The Motor City Machine Guns are officially heading toward free agency — and according to Fightful Select, AEW could ultimately be their next destination. Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley are set to become free agents in July, with sources within TNA telling Fightful that the door is always open for the duo to return to the promotion they helped establish as one of the greatest tag teams in its history. However, the belief within the industry is that AEW may win the bidding — though no confirmation of contact has been made at this stage.
The history between AEW and the Motor City Machine Guns makes the speculation credible. AEW previously extended an offer to the team in 2024 before WWE matched the deal and signed them instead. That context — combined with AEW‘s track record of signing experienced tag teams — makes a potential landing there feel like a natural fit.
Motor City Machine Guns Were Confident They Would Remain Active and Successful Outside WWE After Their Release
Sources familiar with the situation indicated that Sabin and Shelley were confident heading into free agency, with plans to continue wrestling and maintain their band GRPPLNG alongside their in-ring careers. While they had hoped for more consistent opportunities during their WWE run, they were said to be appreciative of the time they did receive. The team was not scheduled to travel for last week’s SmackDown TV tapings, suggesting their wind-down period from the company had already begun before the official April 24 release date.
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