Tag: alex shelley

Motor City Machine Guns win GCW Tag Team titles

Posted on by Ian Carey

There are new GCW Tag Team Champions. 

Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin, the Motor City Machine Guns, defeated Los Macizos (Ciclope & Miedo Extremo) for the titles on Sunday at GCW Ransom from the Carousel Room in Atlantic City. 

With the win, MCMG become the 33rd champions in the titles’ lineage and 23rd team to win the belts. Shelley and Sabin are also the current NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions. They only recently lost the Impact tag titles to Bullet Club’s Chris Bey and Ace Austin on the March 2 edition of the show (taped on February 25).

Shelley and Sabin debuted as a team in 2006 and have won the TNA/Impact Tag Team Championships {3x), the ROH Tag Team Championships, the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships, and the Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships. 

Up next for GCW, they will make their Canadian debut in Montreal on March 11 with a show co-promoted by IWS. Ciclope and Miedo Extremo had been scheduled to defend their titles against Le Tabarnak de Team on the show. 

KUSHIDA challenges Alex Shelley to NJPW Music City Mayhem match

Posted on by Ethan Renner

KUSHIDA has issued a challenge to Alex Shelley for NJPW Music City Mayhem. 

In a video promo released on social media, KUSHIDA challenged his former Time Splitters tag team partner to a singles bout at Music City Mayhem on Saturday, July 30. 

In the promo, KUSHIDA issued the challenge by way of writing a letter to Shelley, referring to Shelley as “my dearest professor, my best friend, my all-time best partner.”

As the Time Splitters, KUSHIDA and Shelley twice held IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship gold in NJPW. The duo last teamed on a couple of live events and in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic in NXT in 2020.

KUSHIDA made his in-ring return to NJPW earlier this month following a three-year run in NXT. 

Here is the lineup for Music City Mayhem so far: 

NJPW Music City Mayhem, Saturday, July 30, 3 p.m. Eastern time on FITE TV pay-per-view —

  • No DQ match: Jon Moxley vs. El Desperado
  • Davey Richards vs. Clark Connors
  • Hiromu Takahashi vs. Blake Christian

KUSHIDA debut, Alex Shelley vs. Chris Sabin set for Impact Derby City Rumble

Posted on by Ethan Renner

KUSHIDA’s debut, plus the Motor City Machine Guns facing off have been announced for next week’s Impact Derby City Rumble television taping.

Impact announced on Thursday that NJPW’s KUSHIDA will make his debut for the promotion at the Derby City Rumble taping in Louisville, Kentucky on Friday, July 15, and Saturday, July 16. Also announced for Louisville, the Motor City Machine Guns will square off in a singles match, as Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin go head-to-head.

KUSHIDA has been announced for both days of the TV taping, while Shelley vs. Sabin was specifically announced for the Friday, July 15 event.

KUSHIDA recently returned to NJPW after a stint with WWE as a member of the NXT brand. The six-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion left WWE following his contract expiring in April after a three-year run with the company. 

Impact World Champion Josh Alexander, Sami Callihan, Eddie Edwards, Tasha Steelz, Doc Gallows, Karl Anderson, Ace Austin, and Matt Cardona have also been advertised for appearances at next week’s events. 

Alex Shelley at Impact TV taping after not appearing at Under Siege

Posted on by Josh Nason

After not appearing at Saturday’s Under Siege special on Impact Plus, Alex Shelley is in Newport, Kentucky, for Impact’s Sunday TV taping.

Shelley was advertised as wrestling “Speedball” Mike Bailey at Saturday’s show in a match announced last Tuesday and featured in their Saturday day of show preview.

However, Bailey was put in a three-way with Laredo Kid and Rich Swann on the pre-show instead with no explanation for the change.

Instead of being in Newport, Shelley was wrestling in Detroit, Michigan, for No Peace Underground/RPW against Kevin Blackwood — a show he had been advertised for since mid-April.

Neither Impact or Shelley have responded to inquiries as where the miscommunication was and why it wasn’t identified when the announcement was initially made.

