After months of speculation and a recent tease about finding a new home, the Motor City Machine Guns officially arrived in AEW as signed talent during the July 30 episode of Collision. Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley opened the show to a massive ovation from their hometown crowd in Detroit, Michigan, walking out to new entrance music that initially caught fans off guard.
Motor City Machine Guns AEW debut
Inside the ring, Sabin told the audience the team was “home in more ways than one,” while Shelley added that the duo was finally All Elite. Moments later, Tony Khan confirmed the signing on social media, making their AEW status official.
Sabin and Shelley appeared again later in the night, helping the Bang Bang Gang fend off an attack from the Death Riders and The Dogs after an eight‑man tag match. The Guns shook hands with Juice Robinson, Ace Austin and The Gunns, signaling early alignment on AEW programming.
This isn’t their first time in AEW. The Guns previously teamed with Jay Lethal in a losing effort against FTR and Wardlow at All In 2022. They later signed with WWE in late 2024 but were released this spring. Neither man has wrestled since the Andre the Giant Battle Royal on the SmackDown before WrestleMania.
Their WWE run lasted 42 days, during which they held the WWE Tag Team titles. They defended the belts twice: once in a no contest against the Street Profits, and then losing them to Johnny Gargano and current AEW roster member Tommaso Ciampa.
Beyond WWE, the Motor City Machine Guns carry one of the most decorated résumés in tag team wrestling. They are former ROH Tag Team Champions, three‑time TNA Tag Team Champions, NJPW Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions, NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions and GCW Tag Team Champions.
Their arrival adds another major team to AEW’s growing tag division, and doing it in Detroit made the moment even more meaningful. With fresh momentum and a long list of accomplishments behind them, Sabin and Shelley now begin their next chapter as fully contracted AEW stars.
Motor City Machine Guns Make Official AEW Debut on Collision
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