Ring of Honor last night issued the following statement:

“The Motor City Machine Guns of Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin will not be able to appear at the 10/24 & 10/25 events due to a scheduling conflict. We apologize for the lineup change.

However, we feel we have a suitable replacement. Former ROH World Champion Homicide and his regular partner Hernandez, known as LAX, will now wrestle on the 10/24 Danbury, CT and 10/25 Edison, NJ events. It will be a homecoming weekend for Homicide in Ring Of Honor.

Homicide is one of the founding fathers of ROH. His feuds against Samoa Joe, CZW, Steve Corino and Colt Cabana have gone in the history books as some of the greatest feuds in ROH history. Homicide reached the apex of ROH when he won the World Title at “Final Battle 2006″ in a sold out Manhattan Center to end Bryan Danielson’s 15 month reign. “The Notorious 187″ has been involved in some of ROH’s greatest moments and matches. He has earned “ROH Legend” status and now for the first time in well over a year he will return to the ROH ring.

Homicide has devoted his time since ROH to teaming with the powerhouse Hernandez as LAX. Together, Homicide & Hernandez have gained recognition as one of the top tag teams in the sport. The duo has never tested themselves against ROH’s rich tag team roster. Now they will get thrown into the fire of the ROH tag team division.”

Far from having to apologize, this could actually work really well to ROH’s advantage. While a hugely exciting, individual act, the Motor City Machine Guns have appeared numerous times as guests this year. Although that’s not to say the excitement over their appearances has diminished- it has potentially limited their ability somewhat to put extra bums in seats.

However, LAX have NEVER appeared in ROH, and are generally considered slightly underused (though not so much as the MCMG) in TNA. Thus fans will be lapping up the chance to see these guys really strut their stuff. And of course, it can’t be unnoted that Homicide is one of ROH’s founding fathers, and fans genuinely miss the contributions he brought to the company between 2002-2007.

A match-up between these guys and Tag Champions El Generico and Kevin Steen, could be absolutely scintilating. Equally, a culture clash with Age of the Fall remembers could be rewarding.

I’d personally love to see them team with the Briscoes in a big Eight man tag, but the format is sadly a very rare occurance in ROH.

Michael Campbell
michael@ifight365.com