Mike Bailey Talks Amazing Matches He’s Had In IMPACT Wrestling, Dream Matches, Veda Scott
Mike Bailey sees himself as the face of IMPACT Wrestling, and wants to wrestle the best in the world.
He’s off to a great start, having wrestled some big names already; Tanahashi, Josh Alexander, Will Ospreay, just to name a few.
Mike Bailey is a former IMPACT X Division Champion, after debuting with the company at Hard To Kill 2022.
“The one thing that I’m certain of is I’m perfectly okay with how things are now,” he said. “I think I did the best I could with what I was given. I’m with Impact Wrestling and couldn’t be happier and things are going absolutely well. However, there is this other possibility where I continue wrestling in the U.S. after 2016 and start making millions of dollars by 2018 and be able to retire and move to a big home in the Bahamas in 2022. That could have happened, but we’ll never know. All we can do is be grateful.”
Speaking with Scott Fishman of SEScoops, Mike Bailey commented on signing with IMPACT and some of the amazing matches he’s had since coming into the company.
Alex Shelley
Bailey can see the potential in Impact Wrestling as a member of a passionate roster. Further inspiration came from witnessing Alex Shelley become the world champion. He and Chris Sabin are among the legends who prove the X Division could be a great vehicle to the“Alex Shelley specifically is a huge influence to everyone at Impact and in professional wrestling,” Bailey said.
“Alex Shelley individually and as a member of the Motor City Machine Guns. To see him finally win that Impact world championship was a great moment and truly one of the most deserved championship victories in recent memory.”
Josh Alexander
Of course, the high-flying star hopes to win the Impact championship one day. He showed he can hang at that level in an Impact Year End Award-winning battle with former champ Josh Alexander. The two familiar opponents went almost an hour on the December episode of Impact.
Bailey actually faced Alexander at a Destiny Wrestling show in 2021 the same night Impact President Scott D’Amore offered him a contract. The last show-stopper was really a come-full-circle moment.
“Since signing with Impact Wrestling that was the match I wanted,” Bailey said. “Josh Alexander and I wrestled each other many times before Impact Wrestling in Canada for a year…A big part of the decision to join Impact was to have the kind of matches Josh Alexander was having over and what he was doing. That’s the kind of wrestling I wanted to do and the matches I wanted to have.“
“So when we had to wrestle for nearly an hour, it just felt right. Of course, it was difficult, but it was exactly what I wanted. Looking back on it, I feel like no matter how well this would have been received, this match was only part of the story between me and Josh Alexander. We have a lot more left in the tank together.”
Dream Opponents
When “Speedball” has been asked about his dream opponents, the responses were always John Cena and Hiroshi Tanahashi. The latter came true through Impact Wrestling and circumstance when the New Japan Pro Wrestling legend stepped in for an injured Will Ospreay in the main event of Multiverse United. One could argue matches like this demonstrate the trust Impact has in Bailey.
“If I’m wrestling either [Cena or Tanahashi], it means I’m doing very well in terms of how my career is going,” Bailey said. Tanahashi is the ‘Ace’ of New Japan. He represents that company and is the face. The fact Impact would put me against him and put me to represent them. Of course, that meant a lot and it was an honor to share the ring with him. He is a complete master at the art of professional wrestling.”
Multiverse United 2
Looking forward to Multiverse United 2 on August 20, Bailey has certainly given potential matches some thought. Not just one but three options for NJPW and Impact matchmakers.
“One is an IWGP junior heavyweight title shot against Hiromu Takahashi,” he explained. “He is the champion, and I did beat him as part of the Best of the Super Juniors tournament of which I was a part. That means I am owed a title shot. I think Philly would be a great place to do that. I was scheduled to face Will Ospreay, who then was removed with an injury. That wouldn’t have been my first match with Will Ospreay. All of them would have been amazing.
“This would have been the first one in the United States. I feel he still owes me that match. Another I would absolutely love because to me he was the MVP of the Best of the Super Junior tournament in Japan and that is El Desperado. He was the other semi-finalist. I think he absolutely put on some of the most impressive matches out of that whole tournament. He and I got to share the ring on the same team just a little bit on my last day of the tour. I would love a singles match.”
Mike Bayley’s Love Story
Bailey feels blessed in the ring and out thanks to his wife Veda Scott The two weren’t able to see each other for long stretches thanks to the pandemic and those visa issues. Pro wrestling brought them together but also kept them going in many ways. Their love story could really be a Hallmark movie.
“Veda really pushed me. The circumstances of our relationship really pushed me. To take my career in a much different direction,” he said “So when I couldn’t come to the US and Veda lives in the US, we worked really hard in order to find places in order for us to be together. We would book tours in Europe, be in Japan together, and travel to Canada. That has really helped me cultivate a worldwide presence.
“…Since 2022 we’ve both been living in the U.S. together, and my career with Impact Wrestling has really taken off. Veda has gone from being mostly a wrestler to being mostly an announcer and doing some work with Impact Wrestling, AEW, and most recently for New Japan Pro Wrestling doing commentary for Mercedes Mone matches. Watching Veda really grow as a commentator along with my career as a wrestler all coincided with us getting married last year. It has been a huge bonus. My wrestling career is a blessing, to begin with, but the fact I have someone to share all of this makes it even better.”
Earlier this year, Bailey was supposed to wrestle Will Ospreay at the IMPACT x NJPW Multiverse United Show, however, Ospreay suffered an injury only weeks before the match and was unable to compete. Hiroshi Tanahashi ended up filling in for Bailey, and after a fantastic match, Tanahashi took the victory over Bailey.
Mike Bailey just returned from Japan as part of the Best of Super Juniors tournament. Bailey made it to the finals of the tournament and lost to Master Wato.
Bailey was most recently part of an 8-4-1 #1 contender’s match for the IMPACT World Title at Against All Odds. Bailey was teamed up with Moose, PCO, & Rich Swann to take on Bully Ray, Nick Aldis, Heath, & Jonathan Gresham. Bailey got into a heated exchange with Bully Ray at one point, but ultimately his team fell short.
Last week on the 6/22 episode of IMPACTonAXSTV, Mike Bailey teamed with Jonathan Gresham to wrestle and defeat The Design (Big Kon & Alan Angels) when Deaner argued with Angels and caused a distraction. Bailey hit Angels with a Tornado Kick and then followed it up with an Ultima Weapon from the middle rope.
This past weekend, Mike Bailey wrestled New Japan Pro Wrestling talent Kevin Knight. That match will air sometime over the next few weeks.
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