WWE’s Motor City Machine Guns Talk 2K25 Debut, Future of SmackDown, and Dominating Win Over Kenny Omega

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In a thrilling start, WWE 2K25 has unveiled its initial Downloadable Content (DLC) pack, bursting onto the scene with force. Dubbed the New Wave DLC pack, it introduces four prominent WWE superstars who are making their video game debut for the first time. Among them are the Motor City Machine Guns, comprising Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley, Stephanie Vaquer, and Giulia.

In an exclusive interview with ComicBook, we chatted with Sabin and Shelley about their game debut, their initial reactions to seeing themselves in the game, their preferred games of all time, their aspirations for WWE 2K26, their SmackDown debuts, their future plans within WWE, as well as their impressive victories against Austin Creed (also known as Kota Ibushi) and Kenny Omega.

Currently, you can download the New Wave pack instantly, and fans everywhere are busy crafting their ideal matchups featuring the Motor City Machine Guns. 2K has unveiled the entrance and initial glimpse of the Tag Team in the game. While Shelley chose to wait for a live reaction video, Sabin couldn’t resist peeking when it was initially revealed.

This is simply astonishing! It’s left me speechless. It ticks all the boxes on my wishlist – a real-life fulfillment of dreams. Incredible doesn’t even begin to describe it.

— chriSabin (@SuperChrisSabin) May 9, 2025

Sabin shared, “I saw it once and was completely astounded. It’s incredible, it looks incredibly lifelike. They’ve managed to make it look just like us.” He continued, “They’ve nailed the entrance, they’ve got the pyrotechnics right, they’ve even mimicked our movements perfectly. To be honest, if you weren’t close enough to see us, it would seem real. However, since we need to make a reaction video after this, we’ll have to react as well.

Afterward, Sabin glanced at Shelley and inquired, “You’ve only seen it once, right? And have you watched it at all?” To which Shelley replied, “I haven’t seen it. I really haven’t. I manage to steer clear of most things, so I’m quite content about this, as everyone says it looks fantastic.

In a video game scenario, it’s unlikely that you wouldn’t select your character right away when starting the game, and both stars are probably already imagining their ideal match-ups.

Sabin confidently declared, “I’ve got the perfect matchup in mind – it’s going to be Motor City Machine Guns squaring off against Alundra Blayze and Molly Holly.” With this new rule allowing intergender matches, he added excitedly. As for Shelley, he has three dream tag teams for MCMG to face off against immediately. “I’ve always dreamt of seeing Brothers of Destruction go head-to-head, but I’d also love to see New Day and The Usos,” he shared.

Fighting Games and Taking Down Creed and Omega

In a recent episode of UpUpDownDown, Sabin and Shelley faced off against New Day, but instead of wrestling in the ring, they engaged in a Fatal Fury-themed battle. Although fighting games aren’t typically Sabin’s preference, he still managed to make an impact. Both Sabin and Shelley shared the fighting games that had left the strongest impression on them throughout their years of gaming.

Sabin shared, “I’ve never been a big fan of fighting games, but here goes. I did play Street Fighter 2 on Super Nintendo, Mortal Kombat 1 and 2 on Genesis, and Street Fighter 4 for Xbox 360. That’s about it as far as fighting games go. Before appearing on UpUpDownDown, though, I spent some time studying the Fatal Fury series and King of Fighters. I even came up with a basic strategy beforehand, like choosing a character and learning their moves to avoid looking clueless.

Shelley expressed that Street Fighter 2 revolutionized her gaming experience. The first time she played it, she became hooked and never looked back; it was the first fighting game she genuinely adored. However, her favorite might be King of Fighters 98 due to its superior controls, a skill at which she excelled. She humbly boasted that she defeated Austin (Creed) and Kenny Omega in Street Fighter 4, accomplishments made even more impressive because they happened in an arcade in Japan. Essentially, beating these players was quite satisfying for her.

Regarding timeless video games, both Shelley and Sabin have a soft spot for some iconic role-playing games. “You’ve heard of EarthBound, right?” asked Shelley. In my opinion, it’s the most distinctive, peculiar, and eccentric game you could ever find.

Sabin remarked, “You know, some classic role-playing games really stand out for me – ones like Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy 6, and even Final Fantasy 7. It’s hard to pick favorites because there are so many incredible video games out there, but these are definitely near the top. And I have to add that a big part of it is the nostalgia factor as well.

WWE x TNA in 2K26?

