Post by geoff on Feb 12, 2022 7:32:20 GMT
They have come a long way since Salt Lake City
The Motor City Machine Guns have fought all over the world including in New York City. They have never been in a title match or any match for that matter inside one of the most iconic buildings in the world, Madison Square Garden. As a team they always fought together down the street at the Manhattan Center where the world famous Hammerstein Ballroom is located. For two kids from Michigan just being able to have their names on the marquee near MSG was an accomplishment that they will never forget. Now their names are on the big building in a match that will determine the first tag team champions in WLCW history.
In front of a small gathering of the press Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley stepped out with Steve “The Icon” Borden by their side and proclaimed that the Machine Guns were back. To fans of the team it was very clear from the start of that press conference that was not true at all. There were still many things that had to be talked over and sorted out before Shelley and Sabin would be able to fully fight like a team once more. Defeating the Varsity Blondes was a step in the right direction and it punched their ticket to Ascension. To win the match and to reclaim the bragging rights as the best tag team on the planet they will have to defeat three other teams. Each with their own dynamic but every team wants the same thing.
They want to be the first.
The last time he was in New York City was when he was in the 30 man rumble for the Ring of Honor/New Japan Pro Wrestling Supercard show. He had just been signed to a contract in New Japan and could not believe that he was finally able to step inside a ring in Madison Square Garden. After that it was the Tokyo Dome for WrestleKingdom in a IWGP Jr.Heavyweight title match. Those were big matches but what was coming up for him felt different. This felt like the good old days all over again.
Or so he thought
As Chris Sabin sat at the bar of DelMonaco’s Steakhouse in the middle of Midtown Manhattan he could stop himself from remembering the last time he and Alex spoke to each other before they went their separate ways all those years ago. It was right after losing the Ring of Honor tag team titles in Baltimore to a younger team that shouldn’t have had a chance to win. Alex was angry about the loss and Chris just seemed to shrug his shoulders because he knew that he was headed to greener pastures. What angered Alex the most was that Chris did not give him the respect and courtesy of letting him know he was headed to New Japan as a singles star. Years on the road and sharing the highs and lows of being one of the best tag teams on the planet were washed away in one single sentence. Chris glanced up at the large screen TV above the bar and then looked at the beer in front of him. It did not take much for him to repeat the final words he said to Alex before turning his back to him in Baltimore.
CHRIS SABIN: They weren’t interested in you, Alex……
Even though it was the truth, the look on Shelley’s face signaled that it had hit him very hard. Chris watched as jealousy, anger, and finally sadness traced across Alex’s face before Sabin picked up his bag and walked out of the locker room. Sabin then remembers the sound of the locker room door slamming behind him. That sound signaled the end for the Motor City Machine Guns.
The ice in Sabin’s glass shifts around as he takes a long sip. He glanced down at his watch and noticed the time. Chris took one last look at the screen over the bar and set a twenty dollar bill on the bar. He gave a slight nod to the bartender and walked over to a table that was being reserved for him. The former singles star took a look around and then sat down at the table, waiting for his guest to arrive.
Even though winter’s grip had let up for a few days in New York City it was still windy enough that you had to wear a coat when walking around. The strong breeze whipped around the massive buildings of Midtown and did its best to move whatever that wasn’t tied down in all sorts of directions. Amongst the crowd walking down the street was a man who had stepped back into the wrestling world because he knew that he had unfinished business with more than one person. Not that he wanted to start any issues on the eve of one of his biggest matches perhaps ever, there were still things that were said years ago that cut so deep it is doubtful that words said and things done would ever hit the bottom.
The Detroit native adjusts one Airpod as the wind threatens to knock it out of his ear. He struggles to listen but responds to the person on the other line.
ALEX SHELLEY Yeah I know it is a huge deal to finally be wrestling in Madison Square Garden but the three other teams are no joke. You’ve got local guys like Eddie Kingston and Hook, massive pains in the ass like Corbin and Moss, and just plain strange dudes like the Wingmen. Each has their strengths and each has a chance but to be honest, I think we’ve got the edge.
The person on the other line reminds Alex that he is not doing a podcast or any kind of media. He smiles and just shakes his head.
