In a dramatic turn of events, DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) became the new WWE Tag Team Champions, dethroning The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin) on Friday’s SmackDown.
Originally, Shelley and Sabin were set to defend their titles against The Street Profits, but the scheduled challengers were mysteriously ambushed before the match. This unexpected development led to DIY stepping in as replacements.
The match was not without controversy. Tensions flared between Ciampa and Gargano, as Ciampa’s recent heel tendencies created unease within the team. The pivotal moment came when Gargano struck Shelley with a low blow while the referee’s attention was diverted. Sabin attempted to confront Gargano but was met with a superkick. Seizing the opportunity, DIY executed their signature finisher on Shelley to secure the victory.
This marks DIY’s second run as WWE Tag Team Champions. They previously captured the titles on the July 5 episode of SmackDown, defeating A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory and Grayson Waller). However, their reign lasted only 28 days, ending at the hands of The Bloodline (Fatu and Tama Tonga), who capitalized on interference from Solo Sikoa and Tonga Loa.
The Motor City Machine Guns’ reign as champions concluded at 42 days, adding yet another chapter to their storied legacy.