Stu-E was sat at a hotel bar, a subtle smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth as he nursed a glass of single malt whisky. The amber liquid reflected the soft, ambient glow of the bar, its warmth mirroring the satisfaction that settled in his chest after a productive meeting with Wisdom Parker. The tension he'd expected was there, but it was underscored by something else—an understanding, a rare glimpse into the intricate web of strategies that the Parkers so expertly wove.

The meeting had been more than just a discussion about the upcoming 'Road to Ruin' event; it had been an education. Wisdom Parker, in her usual enigmatic style, had laid out scenarios, possibilities, and threats that Stu-E hadn’t fully considered. Each word had been deliberate, each point a revelation that pushed Stu-E to rethink his approach to defending the HWA World Championship. He’d walked away not just with the usual nerves, but with a sharpened edge, a new perspective on what he needs to do to keep the title.

Instead of rushing back home, Stu-E had decided to stay the night, giving himself time to digest everything he’d learned. The journey back could wait; there was no need to hurry. Here, in the quiet of the bar, with the weight of the belt lifted temporarily from his shoulders, he could process it all—let the new strategies simmer and merge with his own instincts. The bartender, a quiet figure who’d clearly seen his share of late-night patrons with heavy thoughts, offered a nod but left him to his musings.

The bar was a haven of muted sounds—the soft clink of ice, the distant murmur of a jazz piano, the occasional whisper of rain against the windows. It was the perfect backdrop for reflection. Stu-E’s mind replayed the highlights of the meeting, the nuances of Parker’s words, and the strategic insights that would now fuel his preparation for 'Road to Ruin.'

He took a slow sip of his drink, feeling the whisky burn and settle, grounding him in the present moment. The meeting had armed him with knowledge, and knowledge was power.

Stu-E set his glass down, his gaze fixed on the reflection of the bar in the polished wood. His own eyes stared back, resolute and keen. The night was his to claim, just as the championship had been, just as the victory at 'Road to Ruin' would be. But for now, he allowed himself this moment of calm, this quiet before the storm, knowing that he was more prepared than ever for what lay ahead.

“Woooooo!” The unmistakable cry echoed through the bar, shattering the peaceful atmosphere like a cannonball into a glassy lake.

Stu-E's eyes flicked up in mild disbelief, his moment of solitude abruptly hijacked by the living legend himself—Ric Flair. The Nature Boy strode in with all the subtlety of a peacock at a pigeon convention, his signature strut in full effect, as if he were making his way down to the ring rather than into a dimly lit bar. The few patrons scattered around the room looked up, some in shock, others with bemused grins, as the wrestling icon made his grand entrance.

“Stu-E Price! The man of the hour! The World Champion himself!” Flair’s voice boomed, drawing every eye in the room. His blonde hair shone under the bar’s soft lights, and his bright Gold rolex watch sparkled like a disco ball in the gloom.

Stu-E couldn’t help but chuckle, setting his glass down and shaking his head. So much for quiet reflection.

“Ric,” he greeted, a grin tugging at his lips. “What brings you here?”

Flair swaggered up to the bar, clapping Stu-E on the shoulder with a hearty laugh. “What brings me here? What brings me anywhere, baby? A good time, a great drink, and the chance to see the best of the best, Woooo!”

Stu-E had to admit, the energy was contagious. “You do know it’s just a hotel bar, right? Not exactly the grand stage you’re used to.”

Flair waved a hand dismissively, signalling the bartender for a drink. “A bar’s a bar, my friend! Whether it’s here or the fanciest joint in town, when the Nature Boy’s in the building, the party’s wherever I am!” He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, which was still loud enough for everyone within ten feet to hear. “But between you and me, I heard you were in town, and I thought, ‘Stu-E could use some Ric Flair magic to celebrate that title win!’”

Stu-E laughed, shaking his head again. “Well, you’ve definitely got the magic part down.”

Flair threw his head back with a cackle, raising his newly arrived drink in a grand toast. “To champions, to Road to Ruin, and to whatever the hell comes after! Woooo!”

Stu-E joined in the toast, his earlier thoughts momentarily set aside as he clinked glasses with the Nature Boy. The quiet moment was gone, replaced by the vibrant chaos that was Ric Flair, but Stu-E found he didn’t mind. After all, a little flair never hurt anyone. And with Ric around, “quiet” was just another word for “boring.”

