Mike Bailey

Early Career and Independent Circuit (2006 to 2020)

Mike Bailey began his professional wrestling career in 2006, initially performing under the ring name Mike Sydal before adopting the moniker "Speedball" Mike Bailey. He developed his skills on the Canadian independent scene, becoming a central performer for promotions like International Wrestling Syndicate (IWS) and Capital City Championship Combat (C4). His early success included winning the C4 Tag Team Championship with Kevin Steen in 2011 and capturing the C4 Championship in 2013. Bailey's reputation grew in 2014 when he won the prestigious IWS World Heavyweight Championship for the first time, establishing himself as a top talent in Canada. Between 2014 and 2016, he expanded his reach internationally, competing for prominent promotions such as Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW), Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG), Revolution Pro Wrestling (RevPro), and Westside Xtreme Wrestling (wXw). He challenged for championships across North America and Europe during this period, building a global fanbase.

In 2015, Bailey reached the final of the PWG Battle of Los Angeles tournament, a notable achievement that highlighted his skills on a major stage. However, his momentum in the United States was abruptly halted in early 2016 when he was barred from entering the country for five years due to visa issues. This forced a strategic change, leading Bailey to focus his efforts on promotions in Canada, Europe, and Japan. From 2016 through 2020, he remained a highly active and sought-after performer across the globe. He competed regularly for RevPro, wXw, Progress Wrestling, and Ring of Honor (ROH), while also maintaining a strong presence in his home country with IWS. During this period, he captured the SWE Tag Team Championship alongside Mao and continued to be a featured attraction in numerous tournaments and championship matches. He also won the 2019 Northern Tournament for Smash Wrestling and the 2016 Standing 8 Tournament for North Shore Pro Wrestling during these years on the independents.

International Success in Japan and Mexico

Bailey's technical prowess and athletic style were effective in major international promotions. He debuted for DDT Pro-Wrestling on August 1, 2016, for the Tavern Pro Wrestling brand, losing to Isami Kodaka. He quickly found success, winning the 2016 DNA Grand Prix tournament by defeating Kazusada Higuchi in the final. His victory earned him a one-way plane ticket to New York, which he famously refused and gave to Higuchi. Bailey captured championship gold in DDT on two occasions, winning the KO-D Tag Team Championship first with Konosuke Takeshita on December 4, 2016, and later with Mao on July 22, 2018. He also held the comedic Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship, which he won from Konosuke Takeshita on November 30, 2018. His tenure in DDT lasted until 2020 and included several challenges for the promotion's top singles title, the KO-D Openweight Championship, against Konosuke Takeshita in 2017 and Harashima in 2019.

In 2023, Bailey entered New Japan Pro-Wrestling's prestigious Best of the Super Juniors 30 tournament, competing in the A Block. He topped the block with 14 points, a run that included a victory over IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Hiromu Takahashi, before being eliminated in the semi-finals by Master Wato. Later that year on August 19, he won the All Star Jr. Festival USA tournament in Philadelphia by defeating Francesco Akira and Kevin Knight. Bailey also challenged for top titles in NJPW, facing Hiromu Takahashi and YOH in a three-way match for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship on October 9, 2023, and challenging Zack Sabre Jr. for the NJPW World Television Championship on November 10, 2023. His work in Mexico for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) began on August 29, 2025, at the International Grand Prix where he lasted until the final two before being eliminated by Místico. On December 19, 2025, he unsuccessfully challenged Máscara Dorada for the NWA World Historic Light Heavyweight Championship at Dream Match Friday.

Tenure in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling

Mike Bailey signed with Impact Wrestling, later known as Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), in October 2021 after a match against Josh Alexander at a Destiny Wrestling event. The contract was offered by Impact executive Scott D'Amore. He made his official debut on the Hard To Kill pre-show, winning a four-way match against Ace Austin, Laredo Kid, and Chris Bey. Bailey's run in TNA was defined by his dominance of the X Division, a style perfectly suited to his high-speed offence. He captured the TNA X Division Championship for the first time on June 19, 2022, by winning a six-man Ultimate X match at Slammiversary against Ace Austin, Alex Zayne, Andrew Everett, Kenny King, and Trey Miguel. He successfully defended the title against Trey Miguel at Against All Odds, against Jack Evans at Emergence, and against Delirious at Victory Road before losing it to Frankie Kazarian at Bound for Glory later that year.