Four matches have been announced for Sunday’s “May Day” taping:

  • Gauntlet for the Gold match
  • Impact World Champion Josh Alexander & Tomohiro Ishii vs Bullet Club’s Jay White and Chris Bey
  • El Phantasmo vs Kenny King
  • The Good Brothers vs. Mike Bennett and Matt Taven

Alex Shelley vs. Mike Bailey set for Impact Under Siege

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Impact Wrestling has two new matches to Saturday’s Under Siege event. 

Alex Shelley will face “Speedball” Mike Bailey at Under Siege in a rematch from April’s Multiverse of Matches show. Bailey won the last meeting between the two. Additionally, Madison Rayne will face Gisele Shaw in a pre-show match prior to the event.

Saturday’s Under Siege event airs on Impact Plus beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern time. 

Here is the announced card for the special: 

Impact Wrestling Under Siege, Saturday, May 7, 8 p.m. Eastern time on Impact Plus —

  • Impact Wrestling World Championship: Josh Alexander (c) vs. Tomohiro Ishii
  • Impact Wrestling Knockouts World Championship: Tasha Steelz (c) vs. Havok
  • Impact Wrestling World Tag Team Championship: Violent By Design (c) vs. The Briscoes
  • AAA Reina de Reinas Championship: Taya Valkyrie (c) vs. Deonna Purrazzo
  • Bullet Club (Jay White, Chris Bey, Doc Gallows, Karl Anderson, and El Phantasmo) vs. Honor No More (Eddie Edwards, Kenny King, Matt Taven, Mike Bennett, and Vincent)
  • Steve Maclin vs. Chris Sabin
  • Alex Shelley vs. “Speedball” Mike Bailey
  • Countdown to Under Siege pre-show match: Madison Rayne vs. Gisele Shaw

Jay White to face Alex Shelley at Impact Wrestling Sacrifice

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Bullet Club leader Jay White is set for action at Impact Wrestling’s next special event.

Impact Wrestling announced today that White will face Alex Shelley at Sacrifice on Saturday, March 5. The show will air live on Impact Plus and for subscribers of Impact’s Ultimate Insiders YouTube service.

White defeated Eric Young at Impact’s No Surrender event last Saturday. Later in the show, White betrayed Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa and caused them to lose a title match against Impact Tag Team Champions Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows.

Bullet Club members White, Anderson, Gallows, and Chris Bey stood united after Anderson & Gallows defeated Tonga & Loa. 

White also made his AEW debut earlier this month and defeated Trent Beretta on last week’s episode of Rampage.

Shelley has previously been a mentor to White. In 2015, White’s NJPW debut was a singles match where he lost to Shelley.

Sacrifice will be the first time Shelley has wrestled for Impact since 2020. He had to miss Impact’s Hard to Kill pay-per-view in 2021 due to his job as a physical therapy clinician. Shelley noted that he couldn’t risk exposure to COVID-19 at that time.

White vs. Shelley is the first match that’s been announced for Sacrifice. The show is being held at Old Forester’s Paristown Hall in Louisville, Kentucky.

Alex Shelley vs. Richard Holliday added to MLW SuperFight

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A new match has been added to this month’s MLW television tapings.

Alex Shelley will face Richard Holliday at MLW SuperFight in Charlotte, North Carolina on Saturday, February 26. The tapings are being held at the Grady Cole Center.

Following the main event of last week’s MLW Fusion, Holliday turned against his friend Alex Hammerstone and got together with Alicia Atout. Hammerstone retained his MLW World Heavyweight Championship against Pagano after Holliday helped him fight off interference by Azteca henchmen. Atout was going to interview Hammerstone after the match, but she instead low blowed him with the microphone. Holliday then attacked Hammerstone and posed with Hammerstone’s title belt.

Last week’s Fusion went off the air with Holliday and Atout making out.

“The controversial couple [Holliday and Atout] promises to continue shocking the world of MLW and vows to make SuperFight a memorable night as they tease breaking a few taboos and bones as they start a new chapter together as MLW’s power couple,” MLW wrote.

