The wrestling world is a constantly evolving entity. AJ had known that when she was actively wrestling, but at hte time, it was slow. Barely creeping along, because there weren't as many opportunities as there are now. Then the indys experienced a resurgence, and New Japan became popular, and WWE released some key people who banded together to create something new, an alternative. AEW really had shifted a lot of things in the wrestling business, and it was kind of awe inspiring to watch, how it had urged people out of the little ball of complacency they were in. Gave them options, gave them a choice.

This inspiration more than anything had given AJ an idea. Just a small, lingering thought in the back of her mind that festered and grew, especially during Mike's injury. Seeing him working throughout his knee rehab had emboldened her. Made her think about a possible future, even with her neck issues making in ring activity all but impossible. So she scheduled a convention once things started to open up regarding COVID, just to test the water. The response had nearly drawn her to tears- people did miss her, people did remember her, and... and so, she made inroads. Contacted some key names she remembered, got in contact with other people she was just meeting, and one thing led to another and...

"I'm going to executive produce Women of Wrestling when it reboots," she tells Mike with an excitement that makes her voice tremble a little. "Probably do some commentary too." He's watching her on Skype, so she can't get the full grasp of his reaction until he speaks, holding her breath until the connection stutters forward. He's in the dance studio, wifi isn't the strongest there.

"I'm so proud of you," he finally tells her with a wide smile. "I always wondered if you'd be interested in something like that, but, you know, between Sara and George and your mental health advocacy, I didn't know if you'd want to take time away for it."

"Yeah," she sighs softly. "I know, I had to think long and hard about it, but I think... I feel like this is the right time for it. Sara will be going into preschool soon, and I'm sure Alicia or Taya would-" She cuts off a little at the subtle shift in Mike's expression at the mention of Taya and exhales. "Mike, we're still friends, Taya and I. You know that, right?"

He nods. "I know. I just don't know if they'd want to do anything to help us, after... uh, everything."

AJ smiles a little. "Well, no harm in asking, I suppose. Worse she can do is say no." She picks at her pants a little before looking up innocently. "His birthday is soon, you know."

Mike scoffs. "So is mine," he says dismissively, but AJ can already see the wheels moving in Mike's head. "Listen, it's late, I should let you go. I'm gonna try this dance one more time and then crash."

"I love you," she says quietly.

"I love you too. Get some sleep, sweetheart."

"You too, husband," she says, before waving at the screen and closing out the program. Dropping back against her pillows, she smiles a little.

Yeah, things aren't too bad right about now.

-x

Mike spends Sunday morning handling a few media calls, a couple of interviews. Meets up with Witney at lunch, and they go over the schedule fot the rest of the day. With a new episode of DWTS on the following day, this would be one of their last opportunities to really buckle down and rehearse their dance for the week. Mike has it, he thinks, now it's just forming muscle memory to get the steps memorized well enough to perform it on TV without bungling it too badly. Like how practicing wrestling moves over and over again make them commonplace and easy to do during matches.

During once of the rare breaks he gets, he looks at the calendar and remembers the conversation he had with AJ the night before. Tapping his phone against his knuckle, he sighs and unlocks it, to go to Twitter. His fingers tremble a little as he types, but he bites his lip and carries on, determined to see it through.

Happy birthday to the man that no matter how many times I stab in the back in the ring he always forgives me...I think #HappyBirthdayJomo

He feels oddly emotional as he sends the tweet. He doesn't know if John will take it the way he means it, but he's sincere enough with the message there. They'd been at each other's throats before, and John hadn't only forgiven him, but helped him become world champion when logically he didn't have to do that at all. So, Mike has no doubt that some day, some how, John will let this go, and forgive him once more. Because that's just how John is. His anger always burns bright and fast, and fades away just as quickly.

They're best friends, they're brothers, and he likes to think that at least ten of those votes he's been getting weekly are from John's phone, even if it happens during Raw and he's probably `too busy to actually sit and watch Mike's dances. He has no idea, really, who might be watching, and who isn't. The response he's received on Twitter are overwhelming, even people he's not really friendly with showing him support, like Kofi and Ziggler. It just proves what kind of a family WWE really is deep down.

The dance that week is the salsa and he thinks he does pretty good at it- even gets his first eight, but it's again another week where they're one of the last names spared. Yes, they haven't been in the bottom two yet, but he can't help the paranoia just a little. Of course they say in no particular order, but when he's so far two for two in being one of the last names announced safe, he can't help but to worry. Witney tries to console him that it's probably nothing, but he thinks he sees a gleam of doubt in her expression as well.

That night, he stares at himself in the mirror and shakes his head. "I won't lose this easily," he says, resolving once more to do better, to rehearse harder, to do everything and anything he can do to last throughout this competition. "I wanna win, dammit," he mumbles, gripping the sink tightly. Stares at himself with wild, wide eyes. "I will win, dammit. I have to." There's no doubt in his mind that he wants it bad enough to see it happen.

No more of this close to the last nonsense. He'll turn things around, and see to it that he and Witney are one of the first few announced safe. Starting now.