threat tag team match for the NXT Tag Team Championship and Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic trophy which was won by The Undisputed Era (
Adam Cole and Kyle O'Reilly). On 9 April episode of
Raw, The Authors of Pain, along with Ellering, made their main roster debut, defeating
Heath Slater and Rhyno. After the match, Akam and Rezar ended their partnership with Ellering by pushing him away and leaving him ringside as they returned backstage. On 3 September episode of
Raw, The Authors of Pain, now under the shortened name of "AOP", were accompanied to the ring by the
205 Live General Manager,
Drake Maverick, who announced himself as their new manager. On 5 November episode of Raw, The Authors of Pain defeated
Seth Rollins in a handicap match to win the
Raw Tag Team Championship for the first time. They went on to defeat
SmackDown's Tag Team Champions Cesaro and Sheamus in an interbrand Champion vs Champion match at
Survivor Series. They lost the titles to
Bobby Roode and Chad Gable on 10 December episode of
Raw. In January 2019 Akam suffered an undisclosed leg injury that reportedly would keep him out for “at least a few months”. He and Akam returned to action at
Super ShowDown on 7 June 2019. In September 2019, AOP began appearing in vignettes, warning of their return. During the
2019 WWE Draft in October, AOP went undrafted, becoming free agents and able to choose which brand to sign with. Three days after the draft's conclusion, AOP signed with
Raw, remaining on the brand. Rezar started to show up with Akam as Seth Rollins' disciples. In March 2020, it was reported that Rezar suffered a bicep injury and the injury would sideline him for six to eight months.
Return to WWE (2023–2025) According to a report from Sean Ross Sapp of
Fightful on 30 August 2023, the Authors of Pain had been re-signed with the WWE in 2022 prior to the return of
Vince McMahon as chairman in January 2023 and they were on the internal travel list as of May 2023. During the 22 December, episode of
SmackDown, Rezar along with Akam were shown in vignettes by
Karrion Kross and
Scarlett that they will be returning as part of an alliance. On
SmackDown: New Year's Revolution, Rezar, alongside Akam and Paul Ellering made their televised return to WWE, assisting Karrion Kross and Scarlett in attacking
Bobby Lashley and the
Street Profits, confirming their alliance in the process. AOP made their return to the ring on 16 February edition of
SmackDown where they faced NXT talents Beau Morris and Javier Bernal in a squash match. At Night 2 of
WrestleMania XL, the stable lost against The Pride in a
Philadelphia Street Fight. On the following episode of
NXT, The Final Testament made their
NXT return with AOP attacking
Axiom and
Nathan Frazer, who have just won the
NXT Tag Team Championships from
Baron Corbin and
Bron Breakker. During night 2 of the
WWE Draft, which occurred on 29 April 2024, Rezar was drafted to
WWE Raw, with the rest of The Final Testament. At Week 2 of ''
Spring Breakin''', Rezar and Akam was unsuccessful at winning the NXT Tag Team Champions from Axiom and Nathan Frazer after interference from
New Catch Republic. Both members of the Authors of Pain and their manager Paul Ellering were released from their contracts on 7 February 2025. In a March 2026 interview with
Ariel Helwani, Selmani claimed that a
legitimate backstage altercation involving an unnamed member of the
Wyatt Sicks, who he described to be “very unprofessional” due to the member refusing to take a move during a match, led to the Authors of Pain’s release. == Bare-knuckle boxing ==