Motor City Machine Guns, the pro wrestling tag team comprised of Metro Detroiters Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin, returned to All Elite Wrestling at Detroit’s Masonic Temple Thursday night.
The pair opened the show, a live edition of “Collision,” which aired live on TNT and was streamed on HBO Max.
Shelley and Sabin — the ring names of Patrick Martin and Joshua Harter, respectively — were previously a part of World Wrestling Entertainment, but were let go from the company in April.
“Did you really think we wouldn’t be here?” Sabin asked the live crowd at the Masonic. “Because let me tell you, there is no place we would rather be than right here, in the greatest city in the history of modern civilization.”
Shelley then addressed the crowd, giving a hearty “whatupdoe” to start.
“Detroit, in more ways than one, we are home,” he told the crowd, as the crowd chanted “welcome home” back at them.
Motor City Machine Guns were previously a part of AEW in 2022. The well-traveled tag team has also wrestled over the years in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, Ring of Honor and TNA.
The duo are not only partners in the ring but close friends outside of it; they’re also in a band together, GRPPLNG, which released a 4-song EP, “H’s All Around,” last month.
“Wrestling provides a lot of unique experiences,” Sabin told The Detroit News in December, “and it’s nice to have someone by your side to experience those things with.”
Thursday’s “Collision” episode also saw an appearance from Insane Clown Posse, the infamous Detroit rap duo.
Along with Detroit pro wrestler Rhino, ICP participated in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge by dumping icewater on the heads of Roderick Strong, Orange Cassidy and Kyle O’Reilly to help raise awareness for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
agraham@detroitnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Motor City Machine Guns say ‘whatupdoe’ to AEW in Detroit
Reporting by Adam Graham, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Adam Graham, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