Bailey's second reign began when he defeated Mustafa Ali at Slammiversary 2023, but he lost the title shortly after to Zachary Wentz in an Ultimate X match at Emergence. He reclaimed the championship for a third time by defeating Wentz at Victory Road on September 13, 2023. This final reign included a successful title defence against El Hijo del Vikingo at Bound for Glory 2023. Bailey ultimately lost the X Division Championship to Moose on the November 7, 2023 episode of Impact!. His contract with TNA expired shortly thereafter, and his profile was removed from the company's website, concluding his three-year tenure with the promotion. During his time there, he also received multiple Impact Year End Awards, including X Division Star of the Year in 2022 and 2023, and Match of the Year awards for his bout with Josh Alexander in 2022 and his match with Will Ospreay at Bound for Glory 2023.

All Elite Wrestling Career

Mike Bailey's arrival in All Elite Wrestling was teased with a video on the February 22, 2025 episode of Collision. He made his in-ring debut on the March 12 episode of Dynamite, defeating The Beast Mortos in the semi-final of the AEW International Championship eliminator tournament. He advanced to a four-way final where both he and Ricochet pinned Mark Davis to win, leading to a three-way title challenge against Kenny Omega at Dynasty on April 6, which Omega won. Bailey later challenged unsuccessfully for the AEW Continental Championship against Kazuchika Okada at Double or Nothing in May 2025. Following this, he formed the tag team JetSpeed with Kevin Knight. The team quickly ascended to championship contention, challenging for the AEW World Tag Team Championship at both All In on July 12 and All Out on September 20 in 2025, though they did not win either match.

Bailey also entered the 2025 Continental Classic tournament in the Gold League, finishing with 6 points but failing to advance to the semi-finals. In January 2026, JetSpeed teamed with "Hangman" Adam Page to defeat The Opps (Samoa Joe, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Katsuyori Shibata) at a Collision taping to win the AEW World Trios Championship, marking Bailey's first title win in AEW. The trio, dubbed Jet Set Rodeo, lost the titles 49 days later to the Don Callis Family (Kazuchika Okada, Kyle Fletcher, and Mark Davis) on the March 4, 2026 episode of Dynamite. JetSpeed, now partnering with the luchador Místico, regained the trios titles at Revolution on March 15, 2026, making Bailey a two-time champion. This second reign ended 25 days later when they lost to The Dogs (David Finlay, Clark Connors, and Gabe Kidd) on April 11, 2026. After JetSpeed disbanded due to Knight turning heel, Bailey continued as a singles competitor, unsuccessfully challenging Darby Allin for the AEW World Championship on May 20, 2026, and later challenging Knight for the AEW TNT Championship.

On July 26, 2026, Bailey won a six-way ladder match at the Redemption event in Montreal to earn a shot at the AEW International Championship, which he lost to Kyle Fletcher at Grand Slam Mexico on August 5. He later competed in the Casino Gauntlet match at All In on August 30, which was won by Andrade El Ídolo. On the September 23, 2026 episode of Dynamite, Bailey joined the AEW branch of the United Empire stable led by Will Ospreay. At Grand Slam France on October 6, he defeated Lee Moriarty to qualify for the Clockwork Carnage match for the AEW World Championship at WrestleDream on October 17, where he was eliminated in the first stage by Konosuke Takeshita.

Championships and Accomplishments

Mike Bailey has won championships and tournaments in many promotions around the world. He is a former two-time AEW World Trios Champion and a three-time TNA X Division Champion. He has also held the IWS World Heavyweight Championship twice and the KO-D Tag Team Championship twice. His tournament wins include Combat Zone Wrestling's Best of the Best in 2015, DDT Pro-Wrestling's DNA Grand Prix in 2016, Revolution Pro Wrestling's British J-Cup in 2021, and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla's Battle of Los Angeles in 2023.

