Oh, what an evolution it has been! Among the fanbase, Mike went from being one of the most unpopular housemates in the earlier seasons to the fan-favorite during the Family Reunion reboot. During the earlier Jersey Shore seasons, Mike was all about his abs and winning with the ladies.

On the Family Reunion, everyone saw a different side of Mike - he was completely sober and was trying to get his life back on track, without focusing on his past demons.

He managed to restore all his friendships with the cast and heck, Snooki and JWoww’s kids were the flower girls at his wedding, something that seemed unthinkable in the years prior. It was quite the rollercoaster of an evolution, filled with so many ups and downs. Let’s take a look at the highs and lows - here’s the evolution of Jersey Shore’s Mike The Situation, in photos.

14 Mike, Is That You?

The photo of Mike was obviously taken way before the filming of Jersey Shore. In fact, this is Mike's high school yearbook photo, and we just can't get over Mike's choice of haircut.

We know that getting a "haircut" became a really important weekly task for all Jersey Shore's self-described Guidos, but we assume this is something Mike only started to care about when he met his 'Shore' housemates.

13 Young...And Not So Innocent

Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino might look really young in the photo above, but innocent he certainly was not.

The reality TV star was invited to the Grammys red carpet event in 2010, and he wasted no time in doing what he did best. He opened up his shirt and flashed his abs for the cameras...and for all the world to see.

12 Mike Throws It Back

The Situation had a humble start; at one point, he was employed as a male stripper!

Mike had quite the past – which also included personal trainer work as well. Back in the day, his body was his top priority and that was also evident during the early seasons of Jersey Shore.

On the road to his wedding, we were amazed at how much everything had changed for Mike, including his emphasis on training – which really wasn’t what it used to be.

RELATED - Jersey Shore’s Mike Sorrentino Struggles After Being Released From Jail

11 Throwback With The Future Mrs.

A throwback shot of the couple! According to US Magazine, Mike and Lauren started to date back in college. Once the show started to air, they took a lengthy break.

Of course, we all know now that the two ended up together. They recently tied the knot and are working on the next phase of their lives together. This adventure is all about starting a family filled with mini-Situations.

10 Jersey Shore, Season 2

A picture of a young Mike from season two in the Shore house. At this point, he started to clash with some of his housemates, slowly but surely. His arrogance was causing a little annoyance with the likes of JWoww.

Things would only go from bad to worse during the seasons that followed. The Italy season was Mike’s biggest downfall in the series.

9 Dancing With The Stars Stint

Mike The Situation might have made his TV debut on Jersey Shore, but he didn't stop there. In September 2010, Mike made his debut on Dancing With The Stars and was determined to win the competition.

It might not have been an easy challenge, but Mike's Jersey Shore housemates were all cheering him on, with Ronnie saying, "I hope he just tries his hardest, and he doesn’t embarrass himself.”

RELATED - We’ve Ranked The Top 20 Dancing With The Stars Contestants From Worst To Best

8 Another Throwback With Lauren

These two go way back. Mike has said on multiple occasions that he and his now-wife Lauren met when the two were in college. While Sorrentino was about 22 at the time, Lauren was just 19.

The couple has photos together that were taken as early as 2004. The road might not have been so smooth for the lovebirds, but it's safe to say that they are better than ever nowadays.

7 Behind The Scenes

A candid throwback of Mike - wherever the crew went, they were sure to grab everyone’s attention. The filming of the show could not have been easy, especially given all the tourists at the Jersey Shore during that time of year.

The memorabilia continues to be all over the shore, especially at the t-shirt shop. The group is iconic in the area.

6 Banged Up

Although this photo was taken shortly after Mike got into a brawl with his brother at their tanning salon in New Jersey, the reality TV star was still all smiles for the camera.

Sorrentino was spotted leaving a police department with a bandaged arm and a gash under his right eye.

5 Seaside T-Shirt Shop

Let’s be honest, Mike wasn’t the greatest t-shirt shop employee. He did very little and most of the time, he was trying to get away from the clients...and possibly get in a nap after a long night of partying the night before.

Mike was likely going on one of his lengthy breaks in the photo above. He was known for overstepping his time-limit during lunch breaks.

4 Mike Vs John Mayer

Mike made a few cameos on other shows during the heydey of Jersey Shore. One of the most memorable cameos took place during the Donald Trump roast - let’s just say Mike’s roast wasn’t the best and he definitely felt wrath as a result.

Here we see Mike alongside John Mayer. The two decide to have a little bit of fun and show off the abs – we’ll give the edge to Mike in the throwback shot.

RELATED - Here Are All The Female Celebs John Mayer Has Dated In The Past

3 Repping His Prison Jumpsuit

This might not be the best photo of Mike the Situation, but it was definitely a step in the right direction for the reality TV star.

He posted this photo to his Instagram when he was serving his 8-month sentence behind bars, and captioned the photo: "Tough Times Don't Last, Tough People Do".

2 Living His Best Life

This definitely shows Mike living his best life. During season one and two of the Family Reunion, The Situation was all about going out for a bite to eat and satisfying those cravings, whether it was for a nice plate of pasta or a filling hamburger.

1 The Comeback Is Always Greater Than The Setback

“If You Can Stay Positive in a Negative Situation You Win,”according to an IG post from The Situation.

Clearly, this evolution demonstrates that Mike is in a good place nowadays. Not only is he loaded with positive quotes but he’s also looking his best these days.

During his prison sentence, Mike was devoted to getting in shape - he was working out multiple times a day while eating healthy as well.

NEXT: Jersey Shore’s Vinny Guadagnino Shows Off His Fit New Body… Thanks To His Keto Diet!

Sources – IG, NY Daily News, US Magazine & Access Online