It's a struggle. Mike dwells for days on the moment, replaying the video of Shane striking him from behind. Shaking, pushing his father. Locking the triangle in on Mike. He can still feel the pressure on his throat, sometimes, especially in his nightmares, trying to breathe, fighting to get Shane off of him. AJ has to wake him up more times than he cares to admit, hugging him and whispering to him until he slips back into exhausted sleep. His body aches, his mind is racing with all sorts of thoughts- Why didn't I see it, why...- and so when he returns to Smackdown that Tuesday, he's not surprised to learn that Shane is not there at the show. "Coward," he mumbles, turning to look for his personal locker room.
He can't find it, all of the doors properly labeled but none showing his name anywhere. He blinks slowly and finds a tech. "Excuse me, where is my personal locker room at?"
The guy looks at him for a moment, clearing his throat awkwardly. "Uh, well, it was determined that there wasn't enough space for individual locker rooms except for champions so... you're going to have to change in the main locker room. I'm sorry."
Mike stares at him for a long, tense moment. He's had a private locker room for years by this stage, hell it was part of his latest contract negotiation, and he knows immediately that this is the work of Shane, who couldn't be bothered to show up tonight, but is still working behind the scenes to make Mike's life hell. He holds his temper, however, nodding at the man. "Right. Thanks."
The main locker room is loud, different guys stuffed inside, getting dressed, stretching out, putting wrist tape on, etc. Mike takes a moment to take it all in, frowning. He's not been one of the guys for a really long time, and he realizes that it's kind of nice to be back at bare bones, the start of his career when things were kind of simple and he still partnered with Morrison. He breathes in and out as he settles down next to R-Truth, the two of them exchanging glances. "Forced to spend time with us little people, huh?" his former tag partner asks.
Mike shrugs. "Appears so," he says, smirking a little. It's ok, really. He doesn't mind it, even if he looks sorely out of place in his suit among all of the people in Tapout gear, wrestling trunks and things of that nature. Back to your roots, he reminds himself.
He has a lot of thoughts, and even more feelings about Shane, and the McMahon family as a whole, so he lets it go once he makes it to the ring to start the night off. Talks about what he's been thinking about the last week, how many times he's betrayed people, and how he's earned everything he's accomplished in this business. The crowd is behind him by the end of his speech, especially when he informs Shane that just because he was born a McMahon, he's not the best. He's actually the worst. It's simple, almost weak in the cusp of Mike's feelings, but considering the truth that Shane knows about himself and his family, Mike decides it's best to toe the line until after the match. When Shane keeps up his end of the bargain or not.
Mike walks backstage to some appreciative nods from his fellow superstars. The plan was to leave fairly quickly once he'd said his piece but he decides to stick around and see how Kofi does. He's not a fan of the man, still has the scar on his brow from all of those years ago, but part of him wants Kofi to be successful, to prove that the McMahons can't control the narrative entirely. The entire locker room cheers when it looks like Kofi's won... just for Vince to interrupt to announce Kofi has to face one more person- Daniel Bryan. Daniel is fresh and smug, and he defeats Kofi, ending Kofi's hope to have the title match at Wrestlemania.
Mike feels ill, watching all of the hope and anticipation fade from those around him. He wishes he could say something, do something to make them reclaim their faith in the business, in their own chances at finding some sort of success like Kofi has. Unfortunately, he knows it's a one in a lifetime oopportunity, and he sighs sadly, grabbing his things and finally heading for the exit. He's eager to see his wife and daughter, and start making plans for the next few weeks of things. Pausing by a full-length mirror, he stares at himself, trying to find the determination and stubbornness he'll need to hold his own against Shane and all of those shrewd McMahon tricks. "Stay strong, Mizanin," he tells himself. "It'll work out somehow."
He nods at himself, turns, and walks out of the backdoor.