• AEW World Trios Championship (2 times), with Adam Page and Kevin Knight (1), and with Kevin Knight and Místico (1).
• TNA/Impact X Division Championship (3 times), first reign began June 2022, third reign ended November 2023.
• IWS World Heavyweight Championship (2 times), first won in 2014, regained in 2021.
• KO-D Tag Team Championship (2 times), with Konosuke Takeshita (2016) and with Mao (2018).
• Pro Wrestling Guerrilla Battle of Los Angeles, tournament winner in 2023, defeating Jordynne Grace, Shun Skywalker, Bryan Keith, and Konosuke Takeshita.
• Combat Zone Wrestling Best of the Best 14, tournament winner in 2015.
• DDT Pro-Wrestling DNA Grand Prix, tournament winner in 2016. Also won the 2019 Grand Sumo Tournament in DDT.
• Revolution Pro Wrestling British J-Cup, tournament winner in 2021.
• New Japan Pro-Wrestling All Star Jr. Festival USA, tournament winner in 2023.
• C4 Championship (2 times) & C4 Tag Team Championship (1 time), with Kevin Steen. Also won the 2014 Snowbrawl Tournament for C4.

Beyond these major honours, Bailey has held titles in promotions such as Attack! Pro Wrestling (Attack! 24:7 Championship twice), Deadlock Pro-Wrestling (DPW Worlds Tag Team Championship with Jake Something), Hogtown Pro Wrestling (HPW Openweight Championship), and Smash Wrestling. He won the Pandemonium Pro Championship and the 2023 Rumble Riot for Pandemonium: Pro Wrestling. He also held the CRW ITV Championship, the Monteregie Wrestling Federation Junior, Regional, and Tag Team Championships, and the Strongest-K Tag Team Championship with Mao in Kaientai Dojo. He was ranked No. 30 in the Pro Wrestling Illustrated PWI 500 in 2022 and won four Impact Year End Awards.

Personal Life and Public Profile

Émile Baillargeon-Laberge is publicly non-binary and uses both he/him and they/them pronouns, making him a visible LGBTQ figure in professional wrestling. He became the first out LGBTQ singles champion in TNA history during his X Division reigns and remains the only gender-diverse wrestler to have held championship gold in AEW as of 2026. He got engaged to American professional wrestler and commentator Veda Scott in November 2020, and the couple married in May 2022. A significant personal and professional challenge arose in March 2016 when the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported he had been arrested while attempting to enter the United States for an Evolve wrestling event, resulting in a five-year ban from the country. This visa issue forced him to restructure his career trajectory, focusing on markets outside the U.S. during that period.

Bailey's career and persona were the subject of the documentary film Keep It Kayfabe, which had its world premiere at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2025. As a French-Canadian from Laval, Quebec, he holds a significant place as one of the most prominent Quebecois wrestlers in AEW, a point he highlighted when performing at the Centre Bell in Montreal for the first time in July 2026. He has also contributed to the wrestling community as a coach, having been part of the training staff at the IWS Training Centre before moving to the United States and frequently teaching seminars to aspiring wrestlers. In a 2026 interview with La Presse, he discussed the realities of working for a major promotion like AEW, noting the rotational nature of storylines and expressing confidence that his time in main event positions would come.

Career Statistics and Tournament Record

Mike Bailey has a strong history in tournament wrestling. He won the 2023 Battle of Los Angeles tournament by defeating Jordynne Grace, Shun Skywalker, Bryan Keith, and Konosuke Takeshita. He also won the 2021 British J-Cup for Revolution Pro Wrestling. In New Japan Pro-Wrestling, he won the 2023 All Star Jr. Festival USA tournament. He reached the final of the 2015 PWG Battle of Los Angeles and the 2022 edition before winning it in 2023. He topped his block in the 2023 Best of the Super Juniors but lost in the semi-finals.

This record confirms Bailey's standing as a tournament specialist, capable of stringing together multiple victories against top competition. His wins in diverse styles of tournaments, from the hardcore-oriented CZW Best of the Best to the junior heavyweight-focused NJPW events, highlight his adaptability. Beyond tournaments, his championship reigns across multiple promotions further quantify a career defined by winning at every level. For example, his 2023 PWG Battle of Los Angeles win earned him a PWG World Championship match against Daniel Garcia, which he lost in sudden-death overtime after a sixty-minute Iron Man match.

