Mike Bailey has found early momentum since aligning himself with United Empire in AEW, but the decision was not one he made without reservations.
“Speedball” joined the group on the September 23 edition of AEW Dynamite, a development that caught many fans by surprise. Since becoming part of United Empire, Bailey has remained undefeated in competition. While the immediate results have been positive, Bailey has made clear that joining another unit required him to work through some understandable hesitation.
In a recent interview, Bailey discussed the appeal of standing on his own in an AEW landscape full of alliances, factions, teams, and shifting partnerships. He also explained why United Empire, particularly the opportunity to share a group with Will Ospreay and Andrade, ultimately changed his mind.
Bailey was wary of joining another team
AEW has long been a promotion where groups can shape the direction of a wrestler’s career. A strong faction can offer protection, establish immediate rivalries, create opportunities for tags and multi-person matches, and give a performer a clearer presence on weekly television. At the same time, being attached to a group can limit the perception of a wrestler as an independent singles force.
For more background on this topic, read AEW Dynamite and Collision Preview: WrestleDream Qualifiers Set for Cleveland.
Bailey acknowledged that he sees value in both sides of that equation. He said the promotion’s large number of factions can make it compelling to be a solo act, even if groups often help their members rise together.
“There was some hesitation in joining a group once again,” Bailey said. “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.”
That phrase, “drag each other up,” captures why alliances remain so significant in a competitive roster. In the best circumstances, a group does not merely provide backup. It can elevate everyone involved by placing them alongside wrestlers with major reputations, established rivalries, and championship ambitions.
For Bailey, however, the possibility of that elevation had to be measured against what happened in his prior team experience. He did not identify the group in his comments, but he stated plainly that the ending left him guarded about entering a similar situation again.
“However, the last team I was in did not end very well,” Bailey said. “So having been hurt in the past, there was some hesitation.”
That caution gives additional meaning to Bailey’s choice. His United Empire affiliation was not simply a matter of adding another name to an already recognizable collection of wrestlers. It was a decision shaped by a desire to avoid repeating an earlier disappointment while still pursuing the opportunities that can come from being part of a major act.
Why United Empire stood out
Bailey said the conversations he had with Will Ospreay, as well as the makeup of the group itself, helped remove those doubts. United Empire carries considerable weight because of the performers associated with it, but Bailey specifically highlighted Andrade as one of the reasons he became comfortable with the move.
“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,” Bailey said. “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.”
Bailey’s praise for Andrade is notable because it speaks to the level he believes the group can reach. Calling Andrade a top AEW star is not just admiration for a fellow member; it is an assessment of the standard Bailey expects around him. If United Empire is going to be more than a collection of talented individuals, that standard will matter.
The group’s strength is also in the contrast among its members. Bailey’s high-speed, striking-heavy style has made him one of the more distinctive athletes in modern wrestling. Andrade brings a different kind of polished confidence and explosive offense. Ospreay, meanwhile, has established himself as a wrestler who can thrive at the highest-profile level while also setting an exceptionally demanding in-ring pace.
That combination gives Bailey room to retain his own identity rather than disappear into a uniform presentation. The early undefeated stretch since September 23 has only added to that sense that the alliance is currently benefiting him. It is too early to declare what the long-term ceiling of the group will be, but Bailey’s results have given the decision a strong opening chapter.
Will Ospreay represents the level Bailey wants to reach
The central factor in Bailey’s decision was Ospreay. Bailey framed Ospreay not only as a trusted figure within United Empire, but as a wrestler who embodies the elite level Bailey is trying to reach in AEW.
He recalled watching Ospreay’s match with Kenny Omega at All In and being overwhelmed by both the quality of what he saw and the personal challenge it presented. For Bailey, the match did not merely serve as an example of great wrestling. It clarified the place he believes he should occupy.
“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,” Bailey said. “Thinking not only this is the best pro wrestling that we have ever seen, this is some of greatest stuff in history that I am seeing being written before my eyes, but also thinking this is exactly where I believe I belong.”
Bailey continued by making his ambition direct.
“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.”
It is a revealing statement from a wrestler whose work has consistently been defined by urgency. Bailey does not present Ospreay’s success as an unreachable benchmark. Instead, he sees it as a target and believes proximity to Ospreay, both professionally and within United Empire, can push him toward it.
That does not mean Bailey is looking to be carried. His remarks are rooted in self-belief. He said he knows he can reach that level, and the alliance gives him a setting where that confidence can be tested against the highest expectations. Ospreay’s role, from Bailey’s perspective, is to help provide the path and competition necessary to make that leap.
An undefeated start gives Bailey a foundation
Momentum in AEW can change quickly, particularly for a wrestler entering a new faction. A surprise alignment creates attention, but the weeks that follow determine whether the story becomes meaningful. Bailey’s unbeaten record since joining United Empire gives the move credibility beyond the initial shock of the September 23 reveal.
The streak also supports Bailey’s argument that groups can elevate their members. There is no indication that his success should be reduced to the faction alone; Bailey remains responsible for winning his matches. But being connected to United Empire has placed him in a new context, one where he can pursue wins while standing beside wrestlers he views as genuine top-tier performers.
For AEW, Bailey’s comments establish several possible directions without confirming any particular outcome. His relationship with Ospreay is built on admiration and a shared desire for greatness. His respect for Andrade signals that he values the group’s current makeup. And his earlier hesitation ensures that his commitment carries emotional stakes, because he knows how quickly team dynamics can sour.
That balance may be the most important part of Bailey’s United Empire story. He is neither blindly trusting a faction nor joining merely to avoid being alone. He has weighed the risks, remembered being hurt by a previous team situation, and decided that the potential reward is worth pursuing.
Bailey’s goal is clear
Bailey entered United Empire with an undefeated run already taking shape and with a clear vision for what he wants the affiliation to accomplish. He wants to compete at the level represented by Ospreay versus Omega at All In. He wants to prove that he belongs in that conversation. And he believes United Empire can help him take the next step.
Whether the group remains united over time is a question for the future, especially given Bailey’s own recognition that wrestling alliances can be fragile. For now, though, “Speedball” appears comfortable with the choice he made. His caution has not disappeared, but it has been outweighed by the belief that working with Ospreay and Andrade can bring out the best version of Mike Bailey in AEW.
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.