'Speedball' Mike Bailey Confirms 'In-Depth Discussions' About WWE Deal Before Signing With IMPACT

'Speedball' Mike Bailey has confirmed he has talks with WWE about a contract, and went so far as to accept an offer from the promotion, only for them to then decide to go 'in a different direction'.

Bailey signed a contract with IMPACT Wrestling on Sunday 31 October. Having just wrestled Josh Alexander, Scott D'Amore headed to the ring and offered 'Speedball' a deal with the company, which Bailey signed on Alexander's back.

It had previously been reported that WWE were interested in Bailey and were working to resolve his visa issues, and the man himself has now revealed he had all but verbally agreed to a contract with them, only for WWE to change their mind.

Speaking to Sports Illustrated about talks with WWE, Bailey said: "We went through a process and we had some pretty in-depth discussions. I didn’t sign a contract. It pretty much went up to that point of me accepting an offer and going through the proceedings that would lead up to me signing for several months, and them deciding they were going in a different direction.”

Opening up about signing with IMPACT, he added: “I look forward to starting with Impact Wrestling. The response from people has been overwhelming. Not that I didn’t expect the response from the crowd and the internet to be positive, but it was so positive. Some of the comments I’ve read have been so positive that they’ve almost brought me to tears.

"I love wrestling. And when wrestling works, it works for everyone. It brings people together in a way that is really hard to describe. There are so many ways to fail and it is very unforgiving, which is why it is so satisfying when you succeed."