WWE reportedly interested in 33-year-old star from rival promotion
WWE officials are constantly looking to improve the roster by signing the next big thing or one of the many established free agents. Multiple companies are reportedly interested in signing a veteran star when he enters free agency.
Mike Bailey began wrestling in 2006. The Canadian grappler wrestled around the world and found success with promotions such as PWG, PROGRESS Wrestling, and CZW, among others. He signed with TNA on Halloween 2021 and has been with the promotion since, while also debuting for NJPW in 2023.
Speedball's TNA contract was renewed in 2022, and now it is scheduled to expire at the end of this year. It was recently reported on Fightful Select that Bailey is expected to have interest from WWE as well as AEW.
While it's too early for any negotiations with either WWE or AEW, due to his contract status, sources say the former Impact X-Division Champion definitely has supporters in both companies. TNA is also expected to have interest in re-signing the 33-year-old.
It was also reported that Bailey's TNA contract does not have the one-year option for an extension, as many talents do. This legal option is what led to TNA keeping Josh Alexander under contract until at least February 2025.
Mike Bailey on being influenced by WWE Superstar AJ Styles
AJ Styles is a top WWE Superstar with a lengthy career filled with international success. The Phenomenal One made his name in TNA from 2002-2014.
AJ was the inaugural X-Division Champion for TNA, and he held the title a total of six times. The fast-paced action of the division made an impact on pro wrestling in the early 2000s and is still a fan-favorite today. Mike Bailey watched the product growing up, as a fan and was immensely impressed.
Speaking to Sportskeeda Wrestling's WrestleBinge several months ago, Speedball talked about watching names like Styles and Low-Ki, among others, and how he decided then that he wanted to be a pro wrestler.
"I was sort of watching wrestling for a long time when I saw something like the X-Division. My vision then of who I would be as a professional wrestler became very different, and when I saw the guys that were in the X-Division, like Amazing Red, AJ Styles, Low Ki, Jerry Lynn, is when I was like, 'Oh, this is what I exactly want to do.' And at the time, they were absolutely at the forefront of professional wrestling," said Mike Bailey. [From 8:08 onward]
Bailey continued to praise the X-Division style of wrestling. He commented on why he thinks this is the most popular style of wrestling these days.