IMPACT Star Reflects On Five Year Ban From The US

Impact Wrestling

An IMPACT Wrestling star was banned from entering the United States in 2016 due to not having the correct working visa.

The impact on “Speedball” Mike Bailey’s career meant that he wasn’t able to get seen by the people who could shape his career.

Speaking on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Bailey reflected on the plan and the aftermath of the ban, saying:

“The plan at the time was, you know, I am finally wrestling in front of people [in the United States] that could make decisions and could change my career.

“If you look at everyone that was on those PWG [Pro Wrestling Guerrilla] shows with me in that period, most of them went to ‘NXT’ or New Japan, or are now in AEW.

“So to go from the realization that that’s not going to happen for you, at least not for five years, is, of course, very difficult to deal with.”

Bailey wouldn’t abandon his dreams of success just because he was banned from the United States.

He would regularly perform for wrestling companies in Canada, Japan, Europe and the United Kingdom.

When the ban ended, he would sign a contract with Impact Wrestling.

He made his debut in January 2022 at Hard to Kill and has since become the Impact X Division Champion.

Transcript from Wrestling Inc.

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• Speedball Mike Bailey
• Impact Wrestling

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