Mike Bailey is a former IMPACT X Division Champion who’s going into his “contract year” with the company, soon to be rebranded TNA Wrestling.
Mike Bailey literally signed his contract with IMPACT Wrestling on the back of Josh Alexander in 2021 at a Destiny Wrestling show.
Speaking to Denise Salcedo of Instinct Culture, Bailey was asked to name his favorite matches from the past year, and he highlighted his match against Ospreay.
“I make a real effort, and I remember, honestly, if you tell me a match from this year, I can probably tell you most of it, at least the structure and how it went down and the moves and everything. But my memory is very good. So I got to wrestle this year once again, some of the greatest pro wrestlers of all time, and I don’t say that lightly. I think that pro wrestling right now is the best it’s ever been. I got to be in the BOLA Finals and beat Konosuke Takeshita, who also, much like me, was the greatest wrestler in the world. I said it about him in 2016, I think, and now people are finally starting to believe it. I got to have another match with Will Ospreay. I got to wrestle Alec Price. I got to wrestle Bryan Keith, and he is also someone who hopefully it doesn’t take much longer, and very soon people will be saying he is one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. But that match with Will Ospreay really stands out. According to Dave Meltzer, at least, it is the greatest match that I’ve ever had,” Bailey said.
Bailey was also asked to share his thoughts on his match against Ospreay being rated so highly by Dave Meltzer. Bailey noted that ending the year on a high note was good for him and IMPACT. Bailey also stated that he is going into his contract year with a lot of momentum.
“A lot of people value his opinion, and I think that IMPACT right now, going into TNA, is in a great place, and I think that I am closing off this year, I just finished my second year with IMPACT, end it on such a high note that’s good for myself, but good for the direction in which IMPACT is going and what’s coming up next. It is the highest-rated match in IMPACT/TNA history since Joe/AJ/Daniels in 2005. That is the year, 2005, I was 15 years old, and j had just started going into pro wrestling. That match, I saw it and I was like, ‘Oh, this is the kind of wrestling I want to do.’ Now to have an official marker of, the wrestling you wanted to do and the level you wanted to be at, you’re it. That’s it. Time to go. I’ve been in IMPACT for two years now, heading into my third year. We’re TNA, we’re back. Things are changing. This is momentum, I think is the word I can use, that describes it the best. I’m going into my contract year with all the momentum in the world, and I am ready to do big things with IMPACT in 2024,” Bailey said.
H/T Colin Tessier & Denise Salcedo for Fightful.
Full interview:
Bailey has had some amazing matches with opponents such as: Josh Alexander, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Lio Rush, Hiromu Takahashi, Jonathan Gresham, Will Ospreay, Zack Sabre Jr, to name a few.
The Will Ospreay match at Bound For Glory has been the most notable of the group so far, receiving 5 stars from Wrestling Observer owner Dave Meltzer – the first one in the company since 2005.
I’m sure 2024 will welcome many more great matches for Bailey.
Head over to shopimpact.com for your official Mike Bailey & TNA Wrestling merchandise.
Make sure you watch all the stars of TNA/IMPACT WRESTLING EVERY Thursday!
-IMPACT Plus App
-AXSTV in USA
-Fight Network in CANADA
-DAZN for international fans sign up here (includes BTI pre-show, weekly IMPACTonAXSTV episode, LIVE monthly specials, 4 flagship PPVs, + footage from the library)
-Become a YouTube Insider HERE and subscribe.
- Insider is $1.49/month. (includes weekly show)
- Ultimate Insider is $6.99/month. (includes weekly show w/ live chat, exclusive series, live monthly specials, and old content)
#IMPACTonAXSTV
Follow Gerard at @BearDown316 on Twitter
If you enjoy Bodyslam’s content, you can help donate to the site here. You can also visit our PWTees store and buy Bodyslam official merchandise here.
You can listen to all of Bodyslam’s podcasts by following us on Spotify and subscribing to our YouTube Channel, or any of your favorite podcast platforms.
Be sure to check out Bodyslam.Net for all of your pro wrestling and MMA news!