WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.299 Welcome to today's deep dive. We are really thrilled 00:00:03.299 --> 00:00:05.620 you are joining us. We've got a massive stack 00:00:05.620 --> 00:00:08.320 of sources today, primarily a really comprehensive 00:00:08.320 --> 00:00:11.320 Wikipedia article tracking a Canadian professional 00:00:11.320 --> 00:00:14.699 wrestler who faces literal government mandated 00:00:14.699 --> 00:00:18.379 roadblock and somehow weaponized that exact exile 00:00:18.379 --> 00:00:21.309 to become a globally decorated icon. Yeah, the 00:00:21.309 --> 00:00:23.210 trajectory we're looking at today is just phenomenal. 00:00:23.449 --> 00:00:25.609 Our mission here is to examine how being locked 00:00:25.609 --> 00:00:27.809 out of the biggest market in the world forced 00:00:27.809 --> 00:00:31.910 a rising star to completely dismantle and basically 00:00:31.910 --> 00:00:34.950 rebuild his entire in -ring psychology. And that 00:00:34.950 --> 00:00:37.469 led to an incredible headline -making run that 00:00:37.469 --> 00:00:39.429 brings us right up to the present day in, well, 00:00:39.649 --> 00:00:42.750 March 2026. OK, let's unpack this. Because to 00:00:42.750 --> 00:00:44.750 really understand the true significance of the 00:00:44.750 --> 00:00:47.070 exile, we have to look at the massive momentum 00:00:47.070 --> 00:00:49.539 he had. right before the door slams shut. Right, 00:00:49.659 --> 00:00:51.920 the context is everything. Exactly. So, born 00:00:51.920 --> 00:00:54.880 in Laval, Quebec in July 1990, Emile -Charles 00:00:54.880 --> 00:00:57.820 Beyergen -LeBerge makes his debut in 2006. And 00:00:57.820 --> 00:00:59.600 he's initially wrestling under the name Mike 00:00:59.600 --> 00:01:01.939 Seidl for the Federation de l 'Hutte Cubequoise. 00:01:02.200 --> 00:01:04.500 Right, and those early years are really defined 00:01:04.500 --> 00:01:07.280 by this relentless physical grind. I mean, by 00:01:07.280 --> 00:01:09.719 the time he transitions to the speedball Mike 00:01:09.719 --> 00:01:13.140 Bailey name, he is just tearing through the Canadian 00:01:13.140 --> 00:01:16.079 independent. Like IWS and C4, right? Yeah, exactly. 00:01:16.079 --> 00:01:18.079 And he's making a serious name for himself in 00:01:18.079 --> 00:01:20.519 the United States, too, with Combat Zone Wrestling. 00:01:20.920 --> 00:01:23.799 He's building this reputation around a very specific 00:01:23.799 --> 00:01:27.959 Taekwondo infused high speed striking game. It's 00:01:27.959 --> 00:01:30.319 incredibly dynamic to watch. Which brings us 00:01:30.319 --> 00:01:33.609 to 2015. and Pro Wrestling Gorilla's Battle of 00:01:33.609 --> 00:01:36.049 Los Angeles, or, you know, Bilali. Oh, Bila, 00:01:36.310 --> 00:01:37.689 yeah. And if you follow independent wrestling, 00:01:37.750 --> 00:01:39.609 you already know the gravity of Bila. Reaching 00:01:39.609 --> 00:01:42.069 the finals there is basically an industry kingmaker. 00:01:42.930 --> 00:01:44.909 And just look at the gauntlet he runs to get 00:01:44.909 --> 00:01:47.849 there. He goes through Drew Galloway, Will Ospreay, 00:01:48.030 --> 00:01:50.469 and Tommy End. And that specific lineup, I mean, 00:01:50.469 --> 00:01:52.790 it tells the entire story of his versatility, 00:01:52.870 --> 00:01:55.530 even back then. You have Galloway, who is this 00:01:55.530 --> 00:01:58.709 towering, heavyweight brawler. Right. Then Ospreay, 00:01:58.810 --> 00:02:01.049 who is arguably the most innovative high flyer. 