ALEX SHELLEY Since when have you taken Chris’ side? Oh always that’s right! You have told me dozens of times that something like this was bound to happen. Chris and I would get back together somehow and some way and we would have another run to the top. I am not going to deny that the last few weeks have been fun because they’ve been fucking awesome. I just wish that this all happened earlier. He never had to do what he did and you know it.
Alex stops walking and is shoved by somebody behind him. The person behind him flips him off as they pass by and Shelley makes his way to a doorway so he can carry on with the conversation.
ALEX SHELLEY All had to do is ask and we would have conquered the world together like we always did. Was it all his fault? Looking back on it and having the time to do something else rather than wrestle night in and night out I don’t think it was all his fault. Something was bound to happen I guess.
The person on the other line continued to talk to Alex. The two of them made small talk as Alex stopped and looked up. A slight smirk traced across his face as the crowd parted around him. He was not going to move for anything in the world. This moment he wanted to savor for as long as possible.
ALEX SHELLEY You aren’t going to believe this. No, it is not that. It is something I never thought I would see. The Motor City Machine Guns on the marquee. I wish you were here to share this with me.
Shelley lifts a finger to the edge of his left eye and quickly wipes away the emotion that he was feeling. He glanced down at his watch and knew that he was running late. He didn't care.
ALEX SHELLEY I know I should get going but this time I am going to make Chris Sabin wait around. He was part of the reason why I had to wait years to see our name in the big lights of Madison Square Garden.
Alex takes a few pictures with his phone and takes one last look at the marquee before stepping on to the curb and hailing a cab.
Chris Sabin glances at his watch and couldn’t help but notice how late Alex was running. There were the thoughts that maybe this might be the end of the Guns before this comeback could even get started. Then again he knew Alex and this was something neither one of them knew might happen again. A fan walks up to Sabin and asks for an autograph and a picture. Sabin obliges and then takes another sip from his drink.
CHRIS SABIN: Come on Alex….
He finally spots Shelley walk in and waves him over to the table. Chris stands up and the two shake hands.
CHRIS SABIN: Better late than never I suppose eh Alex?
Shelley shook his head and shrugged his shoulders.
ALEX SHELLEY I lost track of time, sorry. It’s been a while since I was in New York so I wanted to take in some of the city. Not much has changed since those matches at the Manhattan Center. I remember when we first came here as a team and thought that was as big as it got.
The two finally took their seats and the waitress brought a plate of appetizers. Sabin eyed the waitress as she walked away and Alex rolled his eyes.
CHRIS SABIN: What?!?!
Alex cracks a stick of celery in half and sits back in his chair.
ALEX SHELLEY Some things never change do they?
Sabin looks over the menu and glances at Alex.
CHRIS SABIN: That is exactly what I am hoping for when we step into that ring against those three other teams. The old Motor City Machine Guns just like that first title match in the Manhattan Center. Except this time we are going to walk out with the gold and hold on to it for a very, very long time.
Shelley raises his glass and tips it slightly towards his tag team partner.
ALEX SHELLEY That is something I am more than interested in.
Those words hang in the air for a few moments. Both of them know the importance considering it was the last thing Sabin said to Alex before the team split up back in Baltimore. After their win over the Varsity Blondes and before they take on three other teams on the biggest stage both of them have been on in a long time the moment is not lost to either of them. It is time for the Motor City Machine Guns to become WLCW Tag Team Champions.
It is time for them to make history.
They have come a long way since Salt Lake City
The Motor City Machine Guns have fought all over the world including in New York City. They have never been in a title match or any match for that matter inside one of the most iconic buildings in the world, Madison Square Garden. As a team they always fought together down the street at the Manhattan Center where the world famous Hammerstein Ballroom is located. For two kids from Michigan just being able to have their names on the marquee near MSG was an accomplishment that they will never forget. Now their names are on the big building in a match that will determine the first tag team champions in WLCW history.
In front of a small gathering of the press Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley stepped out with Steve “The Icon” Borden by their side and proclaimed that the Machine Guns were back. To fans of the team it was very clear from the start of that press conference that was not true at all. There were still many things that had to be talked over and sorted out before Shelley and Sabin would be able to fully fight like a team once more. Defeating the Varsity Blondes was a step in the right direction and it punched their ticket to Ascension. To win the match and to reclaim the bragging rights as the best tag team on the planet they will have to defeat three other teams. Each with their own dynamic but every team wants the same thing.
