ALEX SHELLEY

Patrick Kenneth Martin, better known by his ring name Alex Shelley, is a 42-year-old professional wrestler currently signed to WWE, where he competes on the SmackDown brand. Renowned for his innovative style, technical prowess, and influential tag team legacy, Shelley has built a storied career across the global wrestling scene.

Early Career and Ring Debut

Shelley began his professional wrestling journey in early 2002, debuting in March of that year. He crafted his ring name by merging influences from literature and punk rock culture. Early in his career, Shelley overcame a devastating jaw injury that required surgical reconstruction with steel plates. His resilience led him to compete in IWA Mid-South and Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW) before joining Ring of Honor (ROH), where he gained momentum on the independent wrestling circuit.

Alex Shelley’s Rise to Prominence in TNA

Alex Shelley gained widespread recognition through his tenure in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), now known as Impact Wrestling. His accolades in TNA include:

2006 World X Cup Tournament Champion
TNA World Heavyweight Champion (1x)
TNA X Division Champion (1x)
TNA World Tag Team Champion (3x) alongside Chris Sabin as the Motor City Machine Guns
TNA Gauntlet for the Gold Winner (2008)
10th TNA Triple Crown Champion

Shelley and Sabin’s tag team, Motor City Machine Guns, became one of the most acclaimed duos in TNA history, known for their chemistry, speed, and storytelling in the ring.

Success on the Independent Scene and International Ventures

Before and after his TNA run, Shelley remained a dominant force in the independent wrestling scene, especially in ROH, where the Motor City Machine Guns captured the ROH World Tag Team Championships.

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Internationally, Shelley made a significant impact in Japan, competing in Pro Wrestling Zero1-Max and New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). He achieved the following in NJPW:

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion (3x) with Kushida as the Time Splitters
NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champion with Chris Sabin

Alex Shelley’s WWE NXT Debut

On January 8, 2020, WWE officially announced Alex Shelley’s debut in WWE NXT, where he reunited with former NJPW partner Kushida as the Time Splitters for the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. Despite high expectations, they were eliminated in the first round by the Grizzled Young Veterans. This was Shelley’s first in-ring appearance for WWE since a brief showing on WWE Heat in 2005.

AEW Debut at All Out 2022

Shelley made his long-awaited AEW debut at the All Out 2022 pay-per-view. Teaming with Chris Sabin and Jay Lethal, the Motor City Machine Guns faced off against Wardlow and FTR in a high-profile six-man tag team match on August 24, 2022. Despite their legendary status, they fell short following interference from Samoa Joe, who shifted momentum by attacking Satnam Singh during the bout.

Return to WWE and Tag Team Championship Victory

In September 2024, WWE announced that Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin had officially signed with the company, marking Shelley’s return after a four-year absence. The Motor City Machine Guns made their highly anticipated SmackDown debut on October 18, 2024, quickly making an impact. Just one week later, they shocked the WWE Universe by defeating The Bloodline’s Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa to capture the WWE Tag Team Championships, solidifying their place at the top of WWE’s tag team division.

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STATS

Birth name: Patrick Kenneth Martin
Born: May 23, 1983, Detroit, Michigan, USA
Height: 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight: 215 lb (98 kg)
Ring name(s): Alex Shelley, David Decker
Current Roster: SmackDown
Finishing move: Automatic Midnight / WA4

Alex Shelley’s Social Media:

Alex Shelley Photos

Career Championships & Accomplishments

ACTION Wrestling
- ACTION Award for Match of the Year (2022) – Vs. AC Mack at “Southeast First”
All American Wrestling
- AAW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Chris Sabin
The Baltimore Sun
- Tag Team of the Year (2010) – with Chris Sabin
Border City Wrestling
- BCW Can-Am Television Championship (1 time)
Black Label Pro
- BLP Midwest Championship (1 time)
- Turbo Graps 16 (2020)
City Championship Wrestling
- CCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Chris Sabin
Combat 1 Pro Wrestling
- Combat 1 Crash Championship (1 time)
Combat Zone Wrestling
- CZW World Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
- International Gran Prix (2008)
Deadlock Pro-Wrestling
- DPW Worlds Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Chris Sabin
Game Changer Wrestling
- GCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Chris Sabin
Great Lakes Wrestling
- GLW Cruiserweight Championship (1 time)
IndependentWrestling.tv
- IWTV Independent Wrestling World Championship (1 time)
Insane Wrestling Federation
- IWF Cruiserweight Championship (1 time)
Maryland Championship Wrestling
- MCW Cruiserweight Championship (1 time)
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Chris Sabin (1) and Kushida (2)
- Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Chris Sabin
- Super Jr. Tag Tournament (2012) – with Kushida
NWA Midwest
- NWA Midwest X Division Championship (1 time)
Ontario Championship Wrestling
- OCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with R.C. Cross
Prestige Wrestling
- Prestige Championship (2 times)
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Tag Team of the Year (2010) – with Chris Sabin
- Ranked No. 23 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2024
Pro Wrestling Zero1-Max
- NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Chris Sabin
- Zero1-Max United States Openweight Championship (1 time)
Ring of Honor
- ROH World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Chris Sabin
- Trios Tournament (2006) – with Abyss and Jimmy Rave
Sanctuary Fight Club
- SFC Thrash Zone Championship (1 time)
Smash Wrestling
- Smash Wrestling Championship (1 time)
The Wrestling Revolver
- REVOLVER Championship (1 time)
- PWR Remix Championship (1 time)
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling / Impact Wrestling
- Impact/TNA World Championship (1 time)
- TNA/Impact World Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Chris Sabin
- TNA X Division Championship (1 time)
- Chris Candido Memorial Tag Team Tournament – with Sean Waltman
- Gauntlet for the Gold (2008 – Tag Team) – with Chris Sabin
- Paparazzi Championship Series
- TNA X Division Championship Tournament (2009)
- World X Cup (2006) – with Chris Sabin, Jay Lethal, and Sonjay Dutt
- TNA / Impact Year End Awards (4 times):
  - Tag Team of the Year (2007) – with Chris Sabin
  - Moment of the Year (2020) – Motor City Machine Guns’ return to Impact
  - Men’s Tag Team of the Year (2022) – with Chris Sabin
  - Male Wrestler of the Year (2023)
- Tenth Triple Crown Winner
UWA Hardcore Wrestling
- UWA Lightweight Championship (2 times)
WWE
- WWE Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Chris Sabin
- WWE Tag Team Championship #1 Contender Tournament (2024) – with Chris Sabin
- WWE Tag Team Championship #1 Contender Tournament (2025) – with Chris Sabin
Westside Xtreme Wrestling
- wXw World Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
Xtreme Intense Championship Wrestling
- XICW Cruiserweight Championship (1 time)
- XICW Midwest Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- XICW Tag Team Championship (3 times)