They’ve been one of the crucial exciting talents in skilled wrestling for the past decade, competing in nearly every independent promotion you’ll be able to consider, in addition to making name for themselves in Latest Japan Pro Wrestling, DDT, and PWG, but now “Speedball” Mike Bailey is in All Elite Wrestling and what a debut that they had.
The previous TNA X-Division Champion (yes, in addition they made a big effect there as well … no pun intended) arrived because the wildcard entrant within the AEW International Champion Eliminator Tournament, being pitted against The Beast Mortos, and so far as debuts go, this went in addition to any debut could possibly go. On the entire, Bailey showed enough of themselves to the AEW audience to get enthusiastic about, while also not showing their full hand quite yet as those that have followed “Speedball’s” profession know that they’ll do insane things involving kicks, flips, and kicking while flipping.
It must even be said that flowers must be given to Mortos as well, a person (or beast, whatever he prefers) who has recurrently grow to be a member of the AEW roster that Tony Khan can turn to for a reliable in-ring hand that’s guaranteed to get themselves over, even in defeat. Due to that, this match was loads more evenly contested than some might need suspected with a brand new signee. Sometimes, the one that is debuting gets the overwhelming majority of the offense to showcase what they’ll do, but Bailey gave Mortos good enough on this one for the luchador to get strong reactions of his own. Despite the result never being in any doubt, Bailey is finally in AEW after months of speculation, and the query of where he goes after this week is a really interesting one.
On the one hand, putting Bailey on this tournament is an ideal way of showcasing what they’re made from against a number of solid names in a brief space of time, and is a straightforward way of getting them on the pay-per-view. However, the pay-per-view match is against Kenny Omega, who has just won the AEW International Championship and is not going to be dropping that title any time soon. You don’t need to have Bailey beaten immediately, but you do not need Omega to drop the title when there are greater fish to fry later down the road, and yes we’re taking a look at your AEW Continental Championship Kazuchika Okada.
Overall, it would be interesting to see where Bailey goes on their AEW journey, especially within the immediate future. They’re a welcome addition to the roster, and is greater than unique enough to develop a robust following with an audience that buy in to performers who aren’t your stereotypical wrestlers, lots of whom will find yourself having a few of their best matches with Bailey because they’re able to doing that. “Speedball” has an especially high ceiling in AEW, so let’s examine how far they’ll go.
Written by Sam Palmer
