United Empire’s presence in All Elite Wrestling has continued to grow, and Speedball Mike Bailey already has a major name in mind when considering who could join the group next: Mistico.
Bailey discussed the possibility during an interview with HaangEmHiigh, pointing to his recent experience teaming with the legendary CMLL star. Bailey and Mistico have already developed a winning partnership in AEW, as they captured the AEW World Trios Championship together. That shared success, along with Mistico’s standing in lucha libre, led Bailey to make a strong case for his potential United Empire recruitment.
“Well, I teamed with Templario and Mistico, and Mistico, you know, he did the crown. He did the thing. So I think Mistico would be a great member. He and I, we won the AEW World Trios champions together, and I think he is genuinely like- It’s a shame that he isn’t more regarded as the best wrestler in the world because he truly should be.”
A Shared Championship History Gives Bailey’s Idea Real Weight
Bailey’s comments were not simply fantasy booking based on Mistico’s reputation. The two have already worked together at a championship level in AEW, making a potential on-screen association feel more plausible than a completely new pairing would. Mistico, Bailey, and Templario found immediate success as a trio, and their AEW World Trios Championship victory established that the wrestlers can operate effectively within the company’s increasingly international landscape.
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That history is important for United Empire. The faction has never been built around one style, one country, or one conventional image of what a wrestling group should be. Its identity has instead been rooted in elite in-ring ability and a worldwide collection of talent. Bringing a figure like Mistico into the fold would further emphasize that international approach while connecting United Empire to one of Mexico’s most recognizable active wrestling stars.
Mistico’s value would also extend beyond the simple possibility of adding another decorated name to the stable. He represents a distinctive style, an enormous legacy, and a fan connection that has been built through years of major lucha libre performances. In a group that already includes wrestlers with sharply different strengths and personalities, his presence could give United Empire another dimension both in matches and in its broader presentation.
United Empire Is Expanding Across AEW and Japan
The discussion comes as United Empire undergoes a notable period of expansion. Will Ospreay has been adding to the faction’s AEW presence, recruiting both Francesco Akira and Bailey. Meanwhile, Callum Newman continues to lead United Empire’s efforts in Japan.
That dual structure creates an unusual dynamic for the faction. United Empire is not operating in only one place, nor is it relying on a single wrestler to carry its direction. Ospreay’s recruiting activity in AEW has helped establish new connections for the group, while Newman’s continued leadership in Japan maintains the team’s existing foundation. The result is a stable with the potential to function across multiple major wrestling environments.
Bailey’s arrival is especially significant because of the versatility he brings. Known for a fast-paced and punishing style, Speedball can work with wrestlers from a wide variety of backgrounds. His familiarity with Mistico and Templario has already made him a bridge between AEW’s current trios scene and top luchadores. If United Empire were to continue recruiting internationally, Bailey could be a valuable voice in identifying talent that fits the group’s competitive philosophy.
Akira, likewise, gives the group another established connection to United Empire’s wider history. With Newman leading in Japan and Ospreay overseeing the expansion in AEW, the stable has the ingredients to become a more coordinated global unit than it has been in some time. Bailey naming Mistico as a possible addition shows that the group’s AEW branch may have room to keep developing rather than settling on its current lineup.
Why Mistico Fits the United Empire Concept
There is no indication that Mistico is set to join United Empire, and Bailey framed his remarks as his personal view of who would make sense. Still, the suggestion is compelling because it is rooted in several obvious strengths.
- Mistico already has successful championship history with Bailey in AEW.
- He and Bailey have shown they can function as part of a trio alongside Templario.
- His experience and profile would bring immediate credibility to any faction.
- His lucha libre style would add a different element to United Empire’s matchups.
- His presence would reinforce the group’s international identity.
The faction’s name naturally lends itself to broad recruitment. An “Empire” is meant to feel expansive, and United Empire has historically embraced wrestlers whose careers stretch between Japan, North America, Europe, and elsewhere. Mistico would represent an especially high-profile connection to Mexico, while Bailey’s praise suggests he believes the CMLL star’s ability belongs in any conversation involving the industry’s very best performers.
Bailey’s statement that Mistico should be more widely viewed as one of the best wrestlers in the world is a considerable endorsement. It also reflects the respect Mistico commands among peers who have shared the ring with him. For Bailey, this is not a hypothetical based merely on star power; it is an assessment formed through direct experience as a teammate and champion.
The Trios Division Could Be Central to Any Future Development
The AEW World Trios Championship connection makes the idea of Mistico and United Empire particularly intriguing. Trios wrestling offers a natural setting for a faction to establish chemistry, build rivalries, and show off combinations that cannot be replicated in singles competition. Bailey, Mistico, and Templario have already proven that they can succeed under that format.
United Empire also has no shortage of possible combinations if the group’s membership continues to evolve. Ospreay, Bailey, Akira, Newman, and any future allies could create a broad range of units depending on where the faction is competing. A wrestler of Mistico’s caliber would increase those options while giving the team a uniquely dynamic aerial component.
At the same time, trios success does not automatically mean a formal faction alliance is on the horizon. Championship partners do not always become stablemates, and the wrestling landscape surrounding AEW, CMLL, and Japan regularly creates alliances that can be temporary, event-specific, or centered on a particular tournament. Bailey did not suggest that a move was in motion. He simply identified Mistico as someone he believes would thrive under the United Empire banner.
That distinction matters, but it does not lessen the appeal of the concept. In fact, Bailey’s remarks may invite further attention to how Mistico’s AEW relationships develop following his title-winning partnership with Bailey and Templario.
Bailey Continues to Look Beyond His Own Position
Bailey’s comments also offer a glimpse into the way he sees United Empire’s future. Rather than focusing only on his own place after being recruited by Ospreay, he is considering what kind of talent could raise the group’s level. Mistico was his clear choice, and Bailey’s reasoning centered on excellence in the ring and a relationship that has already produced results.
That is an appropriate outlook for a faction attempting to expand. Adding names for the sake of numbers rarely creates lasting momentum. The strongest groups have a clear standard, and Bailey’s praise of Mistico makes it evident that he views world-class performance as the key requirement. By calling Mistico deserving of greater recognition among the world’s best, Bailey effectively described the type of wrestler he believes belongs in United Empire.
For now, United Empire’s AEW growth remains centered on the recruits already brought in by Ospreay, with Akira and Bailey joining the faction as Newman continues leading in Japan. But as the stable’s reach widens, questions about further additions will naturally persist. Bailey has now supplied one answer that would carry substantial intrigue: a championship-tested partner and one of lucha libre’s most enduring stars.
Whether Mistico ever wears the United Empire crown remains unknown. What is clear is that Bailey sees him as more than capable of doing so, and he believes Mistico’s place in the global conversation about elite professional wrestling should be even stronger than it already is.
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.