AEW star “Speedball” Mike Bailey has opened up about his decision to sign with the company, citing AEW’s continued global expansion as a primary reason for joining the promotion. In a new interview, Bailey explained that having a home base with a worldwide reach has given his career a clearer trajectory and is helping him achieve his goal of becoming a global star.
Mike Bailey on the Benefits of a “Home Promotion”
Speaking with Fightful’s Luis Pulido, Mike Bailey, who officially signed with AEW in February, discussed how his career has changed since joining a major national promotion. For years, Bailey was one of the most celebrated and sought-after independent wrestlers in the world, competing for dozens of promotions across the globe. He explained that while that freedom was great, being signed to AEW has given him a new sense of comfort and direction.
“It feels a lot more comfortable, and I feel like my career has a lot more of a direct trajectory now that I work for one promotion and that one promotion has global reach,” Bailey said.
While he still competes for partner promotions like CMLL, having AEW as his home has allowed him to focus his efforts and build a more cohesive career path.
The Importance of AEW’s Global Reach
For Bailey, a key factor in his decision was AEW’s aggressive global expansion. He praised the company’s efforts to run shows in major international markets, which aligns perfectly with his own personal goals as a performer.
“I think the global expansion of AEW has been fantastic to watch, going to Australia last year, doing more and more shows in Canada, coming to the UK with Forbidden Door this month, and then coming to Elena, Mexico earlier in the year,” he said. “The global expansion of AEW is part of the reason why I joined the company. I don’t want ‘Speedball’ Mike Bailey to exist in only one country. I want ‘Speedball’ Mike Bailey to be known all around the world, and I feel like the best way for me to achieve that right now is with a company like AEW.”
A Busy International Schedule
Since joining AEW, Mike Bailey has already taken advantage of the company’s international partnerships. He has become a regular competitor for the legendary Mexican promotion, CMLL, where his exciting, high-flying style has made him a fan favorite. His upcoming participation in the prestigious CMLL International Grand Prix tournament is a perfect example of the unique opportunities that his AEW contract provides. By performing on major shows in the United States, Mexico, and beyond, all under the AEW banner, Bailey is quickly achieving his goal of becoming a truly international star. His tag team, JetSpeed, with partner Kevin Knight, was also recently featured in the AEW World Tag Team Title Eliminator Tournament.
While he is still relatively new to the company, Mike Bailey has already made a significant impact in All Elite Wrestling. His unique, martial arts-inspired offense and incredible athleticism make him a standout performer on any card. With the global platform of AEW behind him, “Speedball” is poised to become a household name for wrestling fans all over the world, just as he envisioned.
H/T to Fightful for the transcription. Thanks for checking out this article. Make sure to follow Jeff Jarrett and all things GFE on Facebook.