Style and Influence

Mike Bailey is renowned for a wrestling style that blends exceptional speed, agility, and striking technique, which earned him the "Speedball" nickname. His background as a Taekwondo black belt is evident in his repertoire, which features a high volume of rapid kicks, flying knees, and fluid aerial manoeuvres. This approach made him a natural fit for the X Division in TNA, where the emphasis is on fast-paced, innovative action, and for junior heavyweight divisions in Japan. His matches are characterized by a relentless pace and a capacity for performing complex sequences that require precise timing and athleticism. Bailey has stated that the moves he performs are techniques he has trained extensively, contributing to the realistic impact of his in-ring work.

His influence extends beyond his in-ring performances to his role as a representative for LGBTQ athletes in professional wrestling. By being openly non-binary and successful at the highest levels of major promotions like AEW and TNA, Bailey has provided visibility and representation in a industry where such identities have historically been rare. His championship victories as an out performer are landmark achievements. His international career path, built by working through visa issues and establishing a reputation across Canada, Europe, Japan, and Mexico before breaking into the American mainstream, demonstrates perseverance for independent wrestlers. His teaching at seminars and his former coaching role at the IWS Training Centre in Montreal also indicate a commitment to passing on his knowledge to the next generation of Canadian talent.

Questions about Mike Bailey

What is Mike Bailey's real name?

Mike Bailey's real name is Émile Charles Baillargeon-Laberge. He was born on July 16, 1990, in Laval, Quebec. He performs under the ring name "Speedball" Mike Bailey, a moniker that reflects his fast-paced, high-energy wrestling style. The nickname "Speedball" has become synonymous with his dynamic in-ring performances.

How many times has Mike Bailey won the AEW World Trios Championship?

Mike Bailey is a two-time AEW World Trios Champion. His first reign began in January 2026 when he and Kevin Knight, as JetSpeed, teamed with Adam Page to win the titles from The Opps. His second reign started in March 2026 at the Revolution pay-per-view, where JetSpeed partnered with the luchador Místico to defeat the Don Callis Family and recapture the championships. Each reign lasted less than two months.

What championships did Mike Bailey hold in TNA/Impact Wrestling?

In TNA/Impact Wrestling, Mike Bailey was a three-time X Division Champion. He first won the title in June 2022 in an Ultimate X match at Slammiversary. He regained the championship twice in 2023, with his third and final reign ending in November of that year when he lost to Moose on television. These reigns established him as a central figure in the division known for its fast-paced, high-flying action.

Why was Mike Bailey banned from the United States?

Mike Bailey was banned from entering the United States for five years starting in March 2016 due to lacking a proper work visa. This ban was reported by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter after he was arrested while attempting to enter the country to compete for Evolve. At the time, he was in the process of obtaining a visa through Combat Zone Wrestling, but the process was moving extremely slowly. As a direct result of this travel restriction, Bailey focused his wrestling career primarily on promotions in Canada and Europe for the duration of the ban. This period saw him become a featured performer in companies like Revolution Pro Wrestling and wXw.

Is Mike Bailey a member of the LGBTQ community?

Yes, Mike Bailey is a member of the LGBTQ community as a non-binary individual. Bailey uses both he/him and they/them pronouns. He got engaged to American professional wrestler Veda Scott in November 2020, and the couple were married in May 2022. Bailey holds the distinction of being the first out LGBTQ singles champion in TNA Wrestling history during his X Division Championship reigns. Bailey remains the only gender diverse pro wrestler to have held championship gold in All Elite Wrestling's history up to the point noted in the records.

What major independent wrestling tournaments has Mike Bailey won?

Mike Bailey has won numerous prestigious independent wrestling tournaments throughout his career. His tournament victories include winning Combat Zone Wrestling's Best of the Best in 2015 and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla's Battle of Los Angeles in 2023. He also triumphed in DDT Pro-Wrestling's DNA Grand Prix in 2016 and Revolution Pro Wrestling's British J-Cup in 2021. Bailey won New Japan Pro-Wrestling's All Star Jr. Festival USA tournament in 2023. These accomplishments highlight his success across multiple prominent independent and international promotions, solidifying his reputation as a top competitor.

Sources and further reading

• Mike Bailey (Wikipedia)
• AEW star 'Speedball' Mike Bailey made history again at ... (outsports.com)
• L'escale montréalaise de Speedball Mike Bailey (lapresse.ca)

Checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-29.