“Standing across the ring will be a true fighting artist in Alex Shelley. Shelley, who debuted in MLW last fall, enters the match with a standout career, collecting championships in virtually every organization he’s competed in from the United States to Japan and all points in-between.”

Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat is set to appear at SuperFight and — in storyline — is the matchmaker for the show. Here’s the updated lineup:

  • MLW World Heavyweight Champion Alex Hammerstone defends against Davey Richards
  • Stairway to Hell match: Jacob Fatu vs. Mads Krugger
  • MLW National Openweight Champion Alex Kane defends against Calvin Tankman, Matt Cross, and ACH in a four-way match
  • nZo vs. KC Navarro
  • Alex Shelley vs. Richard Holliday
  • Killer Kross returns to MLW
  • Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat appears
  • Ricky & Kerry Morton make their MLW debut
  • Puma King in action

Alex Shelley announced for PWG Battle of Los Angeles 2022

Posted on by Ethan Renner

PWG has announced the second entrant in the Battle of Los Angeles 2022 tournament.

Former Impact and Ring of Honor Tag Team Champion and current IWTV Independent Wrestling World Champion Alex Shelley will take part in the 2022 BOLA, set for January 29 and January 30. Shelley joins JONAH, announced yesterday, as the first participants named. 

Battle of Los Angeles returns in 2022 following a pandemic-related two-year absence. This iteration of the tournament will be held over two nights, a departure from the three-night format in recent years.

Shelley has maintained a busy indie schedule in the final four months of 2021, including challenging Bandido for the PWG World Championship in November. He is also set for a match with Nick Wayne at a WAC event on December 19, plus GCW Most Notorious on January 14 in Detroit. 

Shelley captured the IWTV World title from Wheeler Yuta in October, then made successful defenses of the title against Ruby Soho and John Wayne Murdoch this past weekend. 

PWG It’s a Long Way to the Top results: Bandido vs. Alex Shelley

Posted on by Bryan Rose

PWG held their It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll) tonight at The Globe Theatre in Los Angeles, California. 

It was announced prior to the show that both Tony Deppen and Alex Zayne were off tonight’s show due to injury. Deppen was originally supposed to face Lee Moriarty, while Zayne was scheduled to team with Jack Cartwheel against Aramis and Rey Horus.

  • Aramis defeated Jack Cartwheel with an airplane spin out powerbomb.
  • Lee Moriarty defeated Kevin Blackwood after Moriarty reversed a pinfall attempt by Blackwood.
  • Lio Rush defeated Davey Richards after a frog splash.
  • Dragon Lee defeated Rey Horus and Demonic Flamita in a triple threat match. Lee pinned Flamita after throwing Horus out of the ring and connected with a running knee strike to Flamita.
  • Jonathan Gresham defeated Daniel Garcia. The match was stopped by the referee after Gresham choked out Garcia.
  • Brody King and Malakai Black defeated JD Drake and Anthony Henry to retain the PWG World Tag Team titles. Black scored the win for his team after hitting the black mass on Henry.
  • Bandido defeated Alex Shelley to retain the PWG World Championship after a German suplex.

PWG returned to shows in September with their Mystery Vortex VI event. They did not announce the date for their next event.

Ruby Soho vs. Alex Shelley set for Beyond Wrestling Fete Forever

Posted on by Ethan Renner

A bout for the IWTV Independent Wrestling World Championship has been announced for Beyond Wrestling’s Sunday, December 5 Fete Forever event in Rhode Island. 

IWTV World Champion Alex Shelley will defend the title against AEW’s Ruby Soho. Beyond Wrestling made the match announcement today. The show will air on FITE TV. 

Shelley captured the IWTV title on October 8, defeating Wheeler Yuta. 

Soho is one of a number of regular AEW talents working the event. Yuta will also be in action, taking on Matt Makowski. John Silver and Alex Reynolds of The Dark Order will be in a tag match against VSK and Mark Sterling on the show. 

