Mike's New Year starts off not too badly. He gets MizTV, and he gets an in with the Judgement Day. Kind of. Well, he gets R-Truth which leads to Judgement Day appearing on his show. It also leads to him partnering with Truth for the first time in years, which isn't exactly what he was looking for- especially when Truth continues to get confused over who he's partnering with, or who to work with throughout the match. They still win, which Mike figures means that it was worth the frustration, but not by much.
When they leave the ring, Truth wanders off, probably in an attempt to get back into the Judgement Day club house, and Mike wanders around, looking to pass the time. It's almost the second day of 2024 and he hadn't expected to spend it with R-Truth at all, trying to shake off the feeling of trying to wrangle him through a match. He's about to go outside, pace around a bit, when he hears DIY discussing trying for another opportunity at the tag titles.
He makes it behind them and throws his arms around them, ecstatic grin on his face. "If anyone deserves it, it's you two! Anything I can do to help, you just let me know." When they look at him incredulously, he continues to smile, undeterred by their attitude. "Last time we worked together, I think it went pretty well."
"It did," Johnny says cautiously.
"We'll think about it," Ciampa says, frowning over at Mike. "Interesting MizTV tonight."
"I thought so," Mike says cheerfully. "Well, I'll let you two carry on with your strategizing. I'm going to go back to the hotel and call my family. See you two."
"See you," Johnny says, Ciampa murmuring something along those lines as Mike pulls away and heads back down the hall, hands in his pockets as he heads back the way he'd come.
It's chilly outside, but he doesn't stay out long enough to really be bothered by it, quickly unlocking his car and tapping his fingers against his steering wheel as he settles in the seat. He's tired and a little stressed, and going back to the hotel and stretching out sounds pretty perfect right now. He'll only get a few hours before his flight, but that's fine. A few hours are better than nothing.
He does check his phone and smiles at the picture AJ has sent him of the kids, playing with the ornaments of their tree, 'helping' AJ to take it down. He replies back, "Will call soon. Miss you" and then starts the car, humming quietly as he pulls out onto the main road and drives around downtown until he makes it to his hotel.
All in all, setting aside all of the confusion with Truth, he can't complain over having a win to start the year off. The whole thing with Gunther may have fallen apart, but he hopes this puts him back on a better track leading into the Royal Rumble.