Motor City Machine Guns appear to have a clear next step following their WWE release, with multiple sources expecting them to land in AEW once their current deals expire.

According to Fightful, Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley will officially be free agents in July. Their contracts are set to run through the standard post-release period following the WrestleMania 42 roster cuts.

Sources within TNA Wrestling indicated that the door remains open for a return, noting that the promotion would welcome them back at any time. However, those same sources believe AEW is the most likely destination. As of now, there has been no confirmed contact between AEW and the team.

There is already a recent history between both sides. Fightful reports that AEW made a strong push to sign the Motor City Machine Guns in 2024 and even presented a formal offer. WWE ultimately matched that deal, which led Sabin and Shelley to join the company instead. With that agreement now over, AEW’s previous interest could be revisited.

Backstage in WWE, the reaction from the team has been described as calm and professional. Those who spoke to Fightful said Sabin and Shelley accepted the situation and remain confident in their ability to stay active and perform at a high level moving forward. While they had hoped for more opportunities, they were satisfied with how they were used overall during their run.

Their involvement had slowed down in recent months, and they were not scheduled for recent WWE SmackDown tapings. That reduced presence may have signaled what was coming.

The Motor City Machine Guns joined WWE in late 2024 and made an immediate impact by winning the WWE Tag Team Championships in just their second match. Their run came to an end on April 24 as part of the broader roster cuts following WrestleMania 42.

With free agency approaching, AEW now stands as the most expected landing spot, though nothing has been finalized.

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Triple H will continue leading WWE creative, as his new agreement with TKO Group Holdings is now official. The deal confirms that Paul Levesque will remain in his role as WWE Chief Content Officer for the foreseeable future.

The news was first reported by PWInsider, with additional details indicating that the agreement is a multi-year contract. Sources told Bodyslam that TKO is satisfied with Levesque’s performance overseeing creative, even as there has been some backlash tied to the company’s involvement in key storylines during the Road to WrestleMania in recent years.

The formal confirmation follows comments made by Nick Khan during a staff town hall earlier in the week. According to those who viewed the meeting, Khan made it clear that Levesque would remain in charge of creative moving forward.

During the same town hall, Khan also addressed criticism surrounding WWE’s recent booking decisions. Much of the discussion focused on WrestleMania 42, where night one was perceived by some fans as weaker than night two. Khan pushed back on that narrative, describing the criticism as coming from a vocal minority. He reportedly referenced past online reactions, including feedback from around 2015, to show that criticism has not always reflected the company’s overall success.

The new deal comes after a challenging WrestleMania 42 period behind the scenes. Reports suggested that TKO had direct input in certain creative decisions, including an angle involving Pat McAfee and Jelly Roll. According to Dave Meltzer, that direction originated from Ari Emanuel rather than WWE’s internal creative team, and it led to frustration within the company.

The period following WrestleMania also saw WWE release 25 wrestlers, adding to what has been a busy and sometimes tense time for the company.

Despite these developments, the new agreement signals that WWE leadership remains confident in Triple H’s direction. With his role now secured, attention will turn to how WWE creative evolves in the months ahead, especially across WWE RAW and WWE SmackDown.

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EVIL has officially signed with WWE, but his next step within the company remains unclear. According to PWInsider, the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion has not yet been assigned to any brand following his arrival.

Internally, EVIL is currently listed under WWE’s miscellaneous roster. This category is typically used for legends, inactive talent, or those not yet placed on WWE RAW, WWE SmackDown, or WWE NXT. WWE has not made any official announcement regarding his signing at this time.

EVIL, whose real name is Takaaki Watanabe, left New Japan Pro-Wrestling in January. His move to WWE was confirmed on April 24. Reports from Japan suggest he may not continue using the EVIL name, though no new ring name has been revealed.

His signing has already led to speculation about how WWE could introduce him on television. On a recent episode of NXT, Tony D’Angelo received a mysterious box marked with the Japanese kanji for “war.” This moment sparked theories that EVIL could be behind the message. However, another name linked to the angle is Ulka Sasaki, who is currently on excursion in NXT from Pro Wrestling Noah. There has been no confirmation regarding either possibility.

EVIL built his reputation in NJPW as a key member of Los Ingobernables de Japón before turning on the group in 2020 to join Bullet Club. That move elevated his status, leading to a major title win over Tetsuya Naito. He became a double champion, holding both the IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental Championships at the same time.

He also has a connection to WWE through his relationship with IYO SKY. With his signing now confirmed and speculation already building, attention will turn to how WWE chooses to introduce him and where he will fit within the roster.

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