The Motor City Machine Guns are heading back to House of Glory Wrestling. Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin have been announced for HOG Windy City Warfare, which takes place Friday, September 25, at the Logan Square Auditorium in Chicago.

House of Glory has confirmed that Shelley and Sabin will be in action at the event, though the promotion has not yet revealed the team that will stand across the ring from them. The appearance is significant for more than the Chicago setting alone: it will mark the Motor City Machine Guns’ first match together on the independent scene since 2024.

In announcing their return, HOG positioned Shelley and Sabin as one of the most decorated and influential teams of their era.

“House of Glory Wrestling is set to welcome back one of the most accomplished tag teams in professional wrestling as the Motor City Machine Guns — Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin — return to HOG this Friday, September 25, at Windy City Warfare from Logan Square Auditorium in Chicago.”

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The promotion also emphasized the competitive motivation behind their independent wrestling return.

“After capturing tag team championships and competing at the highest levels around the world, Shelley and Sabin are returning to the independent wrestling scene with something to prove: why the Motor City Machine Guns are regarded as one of the greatest tag teams of their generation.”

Windy City Warfare will stream live and free on YouTube beginning at 8:00 p.m. CST. With the opponents still to be named, the announcement leaves considerable room for anticipation around one of the card’s most notable bouts.

A Major Independent Wrestling Return

The Motor City Machine Guns have long held a unique place in modern tag team wrestling. Shelley and Sabin are recognized not simply for their championship accomplishments, but for the precision, pace, and chemistry that have made their partnership endure across multiple stages of their careers. Their ability to shift between rapid tandem offense, technical exchanges, and opportunistic counters has kept the team relevant through several different wrestling eras.

For HOG, bringing the Machine Guns to Chicago adds a proven attraction to an event that will be available without a paywall on YouTube. The team’s history and name recognition make them a natural focal point for the show, particularly when the match represents their first independent outing together in two years.

The lack of a confirmed opponent creates an obvious question ahead of Friday: who will be chosen to welcome Shelley and Sabin back to the independent circuit? Any team selected will enter the match with an immediate opportunity. Facing the Motor City Machine Guns carries a level of prestige, but it also presents a chance to make an impression against a tandem with extensive experience at the top level of the industry.

That uncertainty can also shape the atmosphere inside Logan Square Auditorium. A known opponent would offer a clear pre-match rivalry or stylistic story. As things stand, fans will be waiting to see whether HOG opts for an established team, a matchup designed around the Machine Guns’ fast-paced approach, or a pairing looking to make its name at their expense.

Recent AEW Activity

The HOG date arrives shortly after Shelley and Sabin resumed their AEW presence. The pair recently returned at AEW All In: London at Wembley Stadium, placing the longtime partners back on a major international stage.

They followed that appearance with an in-ring return on AEW Collision earlier this month. Shelley and Sabin defeated The Swirl, the team of Blake Christian and Lee Johnson, in tag team competition. That victory showed that the Machine Guns were not merely making a one-off appearance; they were back working as a unit inside an AEW ring.

The transition from an AEW victory to a House of Glory booking gives the September 25 match an added layer of interest. The Machine Guns will be entering Windy City Warfare after having recently re-established their partnership in a nationally visible setting. HOG’s audience will now get the chance to see that same team in a more intimate independent wrestling environment.

There is a different energy to a match in a venue such as Logan Square Auditorium, especially for a team with Shelley and Sabin’s background. The smaller-room setting places the crowd closer to every exchange, every transition, and every moment of communication between partners. For a tandem known for timing and detail, that kind of environment can be an ideal place to showcase the fundamentals that made the Motor City Machine Guns stand out in the first place.

Championship Pedigree and a Lasting Partnership

HOG’s announcement specifically pointed to Shelley and Sabin’s championship success and their experience competing around the world. The pair are also former WWE Tag Team Champions, adding another major accomplishment to careers that have already included work at the highest levels across professional wrestling.

Yet their reputation has never rested on a single title reign or a single promotion. The Motor City Machine Guns have remained a defining team because the partnership itself has lasted. In an industry where alliances frequently shift and successful pairings often split apart, Shelley and Sabin have repeatedly returned to the identity that made them special together.

That continuity is central to the appeal of their HOG appearance. Fans are not seeing two accomplished singles wrestlers temporarily placed in a tag match. They are seeing a team with years of shared instincts, established combinations, and an understanding of tag-team strategy that can only be developed through a long-running partnership.

It also explains why the phrase “something to prove” carries weight in the promotion’s announcement. Shelley and Sabin have already built résumés that place them among the most respected tag teams of their generation. Still, the independent wrestling setting offers a different kind of test. It is an opportunity to remind audiences why their formula continues to work, while giving a prospective opponent a chance to challenge that status.

What Windy City Warfare Means for HOG

For House of Glory, the booking represents a major addition to its Chicago event. The Motor City Machine Guns bring a recognizable team name, a recent connection to AEW programming, and a fan base that has followed their work across a long career. Their presence should place added attention on Windy City Warfare as the show approaches.

The free YouTube presentation is equally important. Viewers who cannot make it to Chicago will be able to watch the event live, allowing HOG to use the Machine Guns’ return as a showcase for the promotion beyond the audience in the building. For an independent event, that accessibility can help turn a notable booking into a broader point of conversation.

Chicago has long been a city with a deeply engaged wrestling audience, and a Friday-night appearance by Shelley and Sabin fits the setting. The team has performed in front of large audiences and major-event crowds, but their style has always been especially effective in front of fans who are ready to react to quick counters, familiar double-team sequences, and the gradual momentum swings of a well-built tag bout.

With no opponents announced, the final piece of the puzzle remains unresolved. HOG still has time to reveal the challenge awaiting Shelley and Sabin, and that decision will help define whether the match is framed as a showcase, a clash of established teams, or a proving-ground opportunity for younger competition.

Event Details

  • Event: HOG Windy City Warfare
  • Date: Friday, September 25
  • Location: Logan Square Auditorium, Chicago
  • Featured Team: The Motor City Machine Guns, Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin
  • Streaming: Live and free on YouTube at 8:00 p.m. CST

Whatever HOG has planned for their opponents, Windy City Warfare will offer an important independent wrestling chapter for the Motor City Machine Guns. Shelley and Sabin have recently returned to AEW competition, but Chicago will provide their first independent match as a team since 2024. For a duo still regarded as one of the generation’s defining tag teams, the return is a chance to reinforce that reputation in front of a new live crowd.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.