They want to be the first.
The last time he was in New York City was when he was in the 30 man rumble for the Ring of Honor/New Japan Pro Wrestling Supercard show. He had just been signed to a contract in New Japan and could not believe that he was finally able to step inside a ring in Madison Square Garden. After that it was the Tokyo Dome for WrestleKingdom in a IWGP Jr.Heavyweight title match. Those were big matches but what was coming up for him felt different. This felt like the good old days all over again.
Or so he thought
As Chris Sabin sat at the bar of DelMonaco’s Steakhouse in the middle of Midtown Manhattan he could stop himself from remembering the last time he and Alex spoke to each other before they went their separate ways all those years ago. It was right after losing the Ring of Honor tag team titles in Baltimore to a younger team that shouldn’t have had a chance to win. Alex was angry about the loss and Chris just seemed to shrug his shoulders because he knew that he was headed to greener pastures. What angered Alex the most was that Chris did not give him the respect and courtesy of letting him know he was headed to New Japan as a singles star. Years on the road and sharing the highs and lows of being one of the best tag teams on the planet were washed away in one single sentence. Chris glanced up at the large screen TV above the bar and then looked at the beer in front of him. It did not take much for him to repeat the final words he said to Alex before turning his back to him in Baltimore.
CHRIS SABIN: They weren’t interested in you, Alex……
Even though it was the truth, the look on Shelley’s face signaled that it had hit him very hard. Chris watched as jealousy, anger, and finally sadness traced across Alex’s face before Sabin picked up his bag and walked out of the locker room. Sabin then remembers the sound of the locker room door slamming behind him. That sound signaled the end for the Motor City Machine Guns.
The ice in Sabin’s glass shifts around as he takes a long sip. He glanced down at his watch and noticed the time. Chris took one last look at the screen over the bar and set a twenty dollar bill on the bar. He gave a slight nod to the bartender and walked over to a table that was being reserved for him. The former singles star took a look around and then sat down at the table, waiting for his guest to arrive.
Even though winter’s grip had let up for a few days in New York City it was still windy enough that you had to wear a coat when walking around. The strong breeze whipped around the massive buildings of Midtown and did its best to move whatever that wasn’t tied down in all sorts of directions. Amongst the crowd walking down the street was a man who had stepped back into the wrestling world because he knew that he had unfinished business with more than one person. Not that he wanted to start any issues on the eve of one of his biggest matches perhaps ever, there were still things that were said years ago that cut so deep it is doubtful that words said and things done would ever hit the bottom.
The Detroit native adjusts one Airpod as the wind threatens to knock it out of his ear. He struggles to listen but responds to the person on the other line.
ALEX SHELLEY Yeah I know it is a huge deal to finally be wrestling in Madison Square Garden but the three other teams are no joke. You’ve got local guys like Eddie Kingston and Hook, massive pains in the ass like Corbin and Moss, and just plain strange dudes like the Wingmen. Each has their strengths and each has a chance but to be honest, I think we’ve got the edge.
The person on the other line reminds Alex that he is not doing a podcast or any kind of media. He smiles and just shakes his head.
ALEX SHELLEY Since when have you taken Chris’ side? Oh always that’s right! You have told me dozens of times that something like this was bound to happen. Chris and I would get back together somehow and some way and we would have another run to the top. I am not going to deny that the last few weeks have been fun because they’ve been fucking awesome. I just wish that this all happened earlier. He never had to do what he did and you know it.
Alex stops walking and is shoved by somebody behind him. The person behind him flips him off as they pass by and Shelley makes his way to a doorway so he can carry on with the conversation.
ALEX SHELLEY All had to do is ask and we would have conquered the world together like we always did. Was it all his fault? Looking back on it and having the time to do something else rather than wrestle night in and night out I don’t think it was all his fault. Something was bound to happen I guess.
The person on the other line continued to talk to Alex. The two of them made small talk as Alex stopped and looked up. A slight smirk traced across his face as the crowd parted around him. He was not going to move for anything in the world. This moment he wanted to savor for as long as possible.
ALEX SHELLEY You aren’t going to believe this. No, it is not that. It is something I never thought I would see. The Motor City Machine Guns on the marquee. I wish you were here to share this with me.
Shelley lifts a finger to the edge of his left eye and quickly wipes away the emotion that he was feeling. He glanced down at his watch and knew that he was running late. He didn't care.
