The Davisons walk into Fogo de Chao Brazilian Steakhouse arm in arm. Ken smiles that stupid, cheesy smile that seems to cross his face when he’s around his wife. Lately, his time seems to be spent between Las Vegas, Baltimore and their combined doctor’s appointments. The simplicity of just having this time with Kyra, is really all he needs in life.

The iridescent illumination creates a glow throughout the room the Ken feels is as warm as Kyra’s is. The two are wearing matching outfits, Ken in a navy blue shirt and black slacks, with Kyra wearing a black dress with a matching belt around the empire waist, the fabric stretching enough to show off her slight baby bump. The various levels of lighting reflect off the brown walls creating an earthy, and more importantly, inviting atmosphere. The black chairs are far enough away that they don’t clash with the chocolate colored walls, the brown pseudo wood grain table tops are covered in a white tablecloth.

As the couple approach their table, Ken pulls out the seat in front of him and motions for Kyra to sit down. She takes his hand and he raises her to his lips, kisses it before letting go so he can make certain that her ass lands on the chair. Maybe he’s being overprotective. Maybe he’s being gentlemanly. Either way, Kyra seems to appreciate the gesture. Ken smoothes out his shirt and pant legs before taking his own seat.

“I feel like we don’t get to do this nearly enough anymore,” Ken says earnestly. “I know I ask you this all the time, but how are you feeling? Not like a general “I’m okay.” Honest to goodness how are you?”

She sits back, resting her hands on the baby bump. “I.. um.. I’m good. Really good. I mean, why wouldn’t I be?”

“I just worry that I’m not home enough. I feel like we don’t talk the way we used to. I don’t know, maybe I’m being stupid. We were traveling the world together. Now, I’m in a hotel room and when I roll over it’s just… empty.”

Ken looks defeated.Still, it’s good that he’s letting this out because he usually bottles his emotions up until he says or worse, does something stupid.

“I just feel like you’re supposed to be my number one priority and… I don’t know…” Ken’s voice trails off.

“Here’s the thing, Ken…” Kyra begins, her tone much more gentle than it usually is. “I am, or rather we are your top priority. That doesn’t change because you’re going out and doing something you love. Yeah we were traveling the world together, and to be fair.. we still could be…”

She shoots him a soft look before she continues. “But everything is okay. We’re okay. The family is okay. You’re not a bad husband or father just because you’re still out here pursuing your passions. I can take care of things, believe it or not.”

She finishes with a soft smile, reaching out for his hand. He smiles back at Kyra, but it’s definitely more of an awkward one. Before he can answer, they are interrupted by their server.

“Hi, I’m Mario. I’ll be your server for the evening. Here are your menus and a glass of water for each of you. I’ll give you a few moments and be right back with you.”

“Thank you,” the two say in unison. Ken gives his wife’s hand a gentle squeeze, returning his attention solely to her.

“I know you can handle it. I don’t know if I can handle it. This is new to me. I feel like… I don’t know. I feel like I should be here more. I’ve got some reservations about this whole situation. Not that I don’t want to be a dad or anything like that. I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life. I’m just…” he says, voice quivering as it trails off again. “Mama, I’m scared.”

The words have power. Ken’s entire demeanor from the tone of his voice to his body language deflate.

“Because of what happened to Crystal.” Kyra replies, matter of factly. “I don’t know why you wouldn’t be, after that. This entire process is terrifying, without the added stress of what you’d already been through, hun. When I was pregnant with Adina, I was scared too. I wasn’t sure I was the kind of person who should have a kid, let alone be trusted to raise them to be a decent human being. I guess what I’m trying to say is that it’s normal to be scared. You’re not alone.”

“Wow… Um… Okay…” Ken stammers, obviously caught off guard. “This went in a direction I wasn’t expecting. But… uh… you might be onto something. I just want to be here for everything and that might be part of it but maybe because this is the first one that or at least the first one that I’m aware of so I just want to be here for all of it. More than anything, I want to be here for you.”

Kyra just kind of gives Ken a look.

“Sorry, word vomit. I couldn’t help myself. Since you brought it up, can I be clear about one thing?”

“Of course.”

“This isn’t about Crystal. This is about us. This about you and I, Adina, the baby, and even Chloe. Am I scared because of what happened all those years ago? Fuck, yeah. But you aren’t her. I know it wasn’t her fault, but she broke me. When she died I lost a part of me. But, you,” Ken stops and sniffles, trying to fight back the tears in his eyes. “You make me whole. After Crystal died, I was fearless. Everything had been taken from me. You gave me back everything I had been missing. I wasn’t afraid until I met you.”

It takes Kyra a few moments before she leans forward and speaks.

“I feel the same way about you.” She says quietly, a reassuring smile on her face. “You are here for me, for us. You always have been there whenever I needed you. Hell, if it wasn’t for you I’d probably be married to some other prick right now. You showed me my true value, and so much more. You don’t ever have to worry about me feeling like you aren’t here for me, or for this family.”

“I can’t help but feel…”

“But…” Kyra interjects, her head tilting to the side. “You say this isn’t about what happened before, and I believe you. But you are scared of losing me. Of losing this baby…”

This time, it’s her voice trails off as she glances down at her belly.

“What I’m scared of is missing something important. I’ve been going to therapy behind your back. An actual psychiatrist who prescribed me anxiety meds. A few weeks back, I noticed I was getting… something. I can’t even find the right word for it. I just knew that I had to get the situation handled. If I became some kind of controlling monster, I’d be no better than the men who came before me.”

Kyra nods her head and sits back in her seat, a look of shock on her face.

“Well.. I, um. I’m glad you’re getting the help you needed… But why didn’t you tell me?”