00:02:00.750 --> 00:02:04.530 of his generation. And Tommy End, this devastating 00:02:04.530 --> 00:02:07.450 Dutch kickboxer. It's crazy. It really is. For 00:02:07.450 --> 00:02:10.090 Bailey to credibly navigate those three completely 00:02:10.090 --> 00:02:12.909 disparate styles in a single tournament environment, 00:02:13.689 --> 00:02:16.289 I mean, that signaled to every stat in the industry 00:02:16.289 --> 00:02:19.490 that he was a blue chip prospect. So he is on 00:02:19.490 --> 00:02:22.550 the absolute precipice of stardom. And then we 00:02:22.550 --> 00:02:25.680 hit March 2016. Yeah. The roadblock? He's booked 00:02:25.680 --> 00:02:28.280 for an Evolve show in the U .S. And the sources 00:02:28.280 --> 00:02:30.500 indicate he was in the process of securing a 00:02:30.500 --> 00:02:34.319 work visa through CZW, but the paperwork was 00:02:34.319 --> 00:02:36.460 lagging. Which happens a lot, unfortunately. 00:02:36.520 --> 00:02:38.039 Right. But he didn't want to blow the booking. 00:02:38.240 --> 00:02:41.069 So he tries to cross the border without it. gets 00:02:41.069 --> 00:02:44.629 arrested, and receives this severe five -year 00:02:44.629 --> 00:02:46.949 ban from entering the United States. Yeah, and 00:02:46.949 --> 00:02:49.229 a five -year ban in the physical lifespan of 00:02:49.229 --> 00:02:52.210 a professional wrestler is, frankly, a functional 00:02:52.210 --> 00:02:54.449 eternity. But, I mean, let me push back on that 00:02:54.449 --> 00:02:56.490 severity for a second. We're talking about 2016 00:02:56.490 --> 00:02:59.129 here. The internet exists, streaming is booming. 00:02:59.250 --> 00:03:01.770 Oh, I have to ask. It's like a tech startup losing 00:03:01.770 --> 00:03:03.830 access to the entire U .S. market right on the 00:03:03.830 --> 00:03:06.610 day their app goes viral. Was a U .S. ban really 00:03:06.610 --> 00:03:08.830 a career death sentence for a wrestler or just 00:03:08.830 --> 00:03:11.050 a temporary logistical inconvenience? I would 00:03:11.050 --> 00:03:13.669 argue it was deeply catastrophic at that specific 00:03:13.669 --> 00:03:16.379 time in the industry's life cycle. Really, why? 00:03:16.860 --> 00:03:20.539 Well, in 2016, the major television promotions, 00:03:20.740 --> 00:03:24.180 WWE, the emerging framework of what would eventually 00:03:24.180 --> 00:03:27.280 become AEW, Ring of Honor, they relied almost 00:03:27.280 --> 00:03:30.460 exclusively on the US independent scene. Specifically, 00:03:30.599 --> 00:03:33.460 promotions like Evolve and PWG, those were their 00:03:33.460 --> 00:03:35.699 primary scouting grounds. Ah, I see. Yeah, so 00:03:35.699 --> 00:03:37.780 if you weren't physically performing in front 00:03:37.780 --> 00:03:40.599 of those specific American crowds, you basically 00:03:40.599 --> 00:03:42.500 vanished from the industry's central nervous 00:03:42.500 --> 00:03:44.680 system. So it's less about the internet and more 00:03:44.680 --> 00:03:46.530 about being cut out of the specific corporate 00:03:46.530 --> 00:03:49.229 pipeline exactly wow it's almost like a rising 00:03:49.229 --> 00:03:51.530 character actor getting completely blacklisted 00:03:51.530 --> 00:03:54.530 from Hollywood right on the eve of their first 00:03:54.530 --> 00:03:56.930 major blockbuster and then it forces them to 00:03:56.930 --> 00:03:59.419 pivot to I don't know, Bollywood and European 00:03:59.419 --> 00:04:01.960 avant -garde cinema, just to keep working. That 00:04:01.960 --> 00:04:04.099 captures