Mike thinks things are finally stabilizing with Truth. He's finally accepted that Judgement Day doesn't want him, he's still confused on who Mike is apparently- how do you confuse HIM with Kevin Owens?- but it's step by step progress, and they're still closer to things making sense than they were a week ago. He'll take it.
"How do you think tonight's going to go?" Ciampa asks idly, sitting between him and Gargano as he adjusts his knee braces. "Will Truth hold it together?"
"Hopefully," Miz says. "At least he's accepted that Judgement Day aren't his friends. Beyond that, couldn't tell you." He smirks. "HHH."
Ciampa huffs, rolling his eyes. "Johnny, I'm going to get you a cowboy hat."
"I think I'd look good in chaps," Gargano says thoughtfully.
Mike grimaces. "Ew, you two are awful."
"And yet you hang out with us," Ciampa says with a smirk, finishing putting together his gear. "Ready to go?"
"Yep," Gargano says, hopping up to his feet and stretching a little.
"Yeah," Mike says, also standing. The three of them head out, Mike relieved to find Truth waiting at the gorilla position.
"Miz!" he calls out. "Have you lost weight? You look different from last time I saw you."
Mike exhales. "You ready to go, Truth? Match time."
"Yep," he says, some of the levity leaving his eyes. "Let's do this."
The match has its ups and downs. They all fight hard, but Judgement Day is a little stronger, a little more cohesive. Truth gets overwhelmed by Damian, Ciampa gets taken down by JD and Balor, and Gargano and Mike himself are unable to move in time from where they'd been laid out.
The loss stings, Mike leaning over Truth's prone body, watching him blink sluggishly at the ceiling, resting a hand on his chest. "You alright?"
"Think so," he mumbles, sitting up with some help from Mike. "Sorry. Didn't expect..."
"Don't worry about it," Mike says quietly. "We'll get them next time."
Truth nods, but he looks like he believes it as much as Mike does.
The road to Wrestlemania is long, frequently full of disappointments. Mike isn't sure what they're going to be doing in 40 days, but he definitely hopes it's something that'll help take some of the hurt and frustration out of Truth's eyes.