ALEX SHELLEY I know I should get going but this time I am going to make Chris Sabin wait around. He was part of the reason why I had to wait years to see our name in the big lights of Madison Square Garden.
Alex takes a few pictures with his phone and takes one last look at the marquee before stepping on to the curb and hailing a cab.
Chris Sabin glances at his watch and couldn’t help but notice how late Alex was running. There were the thoughts that maybe this might be the end of the Guns before this comeback could even get started. Then again he knew Alex and this was something neither one of them knew might happen again. A fan walks up to Sabin and asks for an autograph and a picture. Sabin obliges and then takes another sip from his drink.
CHRIS SABIN: Come on Alex….
He finally spots Shelley walk in and waves him over to the table. Chris stands up and the two shake hands.
CHRIS SABIN: Better late than never I suppose eh Alex?
Shelley shook his head and shrugged his shoulders.
ALEX SHELLEY I lost track of time, sorry. It’s been a while since I was in New York so I wanted to take in some of the city. Not much has changed since those matches at the Manhattan Center. I remember when we first came here as a team and thought that was as big as it got.
The two finally took their seats and the waitress brought a plate of appetizers. Sabin eyed the waitress as she walked away and Alex rolled his eyes.
CHRIS SABIN: What?!?!
Alex cracks a stick of celery in half and sits back in his chair.
ALEX SHELLEY Some things never change do they?
Sabin looks over the menu and glances at Alex.
CHRIS SABIN: That is exactly what I am hoping for when we step into that ring against those three other teams. The old Motor City Machine Guns just like that first title match in the Manhattan Center. Except this time we are going to walk out with the gold and hold on to it for a very, very long time.
Shelley raises his glass and tips it slightly towards his tag team partner.
ALEX SHELLEY That is something I am more than interested in.
Those words hang in the air for a few moments. Both of them know the importance considering it was the last thing Sabin said to Alex before the team split up back in Baltimore. After their win over the Varsity Blondes and before they take on three other teams on the biggest stage both of them have been on in a long time the moment is not lost to either of them. It is time for the Motor City Machine Guns to become WLCW Tag Team Champions.
It is time for them to make history.
The Motor City Machine Guns have fought all over the world including in New York City. They have never been in a title match or any match for that matter inside one of the most iconic buildings in the world, Madison Square Garden. As a team they always fought together down the street at the Manhattan Center where the world famous Hammerstein Ballroom is located. For two kids from Michigan just being able to have their names on the marquee near MSG was an accomplishment that they will never forget. Now their names are on the big building in a match that will determine the first tag team champions in WLCW history.
In front of a small gathering of the press Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley stepped out with Steve “The Icon” Borden by their side and proclaimed that the Machine Guns were back. To fans of the team it was very clear from the start of that press conference that was not true at all. There were still many things that had to be talked over and sorted out before Shelley and Sabin would be able to fully fight like a team once more. Defeating the Varsity Blondes was a step in the right direction and it punched their ticket to Ascension. To win the match and to reclaim the bragging rights as the best tag team on the planet they will have to defeat three other teams. Each with their own dynamic but every team wants the same thing.
They want to be the first.
The last time he was in New York City was when he was in the 30 man rumble for the Ring of Honor/New Japan Pro Wrestling Supercard show. He had just been signed to a contract in New Japan and could not believe that he was finally able to step inside a ring in Madison Square Garden. After that it was the Tokyo Dome for WrestleKingdom in a IWGP Jr.Heavyweight title match. Those were big matches but what was coming up for him felt different. This felt like the good old days all over again.
Or so he thought
As Chris Sabin sat at the bar of DelMonaco’s Steakhouse in the middle of Midtown Manhattan he could stop himself from remembering the last time he and Alex spoke to each other before they went their separate ways all those years ago. It was right after losing the Ring of Honor tag team titles in Baltimore to a younger team that shouldn’t have had a chance to win. Alex was angry about the loss and Chris just seemed to shrug his shoulders because he knew that he was headed to greener pastures. What angered Alex the most was that Chris did not give him the respect and courtesy of letting him know he was headed to New Japan as a singles star. Years on the road and sharing the highs and lows of being one of the best tag teams on the planet were washed away in one single sentence. Chris glanced up at the large screen TV above the bar and then looked at the beer in front of him. It did not take much for him to repeat the final words he said to Alex before turning his back to him in Baltimore.