the geographical and cultural shift 00:04:04.099 --> 00:04:06.580 perfectly. The standard American indie playbook 00:04:06.580 --> 00:04:08.919 was suddenly useless to him. He couldn't rely 00:04:08.919 --> 00:04:10.819 on the evolved pipeline. He had to go overseas 00:04:10.819 --> 00:04:13.900 and truly embrace a global exile. So let's get 00:04:13.900 --> 00:04:15.819 into the mechanics of that pivot, starting with 00:04:15.819 --> 00:04:19.660 Japan. From 2016 to 2020, he anchors himself 00:04:19.660 --> 00:04:24.649 in DDT Pro Wrestling. DDT is not your standard 00:04:24.649 --> 00:04:26.689 Japanese Strong Style promotion. Not at all. 00:04:26.850 --> 00:04:29.110 Right. He wins the DNA Grand Prix tournament 00:04:29.110 --> 00:04:32.149 right away in 2016, which actually circles back 00:04:32.149 --> 00:04:34.389 to the story we opened with. The grand prize 00:04:34.389 --> 00:04:36.709 for that tournament is a one -way ticket to New 00:04:36.709 --> 00:04:39.290 York. Yep. And he literally cannot use it because 00:04:39.290 --> 00:04:42.389 of the ban. So he just hands it to his final's 00:04:42.389 --> 00:04:46.029 opponent, Kazusada Higuchi. It is such a brilliant 00:04:46.029 --> 00:04:48.910 piece of heel -adjacent psychology, just handing 00:04:48.910 --> 00:04:51.329 over the prize. It's hilarious. It is. But to 00:04:51.329 --> 00:04:53.649 your point about DDT, understanding the promotion's 00:04:53.649 --> 00:04:56.230 philosophy is key to understanding Bayley's evolution 00:04:56.230 --> 00:04:59.350 during this time. DDT is famous for blending 00:04:59.350 --> 00:05:02.709 incredibly stiff, hard -hitting physical wrestling 00:05:02.709 --> 00:05:05.389 with absurdist high -concept comedy. Oh, yeah. 00:05:05.649 --> 00:05:07.870 The sources highlight him winning their Ironman 00:05:07.870 --> 00:05:09.910 Heavy Metal Weight Championship. And we have 00:05:09.910 --> 00:05:12.170 to mention the match type for that. It was a... 00:05:11.720 --> 00:05:14.199 Let me read this, a five -way loser explosion 00:05:14.199 --> 00:05:17.480 weapon rumble tag team match. It sounds completely 00:05:17.480 --> 00:05:20.300 unhinged. Unhinged, yes, but consider the sheer 00:05:20.300 --> 00:05:23.060 skill required to actually execute it. In standard 00:05:23.060 --> 00:05:25.980 US indies, you rely on high spots and work rate 00:05:25.980 --> 00:05:29.240 to get over. But in DDT, you might be wrestling 00:05:29.240 --> 00:05:32.850 an invisible man. or literally a ladder. A ladder. 00:05:33.170 --> 00:05:35.430 Yeah, a ladder. And you have to make the audience 00:05:35.430 --> 00:05:38.269 genuinely invest in that absurdity before you 00:05:38.269 --> 00:05:41.009 suddenly transition into a brutal, legitimate 00:05:41.009 --> 00:05:44.339 -looking martial arts sequence. Wow. What's fascinating 00:05:44.339 --> 00:05:49.100 here is by immersing himself in DDT, Bailey mastered 00:05:49.100 --> 00:05:52.220 sports entertainment psychology in a way no American 00:05:52.220 --> 00:05:54.279 indie could have ever taught him. I mean, he 00:05:54.279 --> 00:05:56.740 captured the KOD Tag Team Championship twice, 00:05:57.160 --> 00:06:00.079 once with Konosuke Takeshita and later forming 00:06:00.079 --> 00:06:02.139 the really popular Moonlight Express Tag Team 00:06:02.139 --> 00:06:04.639 with Mao. He learned how to deeply connect with 00:06:04.639 --> 00:06:06.560 crowds who didn't even speak his native language. 