Baron Black Reflects On Mike Bailey Bout, Calls Shoot Taylor His Son

Baron Black is still the ICON World Champion. 

Black successfully defended the ICON World Championship against “Speedball” Mike Bailey at Battle Slam Thriller in arguably the best match in Battle Slam history. Bailey is a former IMPACT X-Division Champion who has stepped in the ring with the likes of Jon Moxley, Will Ospreay, Konosuke Takeshita, Josh Alexander, and more in 2022. 

At Battle Slam Thriller, Black came away with the victory. 

“It was one PWI-ranked wrestler vs. another PWI-ranked wrestler in 2022. When you put two high-caliber athletes like that in the ring, one being the ICON World Champion, one being the former X-Division Champion in IMPACT, you get what you saw. You get some magical-tastical shit that you’ve ever seen on the Georgia Independent scene, probably that you’ve ever seen on the East Coast this year in wrestling,” Black said to Fightful’s Stephen Jensen after the bout. 

Bailey was ranked 30th in the 2022 PWI 500 while Black came in 494th.

Shoot Taylor became the number one contender to the ICON World Championship at Thiller, but Black said he’ll have to wait a bit for his crack at the championship.

“I’m like his father. I’m the Papi, as the legend [Eddie Guerrero] would say. I’m his father, his mentor, the guy who helped trained him a little, getting him out there on the scene. he’s like my son. You know when your son is ready for certain things. My son is not ready for this. He’s not getting his title shot next month. As the mentor to him, I’m going to steer him in the right direction, he’s not getting his ICON World Championship shot just yet. I’m going to give it to him when I think he’s ready,” he said.

Black said he’ll announce his next opponent for the ICON World Championship for the November 27 event soon. 

Fans can find results from Battle Slam Thriller by clicking here.