Motor City Machine Guns officially join AEW on Collision
The Motor City Machine Guns officially joined AEW during the July 30, 2026 episode of Collision in Detroit. Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley, fresh off their WWE departure, were welcomed as All Elite by Tony Khan, with Sabin declaring there was no place they would rather be than the city they have represented for 20 years.
Key Takeaways
- Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley debuted as All Elite on AEW Collision in Detroit on July 30, 2026.
- Tony Khan confirmed the signing on social media, calling the Motor City Machine Guns "ALL ELITE."
- In-ring promos stressed Detroit as home after two decades representing the city.
- The move lands as Khan stresses AEW must be selective amid a crowded roster of free agents.
What happened when the Motor City Machine Guns joined AEW?
Following their departure from WWE, the Motor City Machine Guns appeared on the July 30, 2026 edition of Collision in Detroit. AEW President Tony Khan welcomed the duo on Twitter/X, writing that it was official and that Sabin and Shelley were "ALL ELITE."
AEW's official account echoed the news, posting that the Motor City Machine Guns are All Elite and urging fans to watch Collision live on TNT and HBO Max. For more celebrity and sports entertainment headlines, visit our celebrity breaking news hub.
What did Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley say in Detroit?
In a promo, Sabin asked whether anyone really thought they would not be there. He said there was no place they would rather be than "the greatest city in the history of modern civilization," the city they have loved and represented for 20 years, adding that it is "where the best wrestle."
Shelley kept it simple and personal: "Detroit, in more ways than one... we are home." The hometown framing matched the show's Detroit setting and the team's long Motor City identity.
Why does this signing matter for AEW's roster?
The arrival matters because it locks in a proven tag team while AEW weighs a deep free-agent market. Speaking with ROAR Around The Ring, Khan said there is "a lot of competition in AEW right now," so the company must be "very considerate" about who it signs and who comes in to compete for TV and pay-per-view spots.
As Fightful reported, fans have expected acts like the Motor City Machine Guns and New Day to land in AEW. Khan's caution underlines how selective the promotion aims to be even as high-profile names become available.
Against that backdrop, confirming Sabin and Shelley on Collision signals AEW still sees room for the right fit—especially a Detroit-rooted duo debuting in Detroit. The Motor City Machine Guns now enter a stacked tag division already fighting for weekly airtime.