CHRIS SABIN: They weren’t interested in you, Alex……
Even though it was the truth, the look on Shelley’s face signaled that it had hit him very hard. Chris watched as jealousy, anger, and finally sadness traced across Alex’s face before Sabin picked up his bag and walked out of the locker room. Sabin then remembers the sound of the locker room door slamming behind him. That sound signaled the end for the Motor City Machine Guns.
The ice in Sabin’s glass shifts around as he takes a long sip. He glanced down at his watch and noticed the time. Chris took one last look at the screen over the bar and set a twenty dollar bill on the bar. He gave a slight nod to the bartender and walked over to a table that was being reserved for him. The former singles star took a look around and then sat down at the table, waiting for his guest to arrive.
Even though winter’s grip had let up for a few days in New York City it was still windy enough that you had to wear a coat when walking around. The strong breeze whipped around the massive buildings of Midtown and did its best to move whatever that wasn’t tied down in all sorts of directions. Amongst the crowd walking down the street was a man who had stepped back into the wrestling world because he knew that he had unfinished business with more than one person. Not that he wanted to start any issues on the eve of one of his biggest matches perhaps ever, there were still things that were said years ago that cut so deep it is doubtful that words said and things done would ever hit the bottom.
The Detroit native adjusts one Airpod as the wind threatens to knock it out of his ear. He struggles to listen but responds to the person on the other line.
ALEX SHELLEY Yeah I know it is a huge deal to finally be wrestling in Madison Square Garden but the three other teams are no joke. You’ve got local guys like Eddie Kingston and Hook, massive pains in the ass like Corbin and Moss, and just plain strange dudes like the Wingmen. Each has their strengths and each has a chance but to be honest, I think we’ve got the edge.
The person on the other line reminds Alex that he is not doing a podcast or any kind of media. He smiles and just shakes his head.
ALEX SHELLEY Since when have you taken Chris’ side? Oh always that’s right! You have told me dozens of times that something like this was bound to happen. Chris and I would get back together somehow and some way and we would have another run to the top. I am not going to deny that the last few weeks have been fun because they’ve been fucking awesome. I just wish that this all happened earlier. He never had to do what he did and you know it.
Alex stops walking and is shoved by somebody behind him. The person behind him flips him off as they pass by and Shelley makes his way to a doorway so he can carry on with the conversation.
ALEX SHELLEY All had to do is ask and we would have conquered the world together like we always did. Was it all his fault? Looking back on it and having the time to do something else rather than wrestle night in and night out I don’t think it was all his fault. Something was bound to happen I guess.
The person on the other line continued to talk to Alex. The two of them made small talk as Alex stopped and looked up. A slight smirk traced across his face as the crowd parted around him. He was not going to move for anything in the world. This moment he wanted to savor for as long as possible.
ALEX SHELLEY You aren’t going to believe this. No, it is not that. It is something I never thought I would see. The Motor City Machine Guns on the marquee. I wish you were here to share this with me.
Shelley lifts a finger to the edge of his left eye and quickly wipes away the emotion that he was feeling. He glanced down at his watch and knew that he was running late. He didn't care.
ALEX SHELLEY I know I should get going but this time I am going to make Chris Sabin wait around. He was part of the reason why I had to wait years to see our name in the big lights of Madison Square Garden.
Alex takes a few pictures with his phone and takes one last look at the marquee before stepping on to the curb and hailing a cab.
Chris Sabin glances at his watch and couldn’t help but notice how late Alex was running. There were the thoughts that maybe this might be the end of the Guns before this comeback could even get started. Then again he knew Alex and this was something neither one of them knew might happen again. A fan walks up to Sabin and asks for an autograph and a picture. Sabin obliges and then takes another sip from his drink.
CHRIS SABIN: Come on Alex….
He finally spots Shelley walk in and waves him over to the table. Chris stands up and the two shake hands.
CHRIS SABIN: Better late than never I suppose eh Alex?
Shelley shook his head and shrugged his shoulders.
ALEX SHELLEY I lost track of time, sorry. It’s been a while since I was in New York so I wanted to take in some of the city. Not much has changed since those matches at the Manhattan Center. I remember when we first came here as a team and thought that was as big as it got.
