Add as a preferred source on Google There was excitement backstage in AEW after the Motor City Machine Guns signed with the company. PWInsider reported Friday that many members of the roster believe they can have great matches with Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley.
Sabin and Shelley opened the July 30 Collision in Detroit, announcing that they had signed with AEW and calling the promotion home. Tony Khan posted the company’s “All Elite” graphic for the team, making the deal official.
AEW did not announce the Guns’ first match or program during the segment. Their arrival came after the 90-day non-compete clauses from their April WWE releases expired. The duo last wrestled for WWE on the March 20 SmackDown, beating Fraxiom.
Motor City Machine Guns are #ALLELITE!
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) July 31, 2026
Welcome home, @AlexShelley313 &@SuperChrisSabin!
Watch #AEWCollision LIVE on TNT & HBO Max pic.twitter.com/41WQolfqEZ
The Guns’ only previous AEW match came at All Out 2022, when they teamed with Jay Lethal in a loss to Wardlow and FTR. That six-man tag remains the closest the Guns have come to facing FTR. Sabin said in 2023 that he and Shelley expected to face FTR when they first came to AEW, but the match became the six-man tag. Sabin added that he would still like to work with Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler.
The Guns also have a long history with the Young Bucks across several promotions. Sabin and Shelley beat Matt and Nick Jackson for the ROH World Tag Team Championship at Death Before Dishonor in 2017. Before moving to AEW, they won tag team titles in WWE, TNA, ROH and NJPW.