For the upcoming WWE 2K edition, Sabin and Shelley each have captivating suggestions for new features in 2K26. Sabin proposes an intriguing concept: a roster of wrestlers inspired by legendary Japanese or overlooked wrestling legends, allowing players to experience characters that resemble these icons but with unique names. This idea is reminiscent of the WCW Vs. NWO World Tour games, where there was a section featuring wrestlers whose identities were recognizable but not exact. Shelley’s ideas for expanding the game are equally exciting and differ significantly from Sabin’s.

For Shelley, elevating the collaboration between WWE and TNA is an exciting prospect. He believes incorporating one of TNA’s legendary matches, such as the Ultimate X, into a WWE video game for the first time would be fantastic. “If they collaborate with TNA and include the Ultimate X in 2K26,” Shelley suggested.

The Future of SmackDown

In a brief period since their WWE debut, Motor City Machine Guns have left an indelible mark, winning Championship Gold within less than a month. They’ve even presented a potential Match of the Year on SmackDown, showing no signs of slowing down. I was curious to learn what insights they gained from that match and their overall WWE experience so far.

Sabin expressed that persistent effort, dedication, and refusing to give up are the keys to success. They emphasized this by stating that it took them more than two decades to reach their current position, but in just three matches over a span of two weeks, they managed to win the Titles. In simpler terms, he suggested that if one is determined enough, passionate about their goals, and willing to put in the necessary effort, eventually their hard work will pay off.

Absolutely, it’s been almost a year now, and being here has only fueled my determination to work even harder. I’m fully aware that there are many others eagerly waiting to step into the positions we hold. If you aim to be number one in WWE, if you want to create a significant impact in this company, you must push yourself relentlessly. I believe we’ve been doing just that since joining.

In simple terms, Sabin stated that their aim has always been, and will continue to be, winning the Tag Team Championships. Whether they currently hold the titles or not, they’re determined to either retain them or claim them as soon as possible, making it their constant pursuit in tag team wrestling.

Shelley noted that the SmackDown Tag Team Division is incredibly competitive, with teams like Los Garza, Pretty Deadly, Street Profits, DIY, Fraxium, and themselves who each bring their own distinct style. He previously thought they should specialize in one area, but as generalists, they must always strive to keep up with the best, regardless of their opponents. In essence, if they’re not champions yet, they need to work even harder to become title contenders and eventually claim the belts when given the chance.

Regarding the Tag Division, Axiom is the latest recruit, and they’re making quite an impact already. So far, Motor City hasn’t gone head-to-head with them, but they eagerly anticipate the matchup. They acknowledge the impressive talents of Axiom and Nathan Frazer in the wrestling ring.

Sabin expressed his enthusiasm for an upcoming match, stating that he believes the opponents are fantastic. He’s eagerly anticipating this wrestling encounter because, as far as SmackDown is concerned, their team has only lost a clean match once – against Pretty Deadly. All other instances have involved interference or some form of external factor.

He’s hopeful that this time around, it will be a fair, straightforward competition between two Tag Teams. He believes their wrestling styles complement each other well and expects the WWE Universe to appreciate the match if things go as planned without any interference.

Essentially, Shelley admitted that before their arrival, our team was undoubtedly the swiftest and most agile. However, she now believes that the newcomers are slightly quicker and faster, possibly even more adept at changing directions. This implies we’ll need to adjust our strategies when we face them, showcasing a different side of the Motor City Machine Guns in our upcoming match as we won’t be able to outrun them.

A New Threat

Each week on SmackDown is packed with action, but as we wrapped up, we wanted to hear their views on the latest developments in Raw, such as the formidable new team consisting of Seth Rollins, Bron Breakker, and Paul Heyman.

In my opinion, Paul Heyman has the ability to make stars shine brighter, which is beneficial for anyone who works with him. To me, he’s a mastermind in wrestling, and his presence will only help raise others to new heights. Thus, I believe it’s advantageous for those individuals.

Absolutely, you’re referring to Paul Heyman, aren’t you? The infamous Dangerous Alliance is his claim to fame, something that’s been known since my childhood days. So, it doesn’t really surprise me with what’s been happening.

Sabin playfully commented that his phone is now more compact,” Shelley chuckled. “And while he no longer has the big cell phone like Zack Morris,” she added, “he’ll always be surrounded by talent because here’s a fun fact: he has an exceptional knack for spotting talent!

Every Friday, catch the Motor City Machine Guns in action on SmackDown! Plus, create your own matches with the New Wave pack, freshly released for WWE 2K25. WWE 2K25 is now playable on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

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2025-05-15 05:10