The two finally took their seats and the waitress brought a plate of appetizers. Sabin eyed the waitress as she walked away and Alex rolled his eyes.
CHRIS SABIN: What?!?!
Alex cracks a stick of celery in half and sits back in his chair.
ALEX SHELLEY Some things never change do they?
Sabin looks over the menu and glances at Alex.
CHRIS SABIN: That is exactly what I am hoping for when we step into that ring against those three other teams. The old Motor City Machine Guns just like that first title match in the Manhattan Center. Except this time we are going to walk out with the gold and hold on to it for a very, very long time.
Shelley raises his glass and tips it slightly towards his tag team partner.
ALEX SHELLEY That is something I am more than interested in.
Those words hang in the air for a few moments. Both of them know the importance considering it was the last thing Sabin said to Alex before the team split up back in Baltimore. After their win over the Varsity Blondes and before they take on three other teams on the biggest stage both of them have been on in a long time the moment is not lost to either of them. It is time for the Motor City Machine Guns to become WLCW Tag Team Champions.
It is time for them to make history.
They have come a long way since Salt Lake City
The Motor City Machine Guns have fought all over the world including in New York City. They have never been in a title match or any match for that matter inside one of the most iconic buildings in the world, Madison Square Garden. As a team they always fought together down the street at the Manhattan Center where the world famous Hammerstein Ballroom is located. For two kids from Michigan just being able to have their names on the marquee near MSG was an accomplishment that they will never forget. Now their names are on the big building in a match that will determine the first tag team champions in WLCW history.
In front of a small gathering of the press Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley stepped out with Steve “The Icon” Borden by their side and proclaimed that the Machine Guns were back. To fans of the team it was very clear from the start of that press conference that was not true at all. There were still many things that had to be talked over and sorted out before Shelley and Sabin would be able to fully fight like a team once more. Defeating the Varsity Blondes was a step in the right direction and it punched their ticket to Ascension. To win the match and to reclaim the bragging rights as the best tag team on the planet they will have to defeat three other teams. Each with their own dynamic but every team wants the same thing.
They want to be the first.
The last time he was in New York City was when he was in the 30 man rumble for the Ring of Honor/New Japan Pro Wrestling Supercard show. He had just been signed to a contract in New Japan and could not believe that he was finally able to step inside a ring in Madison Square Garden. After that it was the Tokyo Dome for WrestleKingdom in a IWGP Jr.Heavyweight title match. Those were big matches but what was coming up for him felt different. This felt like the good old days all over again.
Or so he thought
As Chris Sabin sat at the bar of DelMonaco’s Steakhouse in the middle of Midtown Manhattan he could stop himself from remembering the last time he and Alex spoke to each other before they went their separate ways all those years ago. It was right after losing the Ring of Honor tag team titles in Baltimore to a younger team that shouldn’t have had a chance to win. Alex was angry about the loss and Chris just seemed to shrug his shoulders because he knew that he was headed to greener pastures. What angered Alex the most was that Chris did not give him the respect and courtesy of letting him know he was headed to New Japan as a singles star. Years on the road and sharing the highs and lows of being one of the best tag teams on the planet were washed away in one single sentence. Chris glanced up at the large screen TV above the bar and then looked at the beer in front of him. It did not take much for him to repeat the final words he said to Alex before turning his back to him in Baltimore.
CHRIS SABIN: They weren’t interested in you, Alex……
Even though it was the truth, the look on Shelley’s face signaled that it had hit him very hard. Chris watched as jealousy, anger, and finally sadness traced across Alex’s face before Sabin picked up his bag and walked out of the locker room. Sabin then remembers the sound of the locker room door slamming behind him. That sound signaled the end for the Motor City Machine Guns.
The ice in Sabin’s glass shifts around as he takes a long sip. He glanced down at his watch and noticed the time. Chris took one last look at the screen over the bar and set a twenty dollar bill on the bar. He gave a slight nod to the bartender and walked over to a table that was being reserved for him. The former singles star took a look around and then sat down at the table, waiting for his guest to arrive.