“I don’t know. That’s a lie. I do know. I didn’t want you to worry about me any more than you already do. Which brings me to why I wanted to get you out of the house. I didn’t want the girls to hear and any excuse to wine and dine you, or at least dine you, is worth it.”

Instead of answering straight away, Kyra simply sits and fiddles with the napkin on the table in front of her.

“How would you feel if I retired? I finish my run with the Conquest title, go for the World title if I get that far, honor my commitment to that tournament in Sin City and step away. I’ve had a good career. I’m satisfied. My commitment is to you.”

She shrugs her shoulders. “That’s not my decision.”

Ken opens his mouth to retort but Kyra stops him.

“BUT.. if that’s what you wanna do, then I’d enjoy having you at home. Only if that’s really what you want to do. I already know your commitment is to me. You don’t have to prove it by giving it up before you’re ready.”

“It’s not like that. I know I don’t have to prove anything to you. I’ve never had to. It’s always been about what I have to prove to myself. I have to prove to myself that I am deserving of your love because I just can’t let go of that nagging little voice in the back of my head that tells me that I’m not good enough.”

Ken sighs. As he’s about to continue, the server walks up to the table.

“Have you two had a chance to look over the menu?”

“We’re still deciding. A few more moments, please.”

“Yes, sir. Of course.”

Ken turns back to Kyra who is taking a drink of her water.

“I’m trying to find the right way to phrase this. My father, the one you met, not the sperm donor, was always there for me and that’s who I want to be for you, Adina and the kid. If I step away, I can do that.”

“Then it seems like you’ve made up your mind.”

“Let’s see how this plays out. I wouldn’t mind going for the World title just once. But, if I don’t get there, I think it’s time to become a stay at home dad, if you can put up with me.”

Kyra chuckles.  

“Then it’s settled.” Ken says as he joins in the chuckling. “I suppose we should actually look at the menu.”

With the proverbial elephant no longer in the room, the two enjoy the rest of the evening, losing themselves in each other.

Now in full regalia, “Godly’ Ken Davison stands in front of the camera. Noticeably absent is the UGWC Conquest Championship that is normally worn around his waist. He radiates an air of confidence that has been steadily growing the past few weeks.

“Travis Pierce, old buddy, old pal. We meet again. This time the tables have turned and the hunter becomes the hunted. That’s all fine and good with me, Pierce. I’m hoping that after our last meeting you got your head out of your ass. I’m hoping that after I made one hundred percent certain that you wouldn’t win our block in the Global Challenge that you would understand that this isn’t a game to me. You think that I am walking around in front of this camera, in front of these fans, and play God. I don’t play God. Playing is for children.”

“I understand that what goes up must come down. The higher you are, the further you fall. The more it hurts when you hit the ground and anybody, no matter how big the empire they built and how great the legacy they’ve carved out for themselves, can come crashing down fast and all it takes is one guy with a wild hair up his ass and the balls to take a shot. It only took one bullet to kill Abraham Lincoln and when the history books are written they will say that “Godly” Ken Davison only had to make one mistake to put an unremovable, bloody wound on his mythical career. That mistake, Pierce, it won’t come against you. The reason The Baltimore Elite dropped the Cooperative Championships is because I made that mistake against Deimos and Orson. I learned from that mistake and that is why I beat you in the Global Challenge and that is why I am going to beat you again.”

“If we’ve learnt one thing in 2023: “Godly” Ken Davison is capable of standing on his own two feet. On March 6th in Chicago, I am going to make you realize just how bad you screwed up, because that’s what you are doing by taking this match. First, I am going to break you physically, because I’m freaking badass. I am going to pick you apart piece by piece, tendon after tendon, bone after bone until you quit. I want to take it upon myself to finish the job and I’m gonna make you ask yourself a question. “Is it worth it?”

“They call you ‘The Icon of Entertainment’ That’s all fine and good. You can have it, just, you know, while we’re at it, while we’re at it…”

Davison pulls a bag from off screen. There are a few different title belts in there. On top of the pile, center of attention, is the UGWC Conquest Championship.

“I could carry this bag around all the time with all this gold, all these accolades, all these belts and they don’t mean dick.”

Davison slides the bag back to the side.

“And while we’re at it these promoters…” Ken pulls a wad of cash out of his pocket. “…all this money they’re giving me, all of a sudden, it doesn’t mean dick to me.”

Ken throws the billfold over his shoulder. The black curtain behind him billows for a brief moment as the money strikes it.

“I don’t want it. What I want is TRAVIS PIERCE’S HEAD ON A STICK!!!”

“Godly” Ken Davison stops. In this moment, where he would normally stop and try to collect himself, he instead cracks his neck, which is loud enough to be picked up by the microphone of the camera.

“Because the titles, the money, the fame, the fortune… none of that means a Kendamned thing if I can’t get past you again because this isn’t about any of that. This is about something worth more than any of that. This is about my reputation. When the night comes to a close on March 6th, you’re going to have to ask yourself: “Is it worth it?” I’m not gonna tell you if it is or if it isn’t. I’m gonna let you ask yourself that question at the end of the night and only me and you are gonna know the answer.”

“Icon of Entertainment?” Pfft. This isn’t about entertainment. I’m not here to entertain. I am here to win. That means I drag wrestlers to places they’ve never been before. I drag guys underwater where they can’t breathe. But if anybody knows that it should be you since the last time we were in the ring together I beat you and took your championship. But that doesn’t matter because I’m not looking at the past, I am looking to the future. I am looking towards the UGWC World Championship. That means I am not looking past you, I am looking through you. That means that on Monday night, UGWC Synergy, I get to drill your head into the mat again, just like it was a railroad spike and I get to walk out still UGWC Conquest Champion.”