00:06:06.720 --> 00:06:08.319 And at the same time, he's not just staying in 00:06:08.319 --> 00:06:11.089 Japan. Right. He's constantly traveling to Europe. 00:06:11.449 --> 00:06:13.569 He's working rev pro and progress in the UK, 00:06:13.589 --> 00:06:17.290 and he's diving into Germany's massive WXW 16 00:06:17.290 --> 00:06:19.170 karat gold tournament. Yeah, he was everywhere. 00:06:19.430 --> 00:06:22.410 So how does the European style alter his trajectory? 00:06:22.509 --> 00:06:24.910 Because that's very different from DDT. Oh, entirely 00:06:24.910 --> 00:06:27.589 different. European catch wrestling is notoriously 00:06:27.589 --> 00:06:31.060 grounded, gritty and submission heavy. European 00:06:31.060 --> 00:06:34.139 crowds historically do not tolerate pure high 00:06:34.139 --> 00:06:37.100 flyers who lack fundamental math skills. Oh, 00:06:37.100 --> 00:06:39.379 interesting. Yeah, they demand struggle and joint 00:06:39.379 --> 00:06:42.060 manipulation. So now you have this performer 00:06:42.060 --> 00:06:45.300 who started as a Taekwondo high flyer who just 00:06:45.300 --> 00:06:47.899 spent months learning bizarre Japanese character 00:06:47.899 --> 00:06:51.199 psychology, suddenly being forced to learn pacing 00:06:51.199 --> 00:06:53.800 and counter grappling from these European technicians. 00:06:54.139 --> 00:06:56.360 You know, looking at this fusion, I actually 00:06:56.360 --> 00:06:59.459 have a theory. Did the five year band secretly 00:06:59.459 --> 00:07:02.079 save How do you mean? Well, think about it. If 00:07:02.079 --> 00:07:05.019 he stays in the U .S. in 2016, he probably signs 00:07:05.019 --> 00:07:06.920 a major contract within a year. Yeah. And gets 00:07:06.920 --> 00:07:09.060 put into a corporate developmental system. True. 00:07:09.139 --> 00:07:11.259 They strip away his idiosyncrasies. They teach 00:07:11.259 --> 00:07:13.399 him how to work the hard cam. And he becomes 00:07:13.399 --> 00:07:16.740 just another very talented but highly polished 00:07:16.740 --> 00:07:19.680 guy on television. But the band forced him out 00:07:19.680 --> 00:07:21.939 of the machine. It insulated him from all that 00:07:21.939 --> 00:07:24.870 homogenization. That is a highly analytical read 00:07:24.870 --> 00:07:26.569 on the situation, and honestly, the evidence 00:07:26.569 --> 00:07:29.329 supports it. Hardship essentially mandated innovation 00:07:29.329 --> 00:07:31.670 for him. When he was locked out of the U .S., 00:07:31.670 --> 00:07:34.970 he became this cultural sponge. He absorbed DDT's 00:07:34.970 --> 00:07:37.790 theatricality and Europe's brutality. By the 00:07:37.790 --> 00:07:40.250 time that ban expired, the speedball Mike Bailey 00:07:40.250 --> 00:07:43.970 of 2015 just no longer existed. He had forged 00:07:43.970 --> 00:07:46.589 an international mystique and this hybrid in 00:07:46.589 --> 00:07:49.250 -ring style that you absolutely cannot manufacture 00:07:49.250 --> 00:07:51.269 in a training center. Which sets up one of the 00:07:51.269 --> 00:07:54.600 most highly anticipated in modern wrestling history. 