Tony Khan says signing the Motor City Machine Guns was a pretty easy decision once Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley became available. He had been a fan of both men for years, and their free agency gave AEW an opportunity he didn’t want to pass up.
Sabin and Shelley returned to AEW television at All In, confronting World Tag Team Champions Adam Copeland and Christian Cage after their victory over the Young Bucks. During the post-All In media scrum, Khan explained why he wanted the legendary team in AEW in the first place. Khan said their ability spoke for itself, while the timing of their free agency made the decision even easier.
“They’re both great wrestlers, and I’ve been a fan of them for many years. When they were both free agents, I thought that was a great opportunity. We had a show in Detroit, and I thought it would be great for them to come in.”
Detroit also gave AEW the perfect place to make the signing public. Sabin and Shelley wanted to be involved at All In, but Khan didn’t want to pass up the chance to introduce them in front of their hometown fans first.
“Even though they really wanted to be here and come out and be part of All In London, they couldn’t, and I couldn’t resist the opportunity to say hello and make the announcement for their hometown fans in Detroit, and then come back at All In London and not just appear, but be with some of the best tag teams of all time—The Young Bucks, FTR, Adam Copeland and Christian Cage, and now The New Level.”
That’s exactly where the Machine Guns found themselves at Wembley. After Copeland and Christian retained their titles, Sabin and Shelley confronted the champions before FTR and The New Level also joined the scene.
Fightful Select previously reported that sources didn’t expect TNA to land Sabin and Shelley in free agency because they believed AEW would make an offer TNA wouldn’t match. The two were still said to be on good terms with TNA.
Khan’s explanation makes his interest much simpler: two wrestlers he had watched for years became available, and he wanted them. Now Sabin and Shelley are already standing across from AEW’s champions with a tag title chase looking like the obvious next step.
What do you think of Tony Khan’s reason for signing the Motor City Machine Guns? Let us know in the comments.
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