Tag: Chris Sabin

Motor City Machine Guns To Debut On WWE SmackDown Next Week

“Coming soon” has turned into “next week,” as the Machine City Motor Guns are slated to make their first WWE appearance on the upcoming October 18 episode of “WWE SmackDown.”

Nick Aldis was the first to break the news on WWE programming, informing Legado del Fantasma leader Santos Escobar that he was bringing in “a new tag team” next week, and that the team would be facing Escobar’s stablemates, Los Garzas. Shortly following the segment, a vignette featuring the bright lights of Detroit and the purr of motor engines filled fans’ screens. The letters “M-C-M-G” even briefly flashed at the end of the package, all but confirming the identities of Aldis’ expected new tag team arrival — and likely confirming that they will at least be using the same collective name.

Notably, Fightful Select reported earlier on Friday that Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin were not slated to appear on the blue brand until the October 25 episode of “SmackDown,” though the report allowed that the debut date could be changed even as a result of the report itself. Fightful also claimed the Guns’ upcoming debut had nothing whatsoever to do with the situation surrounding The Lucha Brothers, whose WWE arrival has been delayed by AEW CEO Tony Khan invoking his contractual right to extend Rey Fenix’ deal due to injury.

Shelley and Sabin are no strangers to gold — the Motor City Machine Guns boast tag team title reigns across multiple promotions, including NJPW, Deadlock Pro Wrestling, IGWP, Ring of Honor, and most famously Impact/TNA. The Guns’ contracts with TNA expired in April 2024; by September 2024, reports of Shelley and Sabin’s deal with WWE hit the wrestling news cycle. The Guns were initially reported to be heading to “WWE NXT,” but will instead call the blue brand home.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Backstage Update On The Status Of The Motor City Machine Guns

The Motor City Machine Guns have been the subject of much discussion in recent months, as fans around the world are still wondering where they will end up. Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin’s contracts with TNA expired at the beginning of April, and rumors have been rampant concerning whether they will choose to sign with WWE or AEW. Initially, it looked as if Sabin and Shelley would become ‘All Elite,’ with the two men already having a brief history with AEW, appearing at All Out 2022. However, that talk seemed to die off, and the word inside the business was that they were WWE-bound.

Now it seems there is an answer, at least according to Dave Meltzer, who claimed in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter that the Motor City Machine Guns are expected to start in WWE imminently. As far as the destination within WWE, Meltzer claims that, despite the fact that Sabin and Shelley are one of the most influential tag teams of their generation, they will be part of the “WWE NXT” brand when they eventually debut.

“NXT” has a lot of big events coming up in the near future, as the brand will be moving to The CW on October 1. The live debut on October 1 will take place from the Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois, which will then be followed by a live episode in St. Louis, Missouri on October 8, which will go head-to-head with “AEW Dynamite.” Following on from the two live shows on October 1 and 8, “NXT” will be back on the road for the Halloween Havoc PLE, which will take place on October 27 at the GIANT Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

According to multiple reports, the current plan is to have Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin debut in a tag team match during WWE NXT’s Chicago debut on October 1st.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Motor City Machine Guns Reportedly Finalizing Deal With AEW

Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin are reportedly in the process of finalizing deals that will bring the Motor City Machine Guns to AEW, as reported by Cassidy Haynes of BodySlam.net.

According to Haynes, a contract is not expected to be completed imminently but “the decision has been made and a deal will be worked out.”

The news comes after Shelley filed to trademark the terms “Motor City Machine Guns” and “MCMG” for wrestling purposes on 3/19.

The former TNA World Tag Team Champions finished up with the company at the 3/22 and 3/23 TV tapings in Philadelphia, with their final match set to air on this week’s edition of IMPACT as they face Brian Myers and Eddie Edwards.

Source: F4WOnline via WrestleView

Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin, The Motor City Machine Guns, Reportedly Finished With TNA

Two of the most successful stars in the history of TNA Wrestling have reportedly finished up with the promotion. According to PWInsider, Saturday night’s tapings in Philadelphia marked the final TNA performances (at least for now) of Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin, the Motor City Machine Guns. PWI says TNA held an emotional backstage sendoff for the veteran duo whose contracts are up on April 1. This report was confirmed by Fightful Select, who add that while “the door has been kept open” for the Guns to return, they are not currently expected to remain with TNA.

Sabin and Shelley have spent the majority of their careers in TNA since debuting for the promotion in 2003 and 2004, respectively, and they’ve seen plenty of individual success, with both men having enjoyed a reign with the promotion’s world championship. However, they are much better known as a tag team — the Motor City Machine Guns are three-time TNA tag champs and have won tag team gold in Game Changer Wrestling, New Japan Pro-Wrestling, and Ring of Honor (prior to its acquisition by AEW CEO Tony Khan).

The Guns’ final TNA match is reportedly against Eddie Edwards and Brian Myers for the tag titles. Come April, they will be free agents and can sign with any promotion. They previously appeared in one match for AEW, teaming with Jay Lethal in a losing effort against FTR and Wardlow at All Out 2022, and Shelley has been seen on WWE television as well, competing alongside KUSHIDA on “WWE NXT” as part of the 2020 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic (he also boasts an 2005 appearance on “WWE Sunday Night Heat”). WWE Hall of Famer “Road Dogg” Brian James recently suggested Sabin and Shelley would be “good WWE superstars.” on his podcast, “Oh … You Didn’t Know,”

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Chris Sabin Out 8-12 Months With ACL Tear In Knee

Image result for Chris Sabin ROH

Earlier this month, Chris Sabin went down at the most recent TV tapings at Center Stage in Atlanta, Georgia during a 6-way match. He had to be helped to the back, as seen in the photo below.

https://twitter.com/Ismael_BBM_NYK/status/1084264294416551936

Afterwards, Ring of Honor did confirm he sustained a knee injury, but couldn’t provide further details at the time.

Yesterday, Sabin announced he has a complete ACL tear and will be out 8-12 months.

https://twitter.com/SuperChrisSabin/status/1088113179970977798

Ring of Honor will be on the road again later this month for their Road to G1 Supercard events in Dallas (January 24), Houston (January 25), and San Antonio (January 26).

The sold-out ROH / NJPW G1 Supercard takes place on April 6 at Madison Square Garden.

Source: WrestlingINC

Hardcore Justice Segment of the Week: Tito Ortiz Attacks Rampage Jackson

Tito Ortiz attacks Rampage Jackson with a hammer, Bully Ray wins the TNA World Heavyweight Championship from Chris Sabin in a steel cage match.

TNA Preview

Impact June 27Tonight on Impact Wrestling there will be an appearance by Tito Ortiz, a TNA World Heavyweight Championship contract signing with TNA World Heavyweight Champion Chris Sabin & Bully Ray.

Matches scheduled are: Chris Sabin & a partner from the Main Event Mafia vs Bully Ray & Devon

BFGS Match: Jeff Hardy vs Samoa Joe

BFGS Match: Magnus vs Mr. Anderson

BFGS Match: Daniels vs Kazarian