00:07:55.279 --> 00:07:58.939 March 2021 hits, the Visa ban officially expires, 00:07:59.420 --> 00:08:02.410 the wall is finally lifted. And the entire industry 00:08:02.410 --> 00:08:05.050 was waiting to see where he would land. He wrestles 00:08:05.050 --> 00:08:07.310 a phenomenal match for Destiny Wrestling against 00:08:07.310 --> 00:08:09.930 Josh Alexander and Impact Wrestling executive 00:08:09.930 --> 00:08:12.089 Scott Daymore happens to be there. Right place, 00:08:12.170 --> 00:08:14.209 right time. Exactly. He basically offers Bailey 00:08:14.209 --> 00:08:16.829 a contract immediately. And he debuts in Impact, 00:08:17.029 --> 00:08:19.029 which we should note has now returned to its 00:08:19.029 --> 00:08:22.310 classic TNA Wrestling branding. And he immediately 00:08:22.310 --> 00:08:24.709 targets the X Division. And the X Division is 00:08:24.709 --> 00:08:27.009 historically the most chaotic, innovative division 00:08:27.009 --> 00:08:29.089 in that company. Oh, without a doubt. He wins 00:08:29.089 --> 00:08:31.970 his first X Division title in a grueling Ultimate 00:08:31.970 --> 00:08:35.549 X match at Slammiversary 2022. He ultimately 00:08:35.549 --> 00:08:38.710 becomes a three -time champion. But looking at 00:08:38.710 --> 00:08:41.360 the sources... The titles almost feel secondary 00:08:41.360 --> 00:08:43.740 to the sheer quality of his output. Yeah, the 00:08:43.740 --> 00:08:46.360 championships are milestones, sure, but his legacy 00:08:46.360 --> 00:08:48.460 is the match quality. I mean, he takes home the 00:08:48.460 --> 00:08:50.240 Impact Year -End Award for match of the year 00:08:50.240 --> 00:08:53.220 two years in a row. That's huge. It is. First 00:08:53.220 --> 00:08:56.039 against Josh Alexander in 2022 and then against 00:08:56.039 --> 00:08:59.019 Will Ospreay at Bound for Glory in 2023. Let's 00:08:59.019 --> 00:09:01.019 pause on Will Ospreay for a second because that 00:09:01.019 --> 00:09:03.860 is a massive full circle moment. He fought Ospreay 00:09:03.860 --> 00:09:06.379 in the 2015 Biola tournament right before his 00:09:06.379 --> 00:09:09.399 exile. Exactly. And then eight years later, they're 00:09:09.399 --> 00:09:11.519 putting on a match of the year candidate on U 00:09:11.519 --> 00:09:13.580 .S. pay -per -view. And actually, speaking of 00:09:13.580 --> 00:09:16.279 Bolo, the sources note that in 2023, he finally 00:09:16.279 --> 00:09:19.360 returns to PWG and actually wins the entire battle 00:09:19.360 --> 00:09:21.820 of Los Angeles. Which is incredible. Winning 00:09:21.820 --> 00:09:24.679 Bolo in 2023, eight full years after his first 00:09:24.679 --> 00:09:27.059 finals appearance, is the ultimate validation 00:09:27.059 --> 00:09:29.600 of his exile. What those TNA matches and the 00:09:29.600 --> 00:09:31.879 BLA victory proved was that his international 00:09:31.879 --> 00:09:34.759 hybrid style wasn't just like some niche Internet 00:09:34.759 --> 00:09:37.200 novelty. Right. It actually worked on a big stage. 00:09:37.559 --> 00:09:40.779 Exactly. It translated flawlessly to an American 00:09:40.779 --> 00:09:43.860 television audience. He elevated the entire X 00:09:43.860 --> 00:09:46.779 Division by bringing his accumulated global experience 00:09:46.779 --> 00:09:49.539 directly to them. Here's where it gets really 00:09:49.539 --> 00:09:52.159 interesting. It's like a movie protagonist coming 00:09:52.159 --> 00:09:54.440 back to his hometown after a five -year training 00:09:54.440 --> 00:09:58.320 montage in the mountains, you know, just effortlessly 00:09:58.320 --> 00:10:00.100 defeating everyone in his path. That's a great 00:10:00.100 --> 00:10:02.120 way to look at it. But he still isn't satisfied 00:10:02.120 --> 00:10:05.019 just conquering the U .S. television scene. While 00:10:05.019 --> 00:10:08.799 under contract with TNA in 2023, he enters New 00:10:08.799 --> 00:10:11.460 Japan Pro Wrestling's best of the Super Juniors. 00:10:11.720 --> 00:10:14.539 He steps into the most prestigious junior heavyweight 00:10:14.539 --> 00:10:17.559 tournament on earth and immediately defeats the 00:10:17.559 --> 00:10:20.860 sitting IWGP junior heavyweight champion, Hiromu 00:10:20.860 --> 00:10:22.740 Takahashi. Yeah, and taking down the sitting 00:10:22.740 --> 00:10:26.299 champion in NJPW is a massive geopolitical statement 00:10:26.299 --> 00:10:27.759 within the wrestling world. It's not a small 00:10:27.759 --> 00:10:29.980 thing. Right. He also captures the All -Star 00:10:29.980 --> 00:10:32.460 Junior Festival USA tournament that same year. 00:10:32.700 --> 00:10:35.019 He was just operating at a P - that transcended 00:10:35.019 --> 00:10:37.820 promotional boundaries, balancing major storylines 00:10:37.820 --> 00:10:40.460 across continents simultaneously. Which builds 00:10:40.460 --> 00:10:43.220 the bridge to his current status. Late 2024, 00:10:43.740 --> 00:10:47.580 his TNA contract is up, and on March 12, 2025, 00:10:48.059 --> 00:10:50.980 so almost exactly a year ago today, he debuts 00:10:50.980 --> 00:10:55.320 in All Elite Wrestling. AEW. A huge move. Now, 00:10:55.320 --> 00:10:57.539 I want to challenge this move a bit. AEW has 00:10:57.539 --> 00:11:00.559 a notoriously massive roster. Wasn't there a 00:11:00.559 --> 00:11:02.519 huge risk of him getting lost in the shuffle? 00:11:02.720 --> 00:11:04.940 compared to being the main focus of the X Division. 00:11:05.200 --> 00:11:07.259 Well, there is always that risk when moving to 00:11:07.259 --> 00:11:09.899 a larger organization with deeper pockets. However, 00:11:10.019 --> 00:11:12.039 his strategic approach really mitigated that 00:11:12.039 --> 00:11:14.539 risk. Rather than immediately fighting for crowded 00:11:14.539 --> 00:11:17.019 singles positioning, he forms a tag team with 00:11:17.019 --> 00:11:19.179 Kevin Knight called Jet Speed. Oh, that's smart. 00:11:19.279 --> 00:11:21.700 Yeah, it allowed him to showcase his high -velocity 00:11:21.700 --> 00:11:24.600 offense in a fresh dynamic that the AEW Tag Division 00:11:24.600 --> 00:11:26.519 really needed at the time. And that leads to 00:11:26.519 --> 00:11:28.980 the formation of the trio Jet Set Rodeo alongside 00:11:28.980 --> 00:11:31.960 hangman Adam Page. This trio clicks perfectly, 00:11:32.159 --> 00:11:35.679 and on January 14th, 2026, they defeat the Ops, 00:11:35.899 --> 00:11:39.059 which is Samoa Joe, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Kasiori 00:11:39.059 --> 00:11:42.159 Shibata to win the AEW World Trios Championship. 00:11:42.700 --> 00:11:45.139 And taking down a trio that physically imposing, 00:11:45.139 --> 00:11:47.120 I mean, it really cements his status, holding 00:11:47.120 --> 00:11:50.200 gold in AEW represents the absolute highest tier 00:11:50.200 --> 00:11:53.000 of global exposure. But we do have to address 00:11:53.000 --> 00:11:55.279 the present reality here. Yeah. This brings us 00:11:55.279 --> 00:11:59.779 right up to last week, March 4, 2026, on Dynamite. 00:12:00.080 --> 00:12:03.600 Jet Set Rodeo loses those trios titles to the 00:12:03.600 --> 00:12:06.379 Don Callis family. Yeah. And the sources emphasize 00:12:06.379 --> 00:12:08.960 that the loss came specifically because of outside 00:12:08.960 --> 00:12:12.159 interference from MJF. They held the belts for 00:12:12.159 --> 00:12:14.740 49 days, though it's officially recognized as 00:12:14.740 --> 00:12:18.940 46 days by AEW. So what does this all mean? How 00:12:18.940 --> 00:12:20.960 do you evaluate a championship run that ends 00:12:20.960 --> 00:12:22.940 that abruptly and controversially? You really 00:12:22.940 --> 00:12:24.820 have to view it through the lens of his specific 00:12:24.820 --> 00:12:27.240 psychological endurance. I mean, for a standard 00:12:27.240 --> 00:12:30.460 wrestler, a 46 -day reign ending via outside 00:12:30.460 --> 00:12:32.620 interference might trigger a creative spiral 00:12:32.620 --> 00:12:34.700 or a massive loss of momentum. Right. They might 00:12:34.700 --> 00:12:37.179 get buried. Exactly. But for Mike Bailey, who 00:12:37.179 --> 00:12:39.080 spent five years locked out of the United States 00:12:39.080 --> 00:12:42.340 and used it to conquer the globe, an MJF -induced 00:12:42.340 --> 00:12:44.759 title loss is negligible. It's just a bump in 00:12:44.759 --> 00:12:47.960 the road. Exactly. He doesn't panic. He adapts. 00:12:48.110 --> 00:12:50.649 The resilience he built during his exile ensures 00:12:50.649 --> 00:12:53.389 that a chaotic title loss is merely the inciting 00:12:53.389 --> 00:12:56.149 incident for his next evolution. The exile built 00:12:56.149 --> 00:12:59.250 an impenetrable psychological armor. I really 00:12:59.250 --> 00:13:02.049 love that framework. Now, before we conclude... 00:13:01.720 --> 00:13:03.980 We really need to pivot and examine the human 00:13:03.980 --> 00:13:07.360 being behind the speedball persona, because understanding 00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:10.240 Emile Charles B. Larson -LaBerge adds incredible 00:13:10.240 --> 00:13:12.679 depth to everything we've just discussed regarding 00:13:12.679 --> 00:13:15.120 adaptation and authenticity. It really does. 00:13:15.379 --> 00:13:17.440 The personal identity is completely inseparable 00:13:17.440 --> 00:13:20.759 from the professional success. Emile is non -binary, 00:13:21.080 --> 00:13:23.679 utilizing both he -him and they -them pronouns. 00:13:24.220 --> 00:13:26.159 He also married fellow American professional 00:13:26.159 --> 00:13:29.480 wrestler Veda Scott in May of 2022. The sources 00:13:29.480 --> 00:13:31.779 also highlight a documentary film titled Keep 00:13:31.779 --> 00:13:34.600 It, Kayfabe, which chronicled his journey and 00:13:34.600 --> 00:13:36.539 actually had its world premiere at the San Diego 00:13:36.539 --> 00:13:39.559 Comic Con in July 2025. And the reception of 00:13:39.559 --> 00:13:41.539 that documentary at a major pop culture event 00:13:41.539 --> 00:13:43.879 like Comic Con is a very strong indicator of 00:13:43.879 --> 00:13:46.480 where audience demographics have moved. Historically, 00:13:46.480 --> 00:13:48.299 you know, professional wrestling relied heavily 00:13:48.299 --> 00:13:51.000 on a monolithic hyper masculine presentation 00:13:51.000 --> 00:13:54.480 to draw audiences. Right, like the classic 1980s 00:13:54.480 --> 00:13:57.120 superhero physique and attitude, the stereotypical 00:13:57.120 --> 00:13:59.840 mold. Exactly. But the industry's viewer base 00:13:59.840 --> 00:14:02.480 has broadened significantly since then. If we 00:14:02.480 --> 00:14:04.659 connect this to the bigger picture, Bailey's 00:14:04.659 --> 00:14:07.299 ability to thrive at the highest levels of AEW 00:14:07.299 --> 00:14:10.100 and TNA while being entirely open about his non 00:14:10.100 --> 00:14:12.659 -binary identity, it demonstrates that modern 00:14:12.659 --> 00:14:15.480 audiences prioritize authenticity over outdated 00:14:15.480 --> 00:14:18.820 tropes. It's so refreshing to see. It fundamentally 00:14:18.820 --> 00:14:20.580 changes the relationship between the performer 00:14:20.580 --> 00:14:22.519 and the crowd, doesn't it? Yeah. You aren't just 00:14:22.519 --> 00:14:24.779 cheering for a martial artist who can execute 00:14:24.779 --> 00:14:28.259 a perfect shooting star press. You are. investing 00:14:28.259 --> 00:14:31.600 in a resilient human being who is unapologetically 00:14:31.600 --> 00:14:34.259 themselves. Absolutely. It has a layer of genuine 00:14:34.259 --> 00:14:36.840 emotional stakes to his matches that you simply 00:14:36.840 --> 00:14:39.639 can't manufacture in a writer's room. Authenticity 00:14:39.639 --> 00:14:42.700 translates to drawing power today. His transparency 00:14:42.700 --> 00:14:45.080 makes him a pioneer in the industry parallel 00:14:45.080 --> 00:14:47.220 to his physical innovations inside the ring. 00:14:47.440 --> 00:14:50.320 It's a remarkable dual legacy. As we pull all 00:14:50.320 --> 00:14:53.039 these threads together, we have tracked a genuinely 00:14:53.039 --> 00:14:56.330 unprecedented 20 -year journey. From his debut 00:14:56.330 --> 00:14:59.110 in the federation de Roqueboise back in 2006 00:14:59.110 --> 00:15:01.610 through the grueling climb of the North American 00:15:01.610 --> 00:15:05.009 indies. Through the devastating 2016 visa ban 00:15:05.009 --> 00:15:07.570 that frankly would have ended 99 % of athletic 00:15:07.570 --> 00:15:10.730 career. Into the global reinvention across DDT 00:15:10.730 --> 00:15:13.129 in Japan and the catch wrestling rings of Europe. 00:15:13.789 --> 00:15:16.370 And finally returning to dominate TNA and capture 00:15:16.370 --> 00:15:19.389 championship gold on national television in AEW. 00:15:20.669 --> 00:15:22.230 And this is where I want to turn this directly 00:15:22.230 --> 00:15:24.940 to you the listener. Yeah. You might not be a 00:15:24.940 --> 00:15:26.919 professional wrestler trying to navigate international 00:15:26.919 --> 00:15:29.879 visa law, but you undoubtedly face your own concrete 00:15:29.879 --> 00:15:33.519 walls. A major client drops your firm. A career 00:15:33.519 --> 00:15:36.620 path you spent a decade pursuing vanishes overnight 00:15:36.620 --> 00:15:38.559 due to market shifts. The door deadbolts right 00:15:38.559 --> 00:15:41.000 in front of you. That is the reality we all face 00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:43.879 eventually. When your primary market dries up, 00:15:44.159 --> 00:15:46.879 what is your strategy? Do you fold or do you 00:15:46.879 --> 00:15:49.600 look at this story and realize you need to find 00:15:49.600 --> 00:15:53.139 your own Japan and Europe? You have to find that 00:15:53.139 --> 00:15:56.259 unfamiliar territory to absorb new skills and 00:15:56.259 --> 00:15:58.700 become undeniable So that when the door finally 00:15:58.700 --> 00:16:00.779 opens again, you don't just politely walk back 00:16:00.779 --> 00:16:03.559 in you kick it off the hinges It demands a complete 00:16:03.559 --> 00:16:05.440 reframing of adversity and I think that leaves 00:16:05.440 --> 00:16:07.539 us with one final thought for you to carry forward 00:16:07.539 --> 00:16:10.539 today If a government mandated five -year ban 00:16:10.539 --> 00:16:12.299 from the biggest market in the world couldn't 00:16:12.299 --> 00:16:14.679 stop speedball Mike Bailey from becoming a champion 00:16:14.679 --> 00:16:17.299 What impossible barrier in your own life might 00:16:17.299 --> 00:16:19.539 actually just be a detour to your greatest success?