Mike Bailey has never been one for nostalgia — and in a new interview with Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp, the “Speedball” explained why. Asked to reflect on his career, Bailey pointed not to a single title win or moment, but to something more personal: constant progress.
Mike Bailey (Credits: Fightful)
The interview circled around Bailey’s acclaimed first meeting with Mustafa Ali, which took place back in February 2024 at Prestige Wrestling’s A Moment Of Violence show in Los Angeles. The bout became an instant indie classic — and it launched a program the two carried all the way into TNA Wrestling, including a standout X-Division Championship match in Montreal with legendary referee Earl Hebner.
“I think my greatest accomplishment in pro wrestling is constant progress and I always think that my best match is my last match,” Bailey said.
“Raw Pro Wrestling”
What made the first Bailey vs. Ali encounter special, in his telling, was its freedom. Wrestling for the first time together on an independent show meant little to no restrictions — and the result was a very long main event built on pure chemistry.
“We were just able to go out there and have a very long match caring about absolutely nothing, but just having a banger. That’s I think why it was so well received,” he said, acknowledging there are “loads of disadvantages” to being off television — but also a certain advantage that nights like that one prove.
Bailey also touched on his trademark barefoot style, breaking down the pros and cons of wrestling without boots. Fans can catch the full interview in the video at the top of Fightful’s article.
For Bailey, the philosophy is simple: every match is a chance to be better than the last. On that measure, his best days may still be ahead.
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Source: Fightful — read the full story there.
