Backstage reaction to AEW signing MCMG revealed

A new report has revealed backstage reactions in AEW to the arrival of Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley, i.e., the Motor City Machine Guns (MCMG).

The Motor City Machine Guns were released from WWE in April as part of the post-WrestleMania 42 budget cuts. This week, their 90-day non-compete clause expired, allowing them to sign with AEW and make their blockbuster arrival at Collision in Detroit last night. Upon their arrival, the Guns received a thunderous welcome, and they cut a promo confirming that they signed full-time contracts. Later in the show, they returned to the ring to make the save for the Bang Bang Gang, who were getting beaten down by the Death Riders and The Dogs.

A new report from PWInsider has now revealed details about how their arrival was received backstage at the Jacksonville-based promotion. According to the report, Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley’s arrival was seen as an exciting development by many talents, who believed they could have great matches with them.

Nathan Frazer says AEW’s Motor City Machine Guns were Fraxiom’s “biggest inspiration”

Fraxiom, i.e., the team of Nathan Frazer and Axiom, was one of the most frequent opponents the Motor City Machine Guns faced during their time in WWE. The two teams carried the tag team division for the most part of 2025 on WWE SmackDown.

After Sabin and Shelley officially departed the Stamford-based promotion, Frazer came out to thank the veterans for their influence, calling them one of Fraxiom’s biggest inspirations. He also noted that the gap left by MCMG in the tag team division will probably never be filled.

“There genuinely aren’t even words that could articulate just how much MCMG mean to us. But I will try and do my best. As a tag team, they are one of our biggest inspirations. That goes without even saying. But as people, as friends, as brothers, the gap they leave behind will never be filled,” he wrote.

The arrival of the Motor City Machine Guns has certainly reshaped the landscape of tag team wrestling in AEW. It will be interesting to see how Tony Khan plans to book his new superstars now.