Mike Bailey’s five year USA ban forced him to redefine his wrestling career after being denied entry into the United States in 2016, a turning point that led him to look up to industry pioneers like Kenny Omega. The ban was a critical setback for Bailey, who had already spent a decade wrestling, pushing him to find new inspiration and global opportunities beyond the American market.
A Sudden Ban Changes the Course of a Wrestling Career
In 2016, border officials prevented AEW star Mike Bailey from entering the United States for a work opportunity, imposing a five year ban without arrest or detention. The moment marked a dramatic interruption for Bailey, who had spent years building his wrestling portfolio. Reflecting on the experience, Bailey admitted the impact was profound but not immediately processed:
“Yeah, I don’t think I got there yet. I think I was just kind of numb. And it took me at least a few days. I don’t really remember exactly how long. I think it took me one match to be like, Yeah, screw it. I’m just going to keep doing this and see what happens.”
—Mike Bailey, Professional Wrestler
The situation left Bailey to reassess his dedication. He described feeling uncertain in the immediate aftermath, only regaining his focus after returning to the ring. Having already started his wrestling journey in 2005, Bailey noted he had been working for years before achieving significant recognition:
“It wasn’t like I started at wrestling school and then got signed right away and sent to PWG. I started in 2005. I had been wrestling for 10 years for no money at all not because I didn’t want to get paid. Every time I say that, it gets picked up and people are like, Why wasn’t this idiot asking for money?”
—Mike Bailey, Professional Wrestler
Bailey emphasized the challenges of wrestling in Quebec during the mid-2000s, explaining the financial hurdles and lack of visibility at the time. He remained committed to his craft despite setbacks:
“No it’s just that people don’t understand how wrestling in Quebec was in 2005. Wrestlers weren’t getting paid because promoters weren’t making money because no one was selling tickets, because you couldn’t advertise your shows, because there was no social media yet. But I had already been doing it for 10 years. So I was like, Yeah, I’m not going to stop just because I’m not able to wrestle in the U.S. I’m doing this because I love it. So I’m going to keep doing this because I love it.”
—Mike Bailey, Professional Wrestler
Kenny Omega: A Guidepost for Global Wrestling Success
While grappling with the loss of access to the American wrestling scene, Bailey sought inspiration from others who had succeeded internationally. He credited Kenny Omega and a shifting industry landscape as pivotal for his decision to pursue wrestling opportunities abroad. Bailey recalled how seeing Omega’s achievements illustrated a path outside of traditional American routes, especially as others began thriving in Japan and elsewhere:
“Kenny Omega was certainly one of them who had been able to make a good career for themselves outside of the traditional paths for a professional wrestler where you, you know, get a job in America and work for a TV company. No, more and more people were starting at the time to get big in places like Japan. And luckily, I had already taken one trip to Mexico at that point started PWG and that had given me some international connections.”
—Mike Bailey, Professional Wrestler
Bailey described his early efforts to wrestle in new territories, recounting time spent in Mexico, England, and engaging with Japanese promotions like DDT. Observing Omega’s ascent became a galvanizing example:
“I had done two months in Mexico, started going to England, and had met some people who worked for DDT in Japan. So, looking at someone like Kenny Omega who was, at the time, making a career for himself and becoming. You know, the best wrestler in the world without having to be in America at all that was absolutely huge. And I’m grateful for everyone like him who was able to do that, because I was just able to hop on that train and follow that path. Now here I am.”
—Mike Bailey, Professional Wrestler
The Ongoing Impact of Bailey’s Story
Mike Bailey’s five year USA ban became a crucial period of growth and adaptation, shaped by both personal resolve and the examples set by wrestlers like Kenny Omega. As Bailey rebuilt his journey in international promotions from Japan to Mexico and England, he demonstrated resilience in the face of career-altering restrictions. The experience did not just force a change in geography but also strengthened Bailey’s sense of purpose, underlining how external setbacks can lead to alternative paths and eventual success for those willing to look beyond traditional routes.
