Coming off a strong end to 2023, Mike Bailey looks forward to the new year.
Mike Bailey is signed to IMPACT, and he continues to compete throughout the independent scene. He faced Will Ospreay in a buzzworthy match at IMPACT Bound For Glory, and Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer gave the bout a five-star rating. This marked IMPACT's highest-rated match since 2005.
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.
Bailey signed with IMPACT in October 2021 and debuted at IMPACT Hard To Kill 2022. During his time with the company, he has won the IMPACT X-Division Championship.
Fightful will provide more information about Mike Bailey's contract status as it becomes available.
Zack Sabre Jr. recently commented on his win over Mike Bailey and questioned his mullet. Check out his comments here.
Bailey previously described what wrestling is all about to him. Click here to see what he had to say.
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