WWE dropped a bombshell on fans during the pre-taped December 22nd episode of SmackDown. Karrion Kross teased the return of AOP during his promo, and fans won’t have to wait much longer to see the former Tag Team Champions return.
SPOILER On AOP’s WWE Return
According to PW Insider, AOP will make their return to WWE television during the January 5th episode of SmackDown. That New Year’s Revolution will see the start of their regular return to the company.
The trio will officially return to WWE at the 1/5/24 Smackdown episode and will be back regularly at that point, PWInsider.com is told by WWE sources.
Akam, Rezar, and Paul Ellering were all at the WWE Performance Center in September. They were also around for an NXT taping, but Triple H had other plans for them.
WWE’s Creative Plan For AOP’s Return
Karrion Kross has been mostly absent from WWE since his return to the company. He had his segments pushed back in the past, but he has recently started getting promo time on the blue brand.
During the December 22nd, 2023 episode of WWE SmackDown, Karrion Kross cut another promo, where he said that this next chapter of his story needs “authors.” Then they flashed the silhouettes of three men.
AOP and Paul Ellering will be joining Karrion Kross and Scarlett. Kross also said “vision” in a way that makes us wonder if that will be a part of their new possible faction’s name.
Exclusive Insight into AOP’s WWE Return
I was told earlier this year that Akam and Rezar were re-signed in late 2022. They were just waiting for the right moment to make their return. Sean Ross Sapp and Mike Johnson also reported the same over the year.
Over the last year, I’ve asked multiple times about AOP’s status and was told the same thing, that they are waiting with no immediate word on their return. Now, it appears that they will debut in 2024, or at least that is the new current plan.
Paul Ellering will return alongside AOP as well. Vince McMahon made the call to nix him as their manager and put Drake Maverick in his place. Triple H put that original trio together in the first place years ago in NXT, so he knows how well it works.
Akam and Rezar will apparently be aligned with Karrion Kross in some way, and that will be a good ally for them. It will be interesting to see how they mix things up in the tag team division, because AOP could have championship gold in their future.