TNA’s Mike Bailey describes the incident that earned him a five-year US ban

TNA wrestling star “Speedball” Mike Bailey has built a reputation for incredibly strong in-ring work over the past few years, despite being banned from entering the United States from 2016 to 2021. During an appearance on “Talk Is Jericho,” Bailey explained that his travel ban came after border officials discovered him attempting to work at an EVOLVE event without a work visa.

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“So, like I’ve done many times before, I crossed the line and said … I’m going to do a trial,” Bailey said. “They took out my phone and took it to the back of the room, spent an hour on it and then came back and said, ‘We know you’re lying. We know you’re getting paid to do this.’ So that was a five-year ban.”

According to Bailey, he had crossed the border to wrestle before without incident, but something had apparently made the agents realize that he was worth pursuing. Bailey was told he could make an official statement to avoid jail time, and the wrestler complied, not knowing that his admission of guilt would result in further consequences.

“I didn’t even know a five-year ban was being discussed,” Bailey continued. “I had never heard of that happening to a professional wrestler. I had heard of many, many people being turned away because they were suspected and tagged and couldn’t leave. … I just gave in and told them the whole story.”

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Bailey was handed the ban on the spot and later learned that he could have been banned from entering the United States for life. Fortunately, Bailey was working outside the country in the meantime, making a bigger name for himself in promotions like DDT and RevPro. Since his return, Bailey has become a major player for both TNA and GCW.

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit “Talk Is Jericho” with ah/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription..