The Legacy of the Motor City Machine Guns

The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin), the tag team that is considered by many fans to be the best in the industry, recently saw the end of a full-time run under the WWE banner, and now fans and members of the industry alike are anticipating their next move. To understand why there is so much buzz right now, one only has to look at the Guns' accomplishments and contributions to the industry through the years.

Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin were TNA originals who did not receive the attention that they deserved over the years, with X Division Championship reigns being their biggest accomplishment. Shelley and Sabin finally discovered their TNA niche in 2007, when they were united as The Motor City Machine Guns and eventually won the TNA World Tag Team Championship.



As WWE Tag Team Champions, three-time TNA World Tag Team Champions, ROH World Tag Team Champions, IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions, NJPW STRONG Openweight Tag Team Champions, and the holders of many other championships internationally, the Motor City Machine Guns have been a dominant force in almost every notable promotion they have been in. With a combination of chemistry, innovation, technical moves, and high-flying maneuvers, the Guns have been show stealers on more than one occasion.



One of the highlights of the Motor City Machine Guns being a part of the SmackDown brand was their matches with #DIY, Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa. Although Ciampa had not been in the ring with the Guns before then, Gargano teamed with former XPW World Tag Team Champion Josh Prohibition to wrestle them at an independent event in 2007. Gargano had also wrestled Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin in singles matches. But the October 2024 Motor City Machine Guns vs. #DIY match was the first.



Another highlight was the Motor City Machine Guns' match with The Bloodline, Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa. The Motor City Machine Guns appeared in NJPW during the time that Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa were wrestling for them regularly, but the two teams had never faced off. During Tama Tonga & Tonga Loa’s time in NJPW, they held the IWGP Tag Team Championship a record seven times, gaining them the reputation of being a great tag team. With the Guns having an exceptional reputation as well, this match taking place for the first time in their careers was exciting for fans. The Guns captured the WWE Tag Team Championship in this match.



Additionally, Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin, seasoned veterans of the ring, had matches with Austin Theory & Grayson Waller, rising stars who were still early in their careers. The matches between the Motor City Machine Guns and A-Town Down Under were valuable learning experiences for Theory and Waller.



It's also worth noting that before joining WWE full-time in October 2024, Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin both worked with WWE in the past. In 2019, they were guest coaches at the WWE Performance Center on separate occasions.

I love wrestling. I am the Multiple Man of the industry: a thousand lives inna thousand different places. Thanks everyone who helped me get this far. pic.twitter.com/t2VKTpnUL6

— @Lx $helley (@AlexShelley313) October 22, 2019

In addition, in 2020, Alex Shelley teamed with Kushida for NXT live events and as a participant in that year’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament.

Archive Interview: Nigel McGuinness

(originally published 1/30/05)

Raised on the mean streets of England while feeding off a diet of Punk Rock and Soccer riots, Nigel McGuinness eventually made his way to the United States, where he captured the H.W.A. Heavyweight, New Breed Heavyweight, H.W.A. Tag, and H.W.A. European titles. McGuinness currently works for ROH and IWA Mid-South. When he is in Britain, McGuinness works for All Star Wrestling.

Q: How long have you been involved in the business?

A: Started training late 1998, been a fan since I was about twelve.

Q: Why did you enter the pro-wrestling industry?

A: It was always my dream since I was about twelve. I tried other things but in the end nothing made me feel like wrestling did. I had it in my blood.

Q: Where did you receive your training to become a pro-wrestler?

A: Various places. Originally learnt the basics and respect at Heartland Wrestling Association in Cincinnati. Then learnt much more of the British style while wrestling for All Star promotions from guys like Chic Cullen, Robbie Brookside and James Mason.

Q: What do you like the most about being in the business?

A: Telling people I'm a wrestler. Just kidding. I like the fact that it was what I always wanted to do. Achieving your dream is a pretty cool thing, not that I've gone all the way.

Q: Which persona appeals to you the most: Face, Heel, or Tweener?

A: Not sure what a Tweener is. But I think I'm naturally a guy that people like to boo initially but after a while grow to cheer.

Q: What is your gimmick?

A: I guess I'm a punk rock soccer hooligan who wrestles an uncharacteristic technical style. Billy Idol meets Jonny Saint perhaps.

Q: Do you think that ROH has recovered yet from the blemish left by the Rob Feinstein controversy?

A: Absolutely, ROH has and always will be associated with hard work and quality matches. Nothing'd any different today than before.

Q: Which do you feel has been your best match so far?

A: Cannot say. I like different ones for different reasons.

Q: Which has been your favorite match so far?

A: See above.

Q: You worked for the Heartland Wrestling Association when it was a WWE developmental territory. Are you interested in wrestling for their current developmental territory, OVW?

A: Of course. I'd love the opportunity to be looked at by WWE.

Q: With whom would you like to wrestle, that you have not yet done so?

A: American Dragon, Steve Regal, Triple H, the list goes on this early in my career.

Q: What do you do in your spare time?

A: Write, spend time with the old lady, try to relax.

Q: What is your long-term goal in the business?

A: Make some money and be seen on an international level. Make a name for myself up there with the best and be respected by my peers.

I hope you enjoyed this interview with Nigel McGuinness. In 2003, I began running my own website, World Wrestling Optimum, which consisted of news, articles, and interviews, including this one.