Gzim Selmani of The Authors of Pain has revealed that the team’s WWE release in early 2025 stemmed from a backstage argument with a member of The Wyatt Sicks following a house show incident in December 2024. Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Selmani said the incident occurred during WWE’s Holiday Tour when a member of The Wyatt Sicks attempted to change the match mid-bout during a loop of matches between the two teams.
“There was an incident at one of the Holiday Tours that we did,” Selmani said. “Somebody tried to switch up the match during the match. And that’s just a no-go for me, especially if you’ve just been in the company for a little bit and we were already there for a long time. You don’t do that. And yeah, I just had to let somebody know. And that was the end of it.”
Selmani clarified that the attempted change had nothing to do with the match result and instead concerned certain moves that the Wyatt Sicks member no longer wanted to take, which led to a confrontation backstage after the bout.
“They tried to switch up the match in the middle of the match,” Selmani said. “I’m a professional. Even if I gotta take a beating in the wrestling ring, I do it. And if you’re going to be a scared little b*tch, then it’s not my fault. I will let you know backstage.”
Selmani did not name which member of The Wyatt Sicks was involved. Despite the circumstances of their departure, Selmani said he is at peace with how AOP’s WWE run ended.
“I’m happy with what AOP accomplished in WWE,” Selmani said. He also noted that he was never fully comfortable in professional wrestling and considers fighting organizations like Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship a better fit for him. Selmani made his BKFC debut successfully ahead of the interview.
AOP spent two separate stints with WWE. During their most recent run, they were part of The Final Testament alongside Karrion Kross. Selmani used the interview to also address what he sees as WWE’s mishandling of Kross during his time with the company. “Same thing with him, man,” Selmani said. “He got promised so f***ing much. They dropped the ball on that guy. Very sad.”
Kross and Scarlett departed WWE last year after their contracts expired without a new deal being reached. Kross has since returned to the independent circuit.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit The Ariel Helwani Show with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
Gzim Selmani talks The Wyatt Sicks and leaving WWE#HelwaniShow pic.twitter.com/WUeTDLQlUf
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) March 17, 2026
