10 Indy Wrestling Stars WWE Would Ruin

9. 'Speedball' Mike Bailey

WALTER PROGRESS
WCPW - Oli Sandler

You've got to be something special to create buzz on an overloaded Independent circuit in 2017. Mike Bailey is just that, having propelled himself into the wider conversation as a result of a blistering WCPW match with Will Ospreay and more sterling showings for RevPro.

Seemingly every wrestler on the fringe possesses, to use a Good Ol' JR-ism, "educated feet". There are more kickpads than singlets nowadays. Bailey's feet are formally educated; he uses his legit martial arts background to imbue his matches with a unique realism and drama.

WWE's approach to character is often heavy-handed, however - and the inner cynic can't help but worry that, transposed to the WWE ring, Bailey would be instantly rebranded as a crane-kicking, salt-throwing joke. WWE tends to view its performers narrowly. Bayley is a child, not child-like. Bray Wyatt isn't a cult leader, he's a composite horror villain. Bailey wouldn't be a guy who uses Taekwondo as part of his act; he'd be trotted out on 205 Live in full aikido garb.

Bailey is also blessed with a smarmy 1980s baddie face. He looks fresh from the Cobra Kai dojo - which virtually confirms he's in for the Christian blue dot treatment.

 
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Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!