“How did you know where I was?” Price asked Flair, who is just savouring that first sip of his vodka & cranberry. Considering he didn’t even ask the bartender what he wanted, gives it away that he’s been here before, definitely more than once.

“Champ, when you’re Ric Flair you know which bars to go to!” Stu-E just sighed, catching sight of the bartender just wandering away, looking a bit suspicious.

“I’ve only been here on business, Ric, I’m not here for a party tonight, unfortunately.” Flair listens to Stu-E before shrugging his shoulders, “Brother, then let’s do some business first; and then we party!”

There’s something about that sentence that intrigued Stu-E, so he takes another sip of his whisky and leans back, allowing Ric to continue.

“Road to Ruin is in Charlotte, North Carolina; It’s Flair country! Even after all these years!”

Price immediately interrupts, “You’re not wanting to be my manager for one night only, are you?” to which Flair simply laughs.

“No, brother, but I do have an idea for getting you on board with Wooooo Energy? A couple or commercials, nothing too stressful. The Ring Master, the HWA World Champion with ‘The Nature Boy’ and more women than the HWA roster has been with combined!” Ric playfully hits Price on the shoulder, who is simply smiling.

“I appreciate the offer, Ric, but I’d need to look in to my pre-existing sponsorship deals first, make sure it wouldn’t clash with something else I’ve signed. It’s getting confusing now, there’s so many.”

Ric is nodding, and smiles as Price finishes talking. “Well, that concludes our business; bartender! Two more drinks!”

Stu-E just shakes his head, laughs and finishes his whisky in preparation of his next one coming as the bartender goes about making the drinks. In the brief moment of silence while Flair is watching the drinks being made, Price just takes in the surreal scene. The bar around him seems to have filled up since the arrival of his newest drinking buddy, as the drinks are placed in front of them.

Just as Stu-E clinked glasses with Ric, the bar’s door swung open again, ushering in a small group of attractive women who immediately drew the room’s attention like a magnet. They were the kind of women who turned heads without even trying—dressed to impress, with confident smiles and an air of effortless glamour. Their laughter floated across the bar, light and melodious, as they made their way to a nearby table.

Ric Flair’s eyes widened in delight; his drink momentarily forgotten as he turned to take in the sight. The Nature Boy, never one to miss an opportunity, straightened his already impeccable posture, his chest puffing out like a peacock ready to strut.

“Woooo! Now this is what I’m talking about!” Flair’s voice rang out, his excitement palpable. Stu-E could only laugh as Flair’s focus shifted entirely to the newcomers, his earlier mission to boost Stu-E’s spirits and talk business now completely sidelined by his legendary weakness for the ladies.

The women noticed Flair’s enthusiastic reaction, exchanging amused glances before one of them—a brunette with striking green eyes and a playful smile—sauntered over, clearly recognizing him.

“Well, if it isn’t Ric Flair,” she teased, her voice smooth as silk. “I’ve heard you light up any room you walk into, but I didn’t expect the full show.”

Flair grinned, his signature charm kicking into high gear. “Darlin’, when the Nature Boy’s in the house, you better believe it’s a show! Woooo!” He extended his arm to the other women, gesturing them closer. “Ladies, come on over! Let’s make this night one to remember!”

The women giggled, clearly entertained by Flair’s larger-than-life persona. They drifted over to the bar, forming a semi-circle around Flair and Stu-E, who found himself both amused and slightly resigned to the fact that his quiet evening had officially taken a detour.

Flair, of course, was in his element. “Stu-E,” he said, tossing a wink in his direction, “I think we just found the perfect way to celebrate that World Championship of yours. These lovely ladies know what it means to be in the presence of greatness!”

The brunette leaned in closer to Flair, her smile mischievous. “So, Ric, are you going to show us how a champion parties, or is that just something you say on TV?”

Flair laughed, a deep, joyous sound that filled the room. “Sweetheart, you’re about to find out! Woooo!”

Stu-E shook his head with a grin, realizing that his evening of solitude had turned into something else entirely. As Flair launched into yet another one of his legendary tales, surrounded by the group of admiring women, Stu-E decided to just sit back and enjoy the show. After all, when Ric Flair was around, anything could happen—and usually did.

