Saudi Arabia was supposed to be an opportunity. Mike wanted to wrestle in the Best in the World tournament and win it so badly he could taste it, imagining the pride his daughter would have of knowing that her father had won something so impressive to go with all of his other accolades. So he fights hard, and he fights hungry, and he fights smart. Until that old desperate rivalry that always burns under his skin returns and he finds himself falling apart in the finals, chasing after Dolph Ziggler, just to get a little too foolish, a little too wild, and he stumbles on his way out of the ring to get his hands on the man and twists his ankle upon hitting the mat.
He immediately knows something's wrong, he can't even stand and the referee is trying to convince him that he needs to forfeit, that he can't fight like this, but he keeps trying to get upright, wanting that trophy, wanting to make his brand proud, especially this close to Survivor Series, but every shift against his ankle sends pain stabbing up it and oh shit, it hurts, and he bites his lip, wondering if maybe it's worse than he thinks. So he stays down, and he watches helplessly as the referee goes to announce Ziggler the winner- but then Shane interrupts and declares that he will take Mike's place. This is infuriating, almost embarrassing, but Mike can't really do anything about it right now, watching on in muted frustration and horror as the match starts while he's getting helped from ringside.
He's sitting in the trainer's office, an ice pack curled around his ankle, watching as Shane wrestles for what should've rightfully been Mike's if he wasn't so clumsy, struggling just to breathe normally as Baron Corbin trips Shane up while he's dancing- but Shane recovers as Baron gets ejected from ringisde, Shane fights back, and... and Shane wins. Mike's jaw drops. "No way," he mumbles. "Can you believe this?" he demands of the trainer, who looks up, then continues fussing over his leg.
Mike has a flight pretty early the next morning, his ankle still tender but better, especially once it's wrapped carefully. Unfortunately, he hadn't been able to get reception until on the plane heading for the UK, so he can only imagine how frantic AJ is, thinking he's honestly injured. As soon as he can, he dials home and smiles weakly when she answers on ring one. "Hey, sweetheart," he greets her.
"How bad is it?" is the first thing she asks, her voice tense and eyes belying how exhausted she is after what probably was something of a sleepless night.
"Just a strain," he promises her. "Got it wrapped up really nicely, and it's only a little sore. I'm sorry I couldn't call you until now."
She waves her hand as if dismissing this, breathing a little easier already. "You're sure? It looked really bad..."
"I know. But we iced it, and elevated it, wrapped it. It's a lot better now. I promise you." He hesitates. "And I'm gonna take it really easy while over in the UK. I swear."
"You'd better," she huffs. "I'd make someone KO you otherwise. Big Show is back, right?"
"You wouldn't!" he gasps, lips twitching upwards and belying his offense. "But really, sweetheart, everything going good over there?"
"Yep. Sara's sleeping like... well, like a baby." AJ smiles weakly. "So I was just sitting here worrying about you, but now that I know you're ok, I think it's only fair that you talk to me and tell me about your trip so far, while I lay down and rest."
"Fair trade," he agrees with a small smile. As she curls up, he hesitates, trying to think about where to start the story with. "So after a very long, very tense flight, we land in Saudi Arabia, and..."
If Saudi Arabia is odd, Smackdown in Manchester makes absolutely no sense. Shane names Daniel captain of the Smackdown Survivor Series team, which leaves Mike angry and disgusted, so he goes out to let Shane know this- and Shane agrees, making him and Daniel co-captains. It makes no sense, and Mike is sure they're just going to spend the next couple of weeks arguing and disagreeing... but no, for the most part, they get along pretty well, like he hoped they would back in NXT season 1, before Daniel's ego ruined all of his chances in the company. They agree on teammates, and when they don't, work out decent compromises to figure out who should be alongside them.
It's not until after Joe vs Jeff that things fall apart, Daniel's pride getting the best of him once more as he lunges in and begins fighting Joe, Mike getting into the ring quickly and trying to pull them apart. It all goes sideways when Daniel punches him, Mike hitting the mat while Daniel straddles him, hitting him repeatedly. It's a relief when Shane slides into the ring to stop them, but Daniel twists and throws him, Shane gaping up at him as Daniel slowly pulls away from him, a pissed of look on his face as he takes himself out of the situation, Mike and Shane glancing at each other once he goes up the ramp and leaves them behind.
"Are you ok?" Shane asks him and Mike nods, poking angrily at the sore spots of his face.
"Dammit! I knew this isn't going to work!"
"Hey," Shane says, trying to calm him down. "It did for awhile. Don't give up on it yet. I think you two will be perfect co-captains. Just take it easy, Mike. Let the trainer look at you. I'll deal with Daniel."
"You'd better," Mike grouses before rolling out of the ring and limping up the ramp, wanting nothing more than two nights of sleep and to go home to his wife and daughter for awhile.
"if I lose a second match because of something out of my control, I swear," he mumbles. But he takes a few deep breaths, dropping onto the cot and allowing the trainer to look at the various welts and marks forming across his face. "Thanks, Daniel," he mumbles, angry and bitter.
He'd really thought they were making progress earlier in the evening...