9 Ups & 4 Downs From IMPACT Wrestling & NJPW Multiverse United (Review)

1. In Defeat, Bailey Wins

There's an argument to be made that Mike Bailey was never going to defeat Hiroshi Tanahashi, and it's one that's correct. A victory over 'The Ace' would be chief amongst Bailey's career accolades, but a loss in a stellar match could be paramount to his sustained ascendancy.

And it will be.

Bailey lost to Tanahashi in a bout that revolved around Tana domineering 'Speedball's' leg. The limb-targeting technique worked more cordially here than it did with KUSHIDA vs. Lio Rush; KUSHIDA wrestled Rush's arm to ultimately apply his arm-based Hoverboard Lock, whereas Tanahashi progressively destroying Bailey's leg changed the match flow with each blow, each strike to the limb gradually removing one move from Mike Bailey's repertoire.

It meant that when he did discharge such moves that required the use of his legs, it instantaneously meant something. When he ultimately declined, helpless on the mat, and Tanahashi descended upon him with the gorgeous High Fly Flow, Mike Bailey still came away as a metaphorical champion. He's an elite demonstration of trusting the process in which modern IMPACT Wrestling operates. He needn't be X Division Champion because he'll still be a kingpin of the division; mouths fall agape with each Mike Bailey match, just as they did here in a bout with a genuine wrestling God.

This wasn't Mike Bailey's optimum match - that remains his December 2022 one-hour outing vs. Josh Alexander - but it was unblemished professional wrestling.

Seek it out.