Summary

Mike Bailey says exclusive contracts may be necessary for wrestling companies, but he believes they also limit wrestler development by cutting off potential matchups across the industry.

During an interview with Adrian Hernandez of Unlikely, Bailey said the ideal version of pro wrestling would let top talent face anyone, regardless of promotion. He pointed to the current wave of cross-promotional partnerships as the closest version of that model, specifically highlighting AEW's work with CMLL and NJPW.

Bailey's comments come at a time when contract status has become a larger talking point across the business. Recent announcements involving dual deals, along with concerns over canceled independent bookings, have kept the subject in focus.

Quote from Mike Bailey

"So this is my hot take when it comes to professional wrestling — exclusive contracts are bad. For pro wrestlers, for the development. I understand there is a need for them, the ecosystem and the companies, it doesn't work without them and that makes sense. But, if everyone in the world could wrestle absolutely anyone else regardless of contracts, just imagine the matchups you would see. Well, we can't really have that. The closest thing we can have is what AEW is doing, partnering up with CMLL and New Japan Pro Wrestling and working together to showcase the best wrestlers from all over the world. It's been a problem in professional wrestling for a long time, the lack of diversity in terms of seeing champions from different cultures and races. I think the fact that in order to be considered eligible to become a champion in pro wrestling, you need to speak English, especially as a first language, is completely ridiculous and extremely counterproductive. I'm glad that it's become less and less of a thing, I think it's due to partnerships like that opening up the playing fields to literally letting anyone who is the best at pro wrestling wrestle at the very top, as it should be. I think putting any kind of barrier on that is absolutely ridiculous. I think that what AEW is doing right now — you can see it because other companies are following suit — is exactly what needs to happen in professional wrestling."

How AEW's partnership model fits Bailey's point

Mike Bailey tied his argument directly to AEW's partnerships, and the consequence is straightforward, those relationships create more room for the kind of fresh matchups he thinks wrestling needs. That same open-door approach has already shaped how fans look at Bailey's own spot in the company, especially after Speedball Mike Bailey Slams MJF After AEW Dynamite Match.

His broader point was not that contracts should disappear overnight. Bailey acknowledged that promotions need structure, but he argued that too many barriers can hold wrestlers back from reaching the highest level against the widest possible field of opponents.

Bailey also connected that idea to representation at the top of the sport. In his view, partnerships that bring in talent from different countries and backgrounds help remove outdated limits on who gets treated like a credible championship-level wrestler.

Sources

As reported by Fightful.