Speedball Mike Bailey opened AEW Redemption 2026 with a major victory, winning the ladder match to secure a future shot at the AEW International Championship. The result makes Bailey the new No. 1 contender coming out of one of the night's most important early matches.
The show-opening bout centered on a contract suspended above the ring, with Bailey outlasting the rest of the field to grab the prize. The match featured six AEW competitors and set a fast pace from the start, giving Redemption 2026 an immediate headline result.
With the win, Bailey now moves into position for a title match against either Kyle Fletcher or Bandido, depending on who holds the AEW International Championship when the bout takes place. That adds even more intrigue to the title picture, as Bailey has put himself next in line for one of the promotion's featured championships.
Bailey's ladder match triumph stands out as one of the key developments from AEW Redemption 2026. By capturing the contract in the opener, he turned a chaotic multi-man contest into a clear step toward championship contention.
