After months of speculation regarding their future, the Motor City Machine Guns have officially arrived in All Elite Wrestling.
Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley made their long-awaited AEW debut during the July 30 edition of AEW Collision in Detroit, Michigan, appearing just hours after officially becoming free agents following the expiration of their WWE non-compete clauses.
Hometown Heroes Receive Massive Reception
AEW opened the show with a memorable moment as the Detroit crowd welcomed Sabin and Shelley with a thunderous ovation.
The hometown fans showered the legendary tag team with chants of “Motor City,” creating an emotional atmosphere as the duo made their way to the ring.
Sabin addressed the crowd first, jokingly asking whether anyone truly believed they wouldn’t show up in Detroit. He and Shelley reflected on their long history representing the city throughout their careers and thanked the fans for supporting them over the last two decades.
The pair then turned their attention to their future.
Sabin spoke about their excitement to join AEW, while Shelley made the announcement official by confirming that the Motor City Machine Guns had signed with the company. Moments later, the familiar “All Elite” graphic appeared on the arena screens, confirming their status as AEW’s newest additions.
Motor City Machine Guns Make Immediate Impact
The duo didn’t wait long to get involved in the action.
Later in the evening, the Bang Bang Gang picked up a victory over the Death Riders in an eight-man tag team match. However, the celebration was cut short when The Dogs stormed the ring and launched a post-match attack.
That brought Sabin and Shelley back out to a huge reaction.
Armed with steel chairs, the newly signed AEW stars chased off The Dogs and evened the odds. With the heels retreating, the Gunns capitalized by laying out members of The Dogs with their finishing move, bringing the segment to a close.
The confrontation immediately hinted at a potential alliance between the Motor City Machine Guns and the Bang Bang Gang moving forward.
A Long-Awaited Arrival
While this marked their official signing with AEW, it wasn’t the first time Sabin and Shelley had appeared for the promotion.
The pair previously competed at AEW All Out 2022, teaming with longtime friend Jay Lethal in a trios match against FTR and Wardlow. Although they came up short in that contest, their performance left many fans hoping for a more permanent relationship with the company.
Rumors linking the Motor City Machine Guns to AEW intensified after their WWE departures earlier this year. Even before becoming free agents, many within the wrestling industry expected AEW to emerge as their eventual destination.
One Of Wrestling’s Most Decorated Tag Teams
Few tag teams arrive in AEW with résumés as impressive as the Motor City Machine Guns.
Throughout their careers, Sabin and Shelley have captured championships across multiple major promotions, including WWE, TNA Wrestling, Ring of Honor, and New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Their influence on modern tag team wrestling has earned them recognition as one of the greatest teams of their generation.
Now, with AEW officially added to their list of destinations, the focus shifts toward championship gold.
Given their track record and the immediate reaction they received from the Detroit crowd, it may not be long before the Motor City Machine Guns find themselves in the hunt for the AEW World Tag Team Championships.
For now, though, one thing is certain: after months of rumors and anticipation, Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley are officially All Elite.
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