The European tour is quickly derailed. On the very first night, Miz and a few of the others are scattered by the gorilla position, watching the final match of the show, when it happens. Seth Rollins lands wrong and, although he continues on with the match, some of them were standing at just the right angle to witness his knee going in a way no human knee should go. They all cringe, aware that it could be very bad, and sure enough, he's helped backstage.
Not even 24 hours later, it's announced that Seth will be stripped of the title because he's torn his knee to hell. It's an awful thing to happen to any champion, Miz pondering all of his title reigns and how relatively lucky he's been. Concussions, yeah, other minor injuries, but nothing serious. Nothing that kept him out of the ring, away from titles. He'd been gone to film movies more than he ever had been on the injured list. He sighs and rubs at his face, all of a sudden aware of just how lucky he's been.
Very few of them really likes Seth, but still he's one of their own, and there's a somber air in the locker room for the rest of the week. By the time Raw comes around, he's been flown out to have the surgery needed to piece his knee together, get him on the road to recovery.
Mike is looking at the brackets for the title tournament that will begin tonight and taps his fingers against his arm. He has a match against Ziggler, of course, and Paige has a match against Becky. He's still staring at it when a familiar presence steps up behind him and he freezes. "What do you want, Del Rio?"
"Nothing," Alberto mutters. "Just looking at my opposition to become World Champion once more."
Miz sneers. "Just remember, according to Seth, we're all just interim until he returns."
"That little rat," Alberto sighs. "I remember how the three of them attacked Ricardo for nothing. This seems like karma, si?"
"Apparently," Mike murmurs. They both turn when Paige's music hits, going to watch her match. She loses to Becky by some luck when Becky reverses her attempt at holding her tights down, paying her back by doing the same to her. Afterwards, Paige locks in the PTO across the announcer's table, the change in Paige's stance due to her fighting to keep her balance making it hurt just a little bit more. Before long, Charlotte runs down to pull the save and Paige quickly gets away from there.
Mike's match is next and he stares Dolph down as he enters the ring. He wonders if, perhaps, Tyler Breeze will interrupt, and barely has the thought left his mind when, sure enough, he prances down to ringside with Summer on his arm. It doesn't do anything, though. Although Mike pulls out all of the stops, even holding Dolph in the figure four for a very long time, Dolph gets the upperhand and surprise victory.
He heads backstage, disappointed and annoyed at losing his best chance at getting to the top of the mountain once more, getting dressed hurriedly. Alberto and Colter are on the entrance ramp, rambling about MexiAmerica when Paige makes her way into Del Rio's private locker room. "D'ya think I should be offended?" she wonders, nodding towards the racist diatribe against the British.
Mike sneers. "I guess if you are, you should talk to Ricardo about it." Paige hums and Mike closes hie eyes, tired and a little bit sore. "Have you heard from him lately?"
Paige's eyes are dark and fixed when she turns back towards Mike. "Yes, yesterday. You should see his hair, Mike. It's so long... and he's so at ease in India... I wish it was that pleasant for him in Florida." She picks at her hair, her shirt, everything in reach, until Mike reaches out and grips her hands. "I miss him so much."
"I know," he sighs, squeezing her fingers. "We all do. But hey, four months to go, right? It's moving along. He'll be home before we know it."
She still looks sad though. "I'm going to miss spending the holidays with him... and his birthday..."
Mike sighs and steps forward, hugging her tightly. "I know. I'm sorry. I know it's not the same, but at least there's a tour in India in January, so maybe we'll get to see him then."
Paige nods against his shoulder. "Thanks, Mike. You always know the right thing to say."
He smiles a little. "Guess I've learned well from being married to AJ..."
She pulls back, a frown marring her face. "Are you comparing me to a hormonal, pregnant lady?" He starts to look freak out and she laughs. "Just kidding. Relax, Mike!"
He slumps down and shakes his head at her as Alberto returns, giving them a strange look. "What are you two doing?"
"Discussing India," Paige says with an innocent grin and wink before bouncing off to get dressed.
"What she said," Mike says, the very picture of innocence as he walks past Alberto and starts to get ready to leave.
"Loco people... I miss mi hermano," Alberto sighs before joining them in collecting his things.