**Several Hours Later**

Several hours later, the soft, muted light of early morning filtered through the curtains of Stu-E’s hotel room. The room was a quiet mess of discarded clothes, empty champagne bottles, and the remnants of what had clearly been a wild night. Stu-E stirred on the large, dishevelled bed, blinking groggily as reality slowly started to piece itself back together.

A flash of memory from the previous night surfaced in his mind as he laid in bed, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth despite the mild hangover. The image was vivid—Ric Flair, in all his boisterous glory, standing before one of those punch bag machines that sat in the corner of the hotel bar.

In true Nature Boy fashion, he didn’t approach the challenge like anyone else would. Instead of squaring up with a fist ready to deliver a classic punch, Flair had grinned that famous, mischievous grin of his, and with a flair that only he could pull off, he’d raised his hand high in the air, fingers spread wide.

“Woooo! Watch this!” he’d announced, his voice booming across the bar, drawing every eye in the room.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Flair brought his hand down in a sharp, resounding chop that echoed through the bar like a gunshot. The machine shuddered under the impact, the loud smack of skin against leather followed by an immediate cheer from the gathered crowd.

Stu-E could still hear the delighted shouts and laughter as the score on the machine registered—a respectable number, considering it had been delivered with a classic Flair chop instead of a traditional punch. Ric, of course, revelled in the applause, throwing his hands in the air and strutting around like he’d just won the Royal Rumble.

“Now that’s how you do it, baby! Woooo!” Flair had crowed, basking in the adulation. He’d given the machine another playful chop for good measure, grinning from ear to ear as the women gathered around him, thoroughly entertained by his antics.

As he remembered the scene, he smiled as he found himself half-covered by a plush hotel blanket, his arm draped over one of the women from the bar, her dark hair spilling across the pillow in a tousled wave. The faint scent of perfume lingered in the air, mingling with the remnants of laughter and music that still seemed to echo faintly in his ears. Two more women were sprawled out on the bed beside them, all tangled up in the sheets like a scene from a rock star’s tour bus rather than the room of a world champion wrestler.

Glancing back he remembered the group of women had become the centre of attention, the drinks had flowed freely, and the laughter had been constant, with Flair regaling everyone with his larger-than-life stories and his trademark “Woooo!” echoing throughout the room. It seemed like the perfect cap to a wild night, and eventually, the suggestion was made to move the party upstairs to one of the hotel rooms.

Flair, ever the confident showman, was certain the women would flock to him as the night progressed. After all, he was the Nature Boy, the legendary Ric Flair—who could resist? He flashed that famous smile, straightened his robe, and with all the swagger in the world, he threw an arm around one of the women.

“Alright, ladies,” Flair drawled, his voice dripping with charisma, “let’s take this party to the penthouse, Woooo! The Nature Boy’s got plenty more stories to tell!”

The women exchanged glances, smiling politely, but there was a hint of hesitation in their eyes. One by one, their gazes drifted over to Stu-E, who had been more laid-back throughout the night, letting Flair bask in the spotlight. Stu-E had been charming in his own way—less flamboyant, more down-to-earth, and there was something about that quiet confidence that had clearly made an impression.

Finally, the brunette who had first approached Flair earlier in the night spoke up, a playful smile on her lips. “Actually, Ric, we were thinking… maybe Stu-E could show us to his room?”

The room went silent for a beat, and Flair blinked, momentarily caught off guard. His confident smile wavered as he processed what had just happened. Meanwhile, Stu-E raised an eyebrow, surprised but clearly amused.

The other women quickly chimed in, nodding in agreement. “Yeah, Stu-E’s been so chill. We want to hang out with him!”

Ric, never one to be outdone, quickly recovered, his grin returning as he let out a hearty laugh. “Woooo! Well, looks like the champ here is the man of the hour after all!” He gave Stu-E a good-natured pat on the back. “You’ve got the magic tonight, kid. Go on, show these ladies a good time!”

Stu-E chuckled, giving Flair a playful shrug. “Guess it’s just my lucky night,” he said, unable to resist ribbing the Nature Boy just a little.

Flair, always the showman, took it in stride, throwing his hands up in mock defeat. “Can’t win ‘em all, even when you’re the Nature Boy! Woooo!” he declared, causing everyone to laugh.

As Stu-E led the women toward the elevators, Flair watched them go, still grinning. Before they disappeared, he called out, “Just remember, Stu-E, it’s all about keeping the title and the ladies happy—don’t drop the ball! Woooo!”

