A lot of people end up stranded in Saudi Arabia after the event there. Mike is already in town for Smackdown, with a few other blue brand people, but there's a tension in the air. All of them on their phones, some texting friends, others murmuring lowly amongst themselves backstage. There aren't a lot of them for a two hour show, and Mike sincerely wonders how they're going to fill the time, when he sees them. In the halls, HHH and HBK's smug looks following them.

NXT people. With Survivor Series on the horizon. His brows furrow and he blows out a slow breath, already disliking the implications of this. He twists his fingers into the wrist tape that he uses most often and looks out of the corner of his eye as the show starts, the crowd reacting enthusiastically. Well, nothing to be done for it now, he thinks, squaring his shoulders. Let's get this show on the road.

He finds himself facing off with Tommaso Ciampa, and immediately overwhelmed by the guy. He'd had neck surgery only a few months prior, double elbow and knee surgery the year before that. Various other injuries. But he's good. Mike, as injury free as he's been most of his career, can't keep up with him, and it's almost a relief when Tommaso finally defeats him. He rolls over and hits the mat in frustration, struggling not to lose it on national TV like this. "Shit," he whispers, exiting the ring and shaking some of the fog out as he struggles to his feet. "Shit, shit, shit."

He makes his way backstage and ignores anything- attempts at an interview, his fellow Smackdown roster either judging him or attempting to console him. Survivor Series is the one time of year where they try to be a cohesive unit, show brand loyalty, whatever else, but he's not really feeling it this year. Makes it back to his locker room and collapses with a grimace before reaching blindly for his phone. He dials instinctively and closes his eyes as it rings, and rings, and rings.

Finally it clicks and he breathes a little easier. "Hi, Mike," AJ says softly, and he pictures her, sitting up in bed with their son nustled in her arms, Sara tucked against her side like they usually do during a show he's on.

"Hi, sweetheart. How are you all?" He's still wrapping his mind around there being three of them now- it'd been his girls for so long, but now there's George, and his heart aches with happiness every time he thinks about it.

"Oh, we're good," AJ whispers. "George won't let go of my finger at the moment, and Sara is dozing off while watching Smackdown." She chuckles softly. "Here, I'll hold the phone up to her for a minute."

He listens to rustling, and then smiles when he hears Sara's soft breathing crackling against the line. "Good night, sweetie," he says softly. "Daddy'll be home really soon. I love you so much, never forget that, ok?" AJ returns to the line and he breathes out. "Thank you, I needed that more than I realized," he says.

"I think I could tell. Everything alright?"

"Oh yeah, physically, I'm fine," Mike confirms. "Just... I feel like I'm professionally in a rut." He sighs. "I just wish things would move a little faster in some ways."

"Yeah, I think I understand that," she says. "It's difficult knowing what's about to happen, but having to wait for it. But you know things will be fantastic once that does come around."

"Yeah, I absolutely do," he says with a small smile. He shifts around a bit, listening to AJ's soft humming as she tends to a fussing George. "Hey, sweetheart, I'm gonna let you go so we stop disrupting the kids. I'll be home as soon as I can, alright?"

"Alright," she says. "Looking forward to it, husband. Have a good night."

"You too. Love you."

"Love you too."

He puts his cell phone down after hanging up and stares off into the distance, a thoughtful look on his face. "Yeah. Fantastic..."