Mike Bailey Reveals He Was Initially Hesitant About Joining the United Empire

During a recent interview with Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp, AEW star Speedball Mike Bailey spoke about joining the United Empire on AEW Dynamite last month and his initial hesitancy in joining another group. Below are some highlights:

Mike Bailey on His Hesitancy in Joining the United Empire

“There was some hesitation in joining a group once again. I think AEW has a lot of factions and it is interesting to be a lone wolf, but obviously, I think those groups tend to drag each other up, which is great. However, the last team I was in did not end very well. So having been hurt in the past, there was some hesitation, but when I talked about it with Will and saw the other members that were in it—I think Andrade is absolutely a top star in AEW right now. There is no doubt about it. He is doing his best work, and it’s amazing to watch him being a part of the United Empire.”

His Thoughts on Will Ospreay

“Will Ospreay, I was thinking back when it was brought up to his match with Kenny Omega at All In, which I was completely blown away watching, thinking not only this is the best pro wrestling that we have ever seen, this is some of the greatest stuff in history that I am seeing being written before my eyes, but also thinking this is exactly where I believe I belong. I want to prove that, and I want to get there, and I know that I can reach that level, and who better to take me there than Will Ospreay.”

Mike Bailey recently won a Clockwork Carnage Qualifying match against Lee Moriarty on the Grand Slam France edition of AEW Collision. He now moves on to the Clockwork Carnage match for the AEW World Title at WrestleDream 2026 on October 17.