Add as a preferred source on Google The Motor City Machine Guns are All Elite.
Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley opened the 7/30 edition of Collision from the Masonic Temple Theater in Detroit, where they announced they’ve officially signed with AEW.
Sabin, in the ring:
“Did you really think we wouldn’t be here? Because let me tell you, there is no place we would rather be than right here in the greatest city in the history of modern civilization. The city that we have loved and represented for 20 years. Because this right here is where the best wrestle.”
Shelley added:
“Detroit, in more ways than one… we are home.”
The signing caps three-plus months of speculation dating back to 4/24, when Sabin and Shelley were among the WWE cuts that followed WrestleMania 42. Sean Ross Sapp reported at the time that their 90-day non-competes would be up in July, and both men have been treated as free agents since.
The Guns signed with WWE in October 2024 and went straight to the main roster, beating The Bloodline for the WWE Tag Team Titles on the 10/25/24 SmackDown — their second night on the job and just their third match with the company. Their last WWE match was a win over Fraxiom on the 3/20 SmackDown, and their final appearance for the company came at WWE World over WrestleMania 42 weekend.
On 7/16, the two teased their next stop with a five stages of grief video on their YouTube channel, running down offers from several promotions before settling on an unnamed fifth. Back in April, TNA sources told Fightful there was always a spot for the Guns there, but that they expected AEW to be the eventual landing spot.
AEW has not announced a first match for Sabin and Shelley. All In: London is 8/30 at Wembley Stadium.