Speedball Mike Bailey has offered an honest assessment of his loss to Ilja Dragunov on the October 21 edition of AEW Dynamite, balancing admiration for his opponent’s arrival with frustration over another missed opportunity to move closer to a singles championship.
Dragunov made his AEW in-ring debut against Bailey in a matchup that immediately placed the newly arrived wrestler opposite one of the company’s most dynamic and respected in-ring performers. Bailey was the first man tasked with welcoming Dragunov into AEW competition, but he was unable to secure the victory.
Speaking on his vlog after the match, Bailey did not hide his disappointment. At the same time, he made clear that he saw the bout as an important moment for AEW and for Dragunov, whose hard-hitting style has made him one of wrestling’s most distinctive competitors.
“F***,” Bailey said while reflecting on the result. “And I have been thinking a lot about Wednesday. Good match, you know, good times. I got exactly what I wanted, which is yet another one of the world’s best wrestlers finally where the best wrestle. Shout out to Ilja. He f***ing brought it. He’s going to do amazing, and I’m very excited to see where this goes in the next couple months.”
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That reaction captures the difficult position Bailey finds himself in. The match with Dragunov was a major showcase against an elite opponent, and Bailey was unequivocal in his belief that Dragunov belongs in AEW. But showcase matches and strong performances do not necessarily satisfy a wrestler whose stated goal remains winning a singles championship.
Bailey has developed a reputation for approaching every contest with remarkable intensity, whether he is involved in a title match, a tournament situation, or a one-on-one encounter designed to test him against another world-class athlete. His match with Dragunov fit that pattern. It gave him a chance to compete with a wrestler widely regarded as one of the industry’s toughest and most physical performers, but the outcome added to a growing list of close calls in Bailey’s AEW singles career.
Respect for Dragunov, Frustration for Bailey
There is no bitterness in Bailey’s appraisal of Dragunov. Instead, he credited his opponent for delivering on the expectations surrounding his debut and expressed anticipation about what Dragunov can accomplish over the coming months. For Bailey, the arrival of another wrestler operating at that level is a positive for the AEW locker room and for the audience.
Still, Bailey’s comments also showed how taxing repeated defeats can become, even when they come in acclaimed matches against formidable opposition. He explained that he believes AEW viewers recognize the quality of his work and understand how close he comes to winning against top competition. Yet recognition alone is not the same as holding a championship.
“As for myself, I am where I usually am, you know? I feel like great performances aren’t lost on the AEW audience. And it’s not because I don’t win a match that people don’t notice that I come close to winning, that I put on a great performance, that I go out there and give it my all with some of the world’s best wrestlers. But man, it gets tiring, you know?”
It is a particularly candid statement from a competitor who has consistently been able to turn difficult circumstances into memorable performances. Bailey is not suggesting that his efforts have gone unnoticed, nor is he dismissing the importance of getting to wrestle names such as Dragunov. Rather, he is acknowledging the gap between being respected as a standout performer and reaching the championship milestone he has been chasing.
For many wrestlers, an impressive loss can keep their momentum alive. Bailey recognizes that reality. A great performance can strengthen a wrestler’s standing with fans, reinforce their durability, and establish that they belong with the promotion’s leading names. But after a number of near-misses, Bailey’s response reflects a natural desire for those performances to lead to a decisive breakthrough.
A History of Near-Misses in AEW Singles Competition
Bailey is a former AEW Trios Champion, meaning his time in the company has already included championship success. However, the singles prize that he wants remains out of reach. He has received opportunities to challenge for several major titles and has been unable to convert any of them into a reign.
Among the championships Bailey has pursued are the AEW World Championship, TNT Championship, National Championship, and International Championship. Each chance has represented an opening to change the direction of his AEW run, but each has ended with Bailey still searching for the victory that could put a singles title around his waist.
The list itself underlines Bailey’s position in the company. He has been trusted with high-level opponents and placed in matches with meaningful stakes. A wrestler does not repeatedly receive opportunities across that range of championships without being viewed as capable of competing at a high standard. Yet the distinction between competing for titles and winning them has become central to Bailey’s current story.
His defeat to Dragunov was not described as a title match, but it carries a similar emotional weight because of what it represented. Bailey entered the bout against a debuting wrestler with considerable attention surrounding him. A win would have been a major statement and could have positioned Bailey as the man who stopped Dragunov’s momentum before it began. Instead, Dragunov left with the victory, while Bailey was left to assess another performance that earned praise without delivering the result he wanted.
Bailey Refuses to Abandon the Goal
Despite the fatigue he expressed, Bailey has not changed course. He said he has come to terms with where he currently stands and remains committed to pursuing a singles championship in AEW. The setbacks have not convinced him to lower his ambitions or to treat strong performances as a substitute for winning.
That determination has long been a defining feature of Bailey’s identity as a wrestler. His willingness to engage any opponent and his ability to maintain an aggressive, high-energy approach have made him a constant threat, even in defeat. The loss to Dragunov may have added another disappointment to his record, but Bailey’s own words suggest it has not lessened his confidence that he can eventually climb the ladder.
He intends to keep pushing toward that objective regardless of how long the pursuit takes. That matters because Bailey is not framing the chase as a short-term demand or an entitlement. He understands that the AEW singles divisions are full of elite competition, and his comments acknowledge both the value of facing the best wrestlers in the world and the difficulty of overcoming them.
At the same time, Bailey’s statement is a reminder that perseverance is not effortless. A wrestler can appreciate the quality of an opponent, take pride in a well-received match, and still feel the sting of coming up short. Bailey expressed all three emotions after facing Dragunov: enthusiasm for AEW’s newest in-ring presence, pride in taking part in a significant match, and exhaustion from again falling just short of victory.
What Comes Next
Dragunov’s successful debut has created immediate interest in where his AEW run will go next, and Bailey expects him to do “amazing” as he finds his place in the promotion over the months ahead. Meanwhile, Bailey’s attention remains fixed on the same objective that has driven him through previous setbacks: becoming an AEW singles champion.
The October 21 result did not bring Bailey closer to that destination in the most direct sense. But it also did not remove him from the conversation. His record of competing closely with top-level opponents, combined with his willingness to keep returning after disappointment, ensures that another major opportunity could emerge.
For now, Bailey has made his position clear. He respects Ilja Dragunov, believes the match was good, and welcomes another exceptional wrestler to AEW. He also wants more than applause for a valiant effort. Bailey wants the championship victory that has eluded him, and he has no intention of stopping until he gets another chance to earn it.
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Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.