Here is the announced lineup for the event:

Beyond Wrestling Fete Forever, Sunday, December 5, Providence, Rhode Island, 4 p.m. Eastern time on FITE TV —

  • IWTV Independent Wrestling World Championship: Alex Shelley (c) vs. Ruby Soho
  • John Silver & Alex Reynolds vs. VSK & Mark Sterling
  • Wheeler Yuta vs. Matt Makowski
  • No DQ match: Dutch vs. Dan Barry

Ladder match to determine new MLW National Openweight Champion

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A five-man ladder match will determine MLW’s next National Openweight Champion.

It was announced today that a ladder match to crown a new National Openweight Champion will take place at MLW’s War Chamber tapings in Philadelphia on Saturday, November 6. Alex Shelley, Myron Reed, Zenshi, Alex Kane, and a fifth “wild card” entrant who has yet to be revealed will be the participants in the ladder match.

The MLW National Openweight Championship was vacated by Alex Hammerstone earlier this month after he defeated Jacob Fatu in a title vs. title match to win the MLW World Heavyweight Championship. Hammerstone said that, with him becoming World Heavyweight Champion, the National Openweight title is now someone else’s opportunity.

Hammerstone was the inaugural MLW National Openweight Champion, holding the title since it was introduced in June 2019.

The War Chamber tapings are being held at Philadelphia’s 2300 Arena. Here’s the updated lineup for the event:

  • War Chamber match: Alex Hammerstone, Richard Holliday, EJ Nduka, and a partner vs. Contra Unit (Jacob Fatu, Mads Krugger, Josef Samael & Ikuro Kwon)
  • The 2021 Opera Cup finals
  • Ladder match for the vacant MLW National Openweight Championship: Alex Shelley vs. Myron Reed vs. Zenshi vs. Alex Kane vs. a wildcard entrant
  • Homicide vs. LA Park
  • The debut of nZo (formerly known as Enzo Amore)

Alex Shelley becomes final entrant in MLW Opera Cup tournament

Posted on by Skylar Russell

MLW announced Wednesday that Alex Shelley is the eighth and final entrant in this year’s Opera Cup tournament.

The 19-year veteran Shelley will be making his promotional debut as the tournament kicks off on October 2nd in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The 38-year-old recently made his return to pro wrestling at September 3rd’s GCW/Black Label Pro 3 Cups Stuffed show. In January, he was scheduled to participate in Impact’s Hard To Kill main event six-man tag, but had to pull out and temporarily step away from wrestling due to COVID-19 protocols with his full-time career.

Shelley joins seven other participants in this year’s tournament that includes TJP, Calvin Tankman, Matt Cross, Bobby Fish, Lee Moriarty, Davey Richards and last year’s winner and former MLW Champion Tom Lawlor. 

According to MLW’s website, brackets and first round matchups for the tournament will be announced in the coming days. While the opening round and semifinals will take place on October 2nd, the finals will happen the following month in their November return to Philadelphia for Intimidation Games.

Alex Shelley returning to the ring, set for GCW/BLP show

Posted on by Joseph Currier

After several months away, Alex Shelley is returning to pro wrestling.

It was announced today that Shelley will return to Game Changer Wrestling & Black Label Pro at their co-presented “3 Cups Stuffed” show on Friday, September 3. The show is taking place at the Grand Sports Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.

Shelley is returning to the ring for the first time since having to pull out of Impact Wrestling’s Hard to Kill pay-per-view this January. He was scheduled to team with Rich Swann & Chris Sabin against Kenny Omega & The Good Brothers (Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows) in the main event of the PPV. With Shelley having to miss Hard to Kill, he was replaced by Moose in the six-man tag match.

Shelley, who works as a physical therapy clinician, explained that he wasn’t able to appear at Hard to Kill due to COVID-19 mandates that had been put in place by his job to help protect patients. Shelley said he’d be unable to travel and wrestle until he was vaccinated against COVID-19.

Shelley is the Black Label Pro Midwest Champion. He’ll defend the title against Tom Lawlor at “3 Cups Stuffed.”

Shelley has also been announced for Zelo Pro Wrestling’s “Thunderstruck” show that’s taking place at the Viaero Center in Kearney, Nebraska on Saturday, September 25.

