Motor City Machine Guns Say TNA Wrestling Was Reluctant To Team Them Up At First

The Motor City Machine Guns have officially arrived on WWE’s main roster, skipping NXT entirely. One of the most decorated and influential tag teams in professional wrestling, Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin made their highly anticipated debut on WWE SmackDown, a moment long in the making for the legendary duo. That being said, the moment would have never happened if they didn’t team up in the first place.

Known for their dominance in TNA, Shelley and Sabin have each held the TNA World Title and the TNA X-Division Title, while collectively winning the TNA Tag Team Titles on three occasions. Their innovative tag team style has left a lasting mark on the industry, and their WWE debut was met with excitement. Commentator Corey Graves even called them, “your favorite tag team’s favorite tag team.”

Before signing with WWE, the Motor City Machine Guns reflected on their career and impact on tag team wrestling during an interview with Donnie DaSilva and Jimmy Korderas on Huge Pop.

Alex Shelley discussed their approach to tag team wrestling, saying, “Fanatically, it’s the difference of utilizing a perspective versus physically mimicking a set of choreographed moves.” He credited Jim Cornette for helping them develop their unique style when they started teaming in TNA, despite some reluctance from the company to pair them up.

“When we first started teaming, TNA was reluctant to put us together for about a year. Honest to God, that’s what we were told, word for word.”

Sabin echoed the sentiment, adding, “I don’t see it, bro.” Shelley continued by acknowledging the subjective nature of pro wrestling, noting that it took time and happenstance to showcase what they could truly do as a team.

Jim Cornette, who worked with them during their TNA run, played a pivotal role in shaping their tag team philosophy. Shelley recalled how Cornette gave them a study packet with Midnight Express DVDs, allowing them to learn from one of the greatest tag teams in history. “We started to figure out the ebb and flow of how they were doing things,” Shelley said. “Having Jim available to guide us was invaluable.”

The Motor City Machine Guns are now set to face DIY on this Friday’s WWE SmackDown. The winner of this highly anticipated showdown will become the number one contenders for the WWE Tag Team Titles, setting the stage for a thrilling clash between two of the most celebrated tag teams in the business.

Wrestling fans are eager to see how MCMG will fare in WWE, but one thing is certain—their journey has been anything but ordinary, and their legacy continues to grow with each match.