Original Artwork Jason Jimenez-Garrido
As we near the end of 2024, the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) prepares for some big changes as they move to different platforms. With rumors of a huge signing, it seems that those changes include some new faces.
On Sept. 13, WWE’s “SmackDown” made its move to the USA Network, leaving their old home on Fox. This was only the first of the company’s upcoming network changes, as “NXT” is set to move to the CW Network on Oct. 1, while “RAW” will be moving to Netflix in Jan. of 2025.
WWE has promoted these three platform switches to be sort of a soft reset. We’ve already seen SmackDown get an exciting new look, and can expect RAW to be a bit more mature once it goes to Netflix. However, it looks like we can also expect the arrival of a tag-team we never thought we’d see in the WWE.
For the past few months, all eyes have been on WWE and its pursuit of the free-agency talent pool. Some of the company’s acquisitions include the recently debuted Giulia, DELTA, and Stephanie Vaquer. However, the signings are far from over, as the “Motor City Machine Guns (MCMG)” have reportedly signed a contract with WWE.
The MCMG, consisting of Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley, are one of the greatest tag-teams of the 2000’s. They have an incredible catalog of matches throughout the independent wrestling scene, Ring of Honor (ROH), and most notably in Total Nonstop Action (TNA). When it comes to innovation, not many teams can compare to the amount of influence the MCMG have had on the current generation of tag-team wrestling.
Therefore it’s no surprise that members of the WWE roster have seen the rumors and are jumping at the opportunity to get in the ring with the Machine Guns. Tomasso Ciampa, one half of the “DIY” tag-team recently talked about the influence the team has had on himself and his partner Johnny Gargano.
“For whatever reason, whether it’s our styles or just our size or whatever, everyone seems to always pair us and those guys together,” commented Ciampa.”They’ve influenced tag team wrestling for two decades now. We’ve taken stuff from them and concepts from them and ideas from them.”
Ciampa added that he’d love to wrestle the team for the first time ever.
“We see the same rumors that you all see … if we can get that tag division to a point where we got four, five, six different top acts going at once …” mentioned Ciampa. “That elevates your game, it forces you to elevate … So I hope it happens. I probably want it to happen even more than some of the fans want it to happen.”
The rumors began on April 2, 2024, when Mike Johnson of PW Insider reported that their time in TNA was over and they’d become free-agents. It was assumed that they were headed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW.)
However, on Sept. 13, 2024, Johnson reported that the team had signed to WWE, according to several sources within the company.
The news came as a huge surprise to the entire industry, who did not expect the MCMG to ever call WWE their home.
In a 2020 interview with Chris Van Vliet, Sabin stated that he didn’t know if the MCMG would ever step in a WWE ring together, saying,
“When I first started, that was always the goal … At some point, maybe some dreams are meant to be denied. Maybe I’ll never make it there,” said Sabin. “If I don’t at this point, I’m perfectly okay with that. Would I still like to? Sure, but I’m not sure my body could handle a schedule like that … I just do it for the love at this point.”
As commonly said in the pro-wrestling industry, “never say never.” For the first time, the MCMG will compete in front of the WWE Universe in 2024.
As of now, it seems that they will start out on the NXT brand, potentially debuting on its first episode on the CW Network. Though they’re certainly experienced enough to be on the main roster, the WWE likely wants to capitalize on Sabin and Shelley’s extensive knowledge, which could help mentor their homegrown talent.
MCMG are often credited for influencing the current crop of talent; many who have gone on to become successful in the industry. Who better to mentor a locker room full of college athletes looking to transition into pro-wrestling than the MCMG?
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