Summary

Robbie Eagles wasted little time looking ahead after Ichiban Sweet Boys regained the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship at NJPW Wrestling Redzone on April 25.

Eagles and Kosei Fujita won the titles back on the show, then Eagles used his backstage comments to call out Motor City Machine Guns, Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin, for a future match. The challenge came one day after Shelley and Sabin were reported among WWE's departures.

The title change was one of several notable developments around the promotion, which also set up Bishamon's next shot at the IWGP Tag Team Titles.

Quote from Robbie Eagles

After the win, Eagles directly named Shelley and Sabin while pitching the bout:

"But what's next? Special tag match at the end of this tour. El Desperado, our best friend — joke — not best friend… But Místico's coming all the way from CMLL to tag with the other masked (guy), and you probably want this, but f*cking earn it lads, and I saw some news earlier today — last thing I'm gonna say — some news earlier today, some people I know in this industry lost their jobs across the pond. So how about this: Ichiban Sweet Boys, third time, IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions versus Alex Shelley, Chris Sabin, Motor City Machine Guns. I know you guys want it. We're here, ready. So come and get it. Because you guys may have innovated that division, but we are the mighty, and the mighty don't (kneel)."

What Motor City Machine Guns would mean for the IWGP Junior tag scene

If the match happens, NJPW would be pairing its new champions with one of the most accomplished teams ever to hold the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. Shelley and Sabin previously held the belts together, and their last match in the promotion came at Destruction in Ryogoku in 2023.

For Eagles and Fujita, the challenge also gives their fresh title reign an immediate talking point beyond simply winning the belts back. Calling out Motor City Machine Guns positions Ichiban Sweet Boys against a team with real history in the division, and it gives NJPW a high-profile option if Shelley and Sabin decide to return to the company.

Sources

As reported by Fightful