AJ Styles is not convinced WWE was right to let the New Day and the Motor City Machine Guns walk, saying he would not bet that either decision was a smart one.
Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin were released in the round of cuts that followed WrestleMania 42 in April. Their 90-day non-compete expired on July 23 and they signed with AEW, opening the July 30 episode of Collision in their hometown of Detroit to announce it. Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods, now working as Austin Creed, left the company days after that same round of releases and recently posted a video of their own.
Speaking on the debut episode of The AJ Styles Show with Tony Giles, Styles was asked about both.
“I think definitely TNA, but I don’t remember them being in AEW.”
Shelley and Sabin had worked one AEW date before, teaming with Jay Lethal against FTR and Wardlow at All Out in 2022, while still contracted to TNA.
“So, man, again, I love these boys too. I mean, I really, I can’t. I don’t know, man. It’s just it’s difficult because I I want to see them do well because they work really hard.”
He then took in all four men at once.
“I’m assuming now Austin Creed and Kofi something may just be Kofi, Alex Shelley, and Chris Sabin. They’re man, you know that’s because I have so much respect for these two tag teams, and know what they’re capable of. Man, I don’t know if it was the smartest decision letting those two tag teams go. Don’t know. I would say I can tell you, I wouldn’t bet that it was a smart decision.”
Styles was quick to declare his own position.
“And I am biased. I am biased. Two guys that I’ve known forever in Alex Shelley, and you know Chris Sabin, and then Austin Creed, who I’ve literally known for over two decades. Like we go way back, and Kofi’s such an awesome dude.”
Giles put it to him that whoever signed them was getting four capable singles wrestlers as well as two tag teams. Styles said the value runs deeper than the matches.
“And it’s not just their wrestling, it’s their psychology that they have. That they got years of experience with this psychology, and they have perfected it in a tag team ring. You know, so it’s man, I can’t say enough good things about these four guys. They’re amazing. I hope they kill it. I mean, because I love these guys. Those are my boys. I freaking want to see them do well.”
On the New Day’s video specifically, Styles kept it short.
“You know, I love those boys. That’s all I can tell you. I love them. So I think somebody’s about to get something good.”
Styles retired from in-ring competition in January after losing to Gunther at the Royal Rumble.
