After an extended period away from the wrestling business following their WWE release, the Authors of Pain announced their return to the ring earlier this year. Not in Impact Wrestling or for AEW, but via an all-new promotion of their very own called Wrestling Entertainment Series. The men formerly known as Akam and Rezar were billed on a card alongside a number of other ex-WWE Superstars, as well as former UFC World Champion, Alistair Overeem.

WES's Debut Show Has Been Canceled

AOP fans eager to see the tag team back in the ring will have to wait a little longer. The team and whoever else has been organizing WES's debut show issued a statement on Wednesday revealing that it has been canceled. “We are deeply disappointed with the news we have to share but with so many talent not showing up we will have no choice then to cancel the event,” the statement reads.

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The statement claims all of the talent who were supposed to appear on the show have been paid, mentioning Lina Fanene, formerly WWE's Nia Jax, by name. Fanene called out the fledgling promotion earlier this week, asking she be removed from advertising as she would not be attending the show. WES claims Fanene had been paid her deposit before she “changed her mind and did not want to show up”.

Very Few Tickets Sold

Fightful Select (via eWrestlingNews) has shed a little more light on the situation since WES issued a statement. It seems poor ticket sales may have been the real reason for the show's cancelation rather than talent no longer wanting to compete on the show. Somewhere in the region of 300 to 400 tickets had been sold for the event. Not a good look when they're sat inside a 10,000-seat arena.

The report also reads that WES claiming all wrestlers have been paid is only partly true. The show was actually supposed to take place last month but got delayed, likely the reason why a number of people pulled out. Some who were supposed to compete for WES were messed about after the postponement, resulting in talent agencies demanding payment upfront before re-booking wrestlers for the rescheduled date.

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