The doors to the elevator closed, and Stu-E found himself surrounded by the group of women, who were now all focused on him. He couldn’t help but smile at the absurdity of it all. Ric Flair, the legend, had been outshone—if only for one night—by the quiet charm of Stu-E Price.

As the memory faded, Stu-E winced slightly as he propped himself up on one elbow, the faint throb of a hangover making itself known. The events of the night before came back in fragmented flashes—Ric Flair’s infectious energy, the endless rounds of drinks, and the impromptu party that had somehow migrated from the bar back to his hotel room. He couldn’t help but chuckle at the absurdity of it all. What had started as a quiet night of reflection had spiralled into something straight out of a party legend, thanks to the Nature Boy’s unstoppable charisma.

Speaking of Flair, Stu-E glanced around the room, half-expecting to find the man passed out in an armchair or maybe even sprawled out on the floor. But there was no sign of him, just a lingering sense of chaos and a memory of him.

A little while after Stu-E and the women had gone up to his hotel room, laughter and conversation filled the suite. It was an unexpectedly cozy scene, with the women clearly enjoying Stu-E’s company, more relaxed and natural than the over-the-top energy of the bar. The night was winding down, but there was still a buzz of excitement in the air.

Just as one of the women was about to pour another round of drinks, there was a knock at the door. Stu-E, puzzled but curious, exchanged glances with the women. “Who could that be at this hour?” he muttered, heading over to the door.

He opened it to reveal none other than Ric Flair, but not as anyone expected. Flair stood there, dressed in a hotel staff uniform that was at least two sizes too small, complete with a room service cart in front of him. The name tag on his chest read "Rick" instead of "Ric," and the smirk on his face was pure Nature Boy mischief.

“Room service!” Flair announced, his voice barely disguised and still carrying that unmistakable Flair flair. “I’ve got your order right here—one Nature Boy special, ready to Woooo the night away!”

The women burst into laughter, recognizing him instantly despite the get-up. Ric pushed the cart forward a bit, clearly planning to invite himself in. The cart itself was hilariously sparse, holding nothing more than an empty silver platter with a single rose on top. It was a sight both ridiculous and endearing, proof that Ric Flair was not a man who gave up easily.

One of the women, the same brunette, shook her head with a grin, stepping forward to playfully block his entrance. “Ric, you’re hilarious, but no way! This is Stu-E’s night,” she said, wagging a finger at him.

Another woman joined in, holding the doorframe with a mock stern expression. “Yeah, you had your shot downstairs, Mr. ‘Room Service,’ but we’re staying with the champ tonight!”

Flair, not one to be easily dissuaded, leaned on the cart with a charmingly exaggerated sigh. “Ladies, you’re breaking my heart! How could you turn down the Nature Boy? Woooo!”

The women giggled, clearly amused but resolute. “We love you, Ric, but not tonight!” the brunette declared, giving him a gentle but firm push back into the hallway. “Go find another room to crash—this one’s off-limits.”

Realizing he’d been outmanoeuvred, even in his cheeky disguise, Flair finally threw up his hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright! I can take a hint,” he said, stepping back with a wink. “But remember, the offer’s always on the table! Woooo!”

With one last dramatic flourish, Flair spun on his heel, pushing the empty cart down the hallway, his exaggerated strut making the women laugh even harder. They watched him go, shaking their heads at the absurdity of it all, before closing the door and returning to Stu-E.

He lets out a light laugh at that memory, carefully disentangled himself from the women and sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing his temples as he tried to shake off the last remnants of sleep. His championship belt, which had somehow ended up draped over a chair, gleamed in the morning light, a reminder of the serious business that still lay ahead—though that seemed a world away from the surreal scene in his room.

One of the women stirred, her eyes fluttering open as she gave Stu-E a sleepy smile. “Morning, champ,” she murmured, stretching languidly.

Stu-E smiled back, the surrealness of the situation hitting him once more. “Morning,” he replied, his voice still rough from the night before. He couldn’t help but think that Ric Flair had been right—this was definitely one way to celebrate being the World Champion, though maybe not the way he’d initially planned.

As he stood and stretched, the reality of the upcoming ‘Road to Ruin’ event started to creep back into his mind. But for now, in the soft light of morning, surrounded by the aftermath of a night he’d never forget, Stu-E allowed himself a moment to just be—before the world came crashing back in.