Even though winter’s grip had let up for a few days in New York City it was still windy enough that you had to wear a coat when walking around. The strong breeze whipped around the massive buildings of Midtown and did its best to move whatever that wasn’t tied down in all sorts of directions. Amongst the crowd walking down the street was a man who had stepped back into the wrestling world because he knew that he had unfinished business with more than one person. Not that he wanted to start any issues on the eve of one of his biggest matches perhaps ever, there were still things that were said years ago that cut so deep it is doubtful that words said and things done would ever hit the bottom.
The Detroit native adjusts one Airpod as the wind threatens to knock it out of his ear. He struggles to listen but responds to the person on the other line.
ALEX SHELLEY Yeah I know it is a huge deal to finally be wrestling in Madison Square Garden but the three other teams are no joke. You’ve got local guys like Eddie Kingston and Hook, massive pains in the ass like Corbin and Moss, and just plain strange dudes like the Wingmen. Each has their strengths and each has a chance but to be honest, I think we’ve got the edge.
The person on the other line reminds Alex that he is not doing a podcast or any kind of media. He smiles and just shakes his head.
ALEX SHELLEY Since when have you taken Chris’ side? Oh always that’s right! You have told me dozens of times that something like this was bound to happen. Chris and I would get back together somehow and some way and we would have another run to the top. I am not going to deny that the last few weeks have been fun because they’ve been fucking awesome. I just wish that this all happened earlier. He never had to do what he did and you know it.
Alex stops walking and is shoved by somebody behind him. The person behind him flips him off as they pass by and Shelley makes his way to a doorway so he can carry on with the conversation.
ALEX SHELLEY All had to do is ask and we would have conquered the world together like we always did. Was it all his fault? Looking back on it and having the time to do something else rather than wrestle night in and night out I don’t think it was all his fault. Something was bound to happen I guess.
The person on the other line continued to talk to Alex. The two of them made small talk as Alex stopped and looked up. A slight smirk traced across his face as the crowd parted around him. He was not going to move for anything in the world. This moment he wanted to savor for as long as possible.
ALEX SHELLEY You aren’t going to believe this. No, it is not that. It is something I never thought I would see. The Motor City Machine Guns on the marquee. I wish you were here to share this with me.
Shelley lifts a finger to the edge of his left eye and quickly wipes away the emotion that he was feeling. He glanced down at his watch and knew that he was running late. He didn't care.
ALEX SHELLEY I know I should get going but this time I am going to make Chris Sabin wait around. He was part of the reason why I had to wait years to see our name in the big lights of Madison Square Garden.
Alex takes a few pictures with his phone and takes one last look at the marquee before stepping on to the curb and hailing a cab.
Chris Sabin glances at his watch and couldn’t help but notice how late Alex was running. There were the thoughts that maybe this might be the end of the Guns before this comeback could even get started. Then again he knew Alex and this was something neither one of them knew might happen again. A fan walks up to Sabin and asks for an autograph and a picture. Sabin obliges and then takes another sip from his drink.
CHRIS SABIN: Come on Alex….
He finally spots Shelley walk in and waves him over to the table. Chris stands up and the two shake hands.
CHRIS SABIN: Better late than never I suppose eh Alex?
Shelley shook his head and shrugged his shoulders.
ALEX SHELLEY I lost track of time, sorry. It’s been a while since I was in New York so I wanted to take in some of the city. Not much has changed since those matches at the Manhattan Center. I remember when we first came here as a team and thought that was as big as it got.
The two finally took their seats and the waitress brought a plate of appetizers. Sabin eyed the waitress as she walked away and Alex rolled his eyes.
CHRIS SABIN: What?!?!
Alex cracks a stick of celery in half and sits back in his chair.
ALEX SHELLEY Some things never change do they?
Sabin looks over the menu and glances at Alex.
CHRIS SABIN: That is exactly what I am hoping for when we step into that ring against those three other teams. The old Motor City Machine Guns just like that first title match in the Manhattan Center. Except this time we are going to walk out with the gold and hold on to it for a very, very long time.
Shelley raises his glass and tips it slightly towards his tag team partner.
ALEX SHELLEY That is something I am more than interested in.
Those words hang in the air for a few moments. Both of them know the importance considering it was the last thing Sabin said to Alex before the team split up back in Baltimore. After their win over the Varsity Blondes and before they take on three other teams on the biggest stage both of them have been on in a long time the moment is not lost to either of them. It is time for the Motor City Machine Guns to become WLCW Tag Team Champions.
It is time for them to make history.