Chris Sabin Bio
Joshua Harter (born February 4, 1982), known professionally as Chris Sabin, is an American professional wrestler signed to WWE, where he performs on the SmackDown brand. Sabin earned recognition for his work in the X Division and for his long-running tag team Motor City Machine Guns with Alex Shelley.
Early Life and Background
Sabin was born in Pinckney, Michigan and was billed from Detroit, Michigan during his early career. He began training at the NWA Great Lakes Pro wrestling school in Michigan before completing his training under Scott D’Amore and others at the Can-Am Wrestling School in Windsor, Ontario.
Before turning professional, Sabin worked at Subway and used his earnings to pay for wrestling training while taking classes at a community college. He debuted in 2000 after about four months of training and began working for Border City Wrestling and other independent promotions in the Great Lakes region.
Path to Wrestling
After his 2000 debut, Sabin quickly began appearing for independent promotions and built a reputation as a high-flying junior heavyweight. He joined NWA: Total Nonstop Action (NWA-TNA) in 2003 and established himself as a cornerstone of the X Division, capturing the TNA X Division Championship early in his TNA tenure.
His work in the X Division and on the independent scene led to international opportunities, including excursions to New Japan Pro-Wrestling and appearances in Ring of Honor. The combination of singles success in the X Division and a later, influential tag-team partnership set the course for a long career across multiple major promotions.
Chris Sabin Career
Early Career (2000–2006)
Sabin debuted in 2000 and spent the early years of his career developing a fast-paced style on the independents and in Border City Wrestling. In April 2003 he signed with NWA-TNA and on May 14, 2003 he won the TNA X Division Championship in a three-way match, an early breakthrough that placed him at the center of the promotion’s high-flying division.
Throughout this period Sabin became a regular in X Division programs, won the 2003 Super X Cup Tournament, and participated in the promotion’s defining Ultimate X matches. He endured injuries and setbacks but repeatedly returned to regain status as an X Division contender.
TNA/Impact Breakthrough (2003–2014, 2019–2024)
Sabin’s profile rose in TNA as a multi-time X Division Champion and a frequent participant in signature Ultimate X matches. He compiled a record number of X Division title reigns, repeatedly trading the title with peers such as A.J. Styles, Christopher Daniels, and others while also taking part in World X Cup and team competitions for TNA.
In 2013 Sabin reached the top of TNA’s singles landscape when he traded the X Division title for a shot at the TNA World Heavyweight Championship, and he captured the TNA World Heavyweight Championship at Destination X to become one of TNA’s Triple Crown Champions. Over many years in the promotion he collected multiple championships and established himself as a veteran leader in the locker room.
After leaving TNA in 2014, Sabin returned to Impact Wrestling in 2019 and continued teaming with Alex Shelley, reforming the Motor City Machine Guns and adding further tag-team gold and X Division title reigns during the 2019–2024 period. Sabin worked as both a performer and a producer at times while rehabilitating injuries and returning to competition.
Motor City Machine Guns and International Work (2007–2023)
In mid-2007 Sabin formed the Motor City Machine Guns with Alex Shelley. The duo became one of the best-regarded tag teams of their era, winning TNA World Tag Team gold and later capturing tag-team championships in Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Their chemistry and blend of technical, aerial and tandem offense made them a frequent highlight on the card.
The Motor City Machine Guns captured the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship in New Japan Pro-Wrestling and later won the Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships as well, showcasing the team’s ability to succeed in multiple international environments. In Ring of Honor the team also reached the top of the tag division, winning the ROH World Tag Team Championship.
WWE Era (2024–present)
In September 2024 reports indicated that Sabin and Alex Shelley had signed with WWE, and the two debuted on SmackDown on October 18. One week after their arrival they won the WWE Tag Team Championship, marking an immediate impact on WWE’s tag-team division.
Their WWE title run included a defense on the November 15 episode of SmackDown and a loss of the titles to DIY on December 6, ending a 42-day reign. The pair continued to pursue WWE tag gold with high-profile matches, including unsuccessful efforts at the Royal Rumble event and a tables, ladders and chairs challenge on the April 25 SmackDown episode where they came up short.
In-ring Style and Strengths
Sabin’s style blends quick strikes, aerial maneuvers and technical counters with reliable tag-team timing when paired with Alex Shelley. He is noted for his creativity in multi-man and specialty matches such as Ultimate X, and for ring awareness that has allowed him to return from injuries and remain a consistent competitor at both singles and tag levels.
Notable Matches and Milestones
Career milestones include winning the TNA X Division Championship a record number of times, capturing the TNA World Heavyweight Championship, holding tag-team gold across TNA, ROH and New Japan, and securing the WWE Tag Team Championship shortly after debuting on SmackDown. Sabin is also remembered for multiple classic Ultimate X contests and for a long-term partnership with Alex Shelley that produced acclaimed tag matches worldwide.
Chris Sabin Career Wins
Sabin’s career features a mix of singles and tag-team championships across North America and Japan. He is a record multi-time X Division Champion, a former TNA World Heavyweight Champion, and a multi-time tag-team champion alongside Alex Shelley in TNA/Impact, Ring of Honor and New Japan, as well as a WWE Tag Team Champion during his initial run on SmackDown.
X Division Highlights
Sabin became one of the defining X Division performers in TNA, capturing the X Division Championship on numerous occasions and competing in several landmark Ultimate X matches. His multiple reigns in the X Division established him as a central figure in the division’s history.
Tag Team Achievements
As one half of the Motor City Machine Guns, Sabin won TNA World Tag Team gold, the ROH World Tag Team Championship and the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, among other tag titles. The team’s success extended from the United States to Japan and helped redefine modern tag-team work for their generation.
Other Titles
Sabin also won singles gold at the highest level in TNA when he captured the TNA World Heavyweight Championship, completing the promotion’s Triple Crown and cementing his status as a top-tier performer in that era.
Family
Family Background and Wrestling Lineage
Sabin’s path into professional wrestling followed local training and the Can-Am school under Scott D’Amore rather than a multi-generational wrestling family. His development came through regional schools and mentors rather than an established family lineage in the sport.
Personal Life
Publicly available details note that Sabin worked at Subway before becoming a wrestler and attended community college while training. He plays bass in a band called The High Crusade, which includes fellow wrestlers, and he has appeared in wrestling video games. His ring name is taken from a Final Fantasy character and his early inspirations included Hulk Hogan and Bret Hart.
2025 Season Performance
During the 2024–2025 period Sabin and Alex Shelley established themselves on WWE SmackDown. After debuting on October 18 and winning the WWE Tag Team Championship a week later, they defended the titles in November and lost them on December 6. The team pursued the championships through major events, including a 2 Out of 3 Falls match at the Royal Rumble event that did not yield a title regain.
By April 25, the duo again challenged for the SmackDown tag gold in a tables, ladders and chairs match but were unsuccessful. Across that stretch Sabin’s role centered on revitalizing his tag-team legacy on a new platform and competing in high-profile multi-team programs that positioned the Motor City Machine Guns among WWE’s active tag contenders.