Alex Shelley explains why he missed Hard To Kill, immediate future

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: Impact Wrestling

Alex Shelley’s late scratch from the January 16th Impact Wrestling Hard To Kill pay-per-view came as a surprise as he was part of a high profile main event, teaming with Chris Sabin and Rich Swann against Kenny Omega and The Good Brothers.

However, given travel restrictions for COVID-19, most assumed the virus had something to do with him pulling out of the event the day before the show, replaced by Moose. 

In a series of tweets Thursday, Shelley gave his side of the story past his initial statement of needing to err on the side of caution due to a “complex” situation and that he might be out of the company for some time.

“Most days out of the week, I look like this. I read theories about why I wasn’t at Impact Wrestling for Hard to Kill. They ranged from injury, to illness, to getting arrested, to harming my family members and attempting to cover it up; I am a physical therapy clinician. Physio is my livelihood and career. Wrestling is my livelihood and passion project. At my company, due to the volume of sick and injured patients we are in care of, we modify our COVID-19 mandates as needed. As numbers went up, so did restrictiveness.

To circumvent the topic, I could not be at Hard To Kill due to my career. I respect the decisions made by our company surgeons and doctors: I look to them for advice and guidance. I am unable to travel and wrestle until I am vaccinated. I took every caution I could before…

But I don’t feel right maintaining this duality unless I take every possible safety measure. When the vaccine became available, that required extra security on my end and my company’s end for our patients. I honestly don’t want to get the vaccine so soon…

But I want to wrestle very badly while I help people in therapy. So there’s no option. Impact Wrestling was supportive and understanding and as someone who doesn’t have nor want a contract at this point, my hands were tied. Thanks for your support everyone.”

Sabin is currently teaming with James Storm in Shelley’s absence.

Alex Shelley gives update on missing Impact Hard to Kill

Posted on by Joseph Currier

After being removed from the main event of Hard to Kill, Alex Shelley has given an update on the situation.

Impact Wrestling announced on Friday that Moose is replacing Shelley in the main event of Hard to Kill. Impact announced that Shelley informed the company late Thursday night that he’s unable to travel to Nashville for the pay-per-view due to unavoidable circumstances. AEW World Champion Kenny Omega & Impact Tag Team Champions The Good Brothers (Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows) will now face Impact World Champion Rich Swann, Moose & Chris Sabin in a six-man tag match at tonight’s PPV.

Impact Wrestling posted a message from Shelley today where he provided an update on why he isn’t able to appear at Hard to Kill. “I assure everyone out there, I do not have COVID,” Shelley said. “I am not orthopedically injured. But in the interest of safety, my situation is a very complex one. I put that first — as does Impact management. And they are doing the utmost in terms of precautions to make sure that nobody is at risk at Hard to Kill or going forward.”

Shelley promised that he’ll be back in Impact Wrestling. He apologized to Sabin, Swann, and the fans and said he owes a receipt to Omega and The Good Brothers.

Countdown to Hard to Kill is airing live on AXS TV and Impact’s digital platforms at 7 p.m. Eastern time tonight. The main card will then begin on PPV at 8 p.m. Eastern. Here’s what’s been announced for the show:

  • AEW World Champion Kenny Omega & Impact Tag Team Champions The Good Brothers (Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows) vs. Impact World Champion Rich Swann, Moose & Chris Sabin
  • Knockouts Champion Deonna Purrazzo defends against Taya Valkyrie
  • X-Division Champion Manik defends against Rohit Raju and Chris Bey in a triple threat match
  • Knockouts Tag Team title tournament finals: Havok & Nevaeh vs. Kiera Hogan & Tasha Steelz
  • Barbed Wire Massacre match: Eddie Edwards vs. Sami Callihan
  • No DQ match: Eric Young, Joe Doering & Cody Deaner vs. Tommy Dreamer, Rhino & Cousin Jake
  • Ethan Page vs. The Karate Man
  • Rosemary & Crazzy Steve vs. Tenille Dashwood & Kaleb (Caleb Konley)
  • Josh Alexander vs. Brian Myers (Countdown to Hard to Kill)