Meghan Strader vs. Clyde Sutter

[The Assassin]

1 of 2
=====

==========
August 4th, 2025
Birmingham, England
Off Camera
==========

Rise To Greatness from Houston, Texas was a special night for Fate’s Chosen Assassins. For The Harbinger of Fate himself, Clyde Sutter, it was his first Rise To Greatness since to returning to Supreme Championship Wrestling earlier in the year. For his beloved fiance, Melinda Braddock, it was her Rise To Greatness debut. It was indeed very special for the both of them and, in the main event of the pre-show, they were victorious over Chance Owens and Kelsai Adamson. Fate had made its decision and Sutter and Braddock executed its will. It was never personal for either of them, they never held a grudge against Owens and Adamson. It was just a job they were doing on behalf of Fate. Yet still, despite the overall business nature of their approach to this match, Sutter and Braddock cannot help but feel good having left Houston with a victory under their belts. Now with this victory, Fate’s Chosen Assassin moves on to his next target and the next target happens to be someone who did not have a very good Rise To Greatness debut; Meghan Strader. Strader lost to Syren in her Rise To Greatness debut. There’s no shame in losing to Syren but this was a match Strader wanted to win badly. She had revenge on her mind. Fate, however, had other plans for Meghan Strader and now The Assassin is tasked with exacting more of Fate’s will upon Strader when SCW returns from hiatus for Breakdown from Orlando, Florida.

Before The Assassin can turn his focus entirely on Strader and the continuation of his SCW wrestling career, Sutter must turn his attention to a more important, deeply personal situation; namely the recent stalker that has been plaguing him and, indirectly, his beloved Melinda Braddock. Recently Sutter’s apartment in Charlotte, North Carolina, where his friend Joey had been staying, was broken into and ransacked. At first The Assassin was convinced that Joey himself was the target but now, after some thought, Sutter is beginning to believe that he himself is the real target. This concerns Clyde, not for his own safety, but because of the safety and well being of his beloved Melinda. If this individual is targeting Clyde, they may come after Melinda, or she may get caught up in the crossfire. Sutter’s initial investigation and research led him to suspect Callum Slater is to blame. Slater was a former student at the Glenn Braddock Wrestling school at the same time Sutter attended. As a student Sutter had a reputation for being too violent and ruthlessly beating students. Callum Slater is one such student Sutter injured and, perhaps, ended his wrestling career before it could even get started. Is Slater out for revenge? It is certainly a possibility that The Assassin cannot ignore.

Right now, Sutter is visiting his hometown of Birmingham, England with his lovely fiancee Melinda Braddock. On this bright afternoon in Birmingham, Sutter and Braddock are visiting the iconic Black Sabbath Bridge. The Assassin’s long black hair, thick and straight, fell past his shoulders. A trimmed beard framed his jaw, lending him a rugged presence that matched the grit of the city. He wore a dark leather jacket over a fitted charcoal gray shirt that clung to his chest. Faded black jeans tucked into heavy boots. Beside him, Melinda Braddock was a striking contrast. Where Clyde looked like the embodiment of hard edged Birmingham steel, Melinda radiated warmth. Her long blonde hair fell in loose waves, a golden halo against the overcast skies. She wore a light denim jacket over a soft white blouse, simple but feminine, with slim black trousers that balanced the casual with the stylish.

They stood together at Black Sabbath Bridge, the quiet canal stretching beneath them. The bridge itself bore the unmistakable tribute to Birmingham’s most famous sons; plaques and murals dedicated to Black Sabbath, the godfathers of heavy metal. On the far side, the stark, angular shapes of the city’s architecture framed the skyline, blending old industrial brickwork with modern glass and steel. The water below rippled with the occasional passing narrowboat, its paintwork bright against the muted tones of the city. Graffiti, some reverent and some not so much, decorated the walls near the bridge, while flowers and small tokens had been left at the Sabbath plaque, tributes from fans making their pilgrimage. The late afternoon sky was heavy with clouds, a soft gray blanket overhead, but here and there shafts of sunlight broke through, illuminating patches of the canal like spotlights on a stage.

“It’s hard to believe that it's all over.” Melinda says, tears forming in her eyes as she stares at the iconic monument. Sutter wraps a comforting arm around her shoulders.

“It isn’t over, my love. They will always be with you…just press play…”

“Really, Clyde?” Melinda rolls her eyes. “You stole that from an internet meme.”

“Guilty as charged.” Sutter chuckles. “Still, it is true; their music is iconic. Their music will live forever.”

“That final show was freaking incredible.” Melinda remarks with a wide grin. So much emotion, so much passion. And then Ozzy…” her voice trails off as she tries to compose herself. Sutter pats her gently on the back.

“He will forever be the best.”

“There will never be another Ozzy.” Melinda states. Sutter nods his head in agreement.

“You are correct. And dare I say, myself and the heavy metal god have a lot in common.”

“What?” Melinda arches her brow, partly due to curiosity and partly due to surprise at hearing her man even suggest this. She turns and folds her arms over her chest, as if waiting on an explanation.

“It is true.” The Assassin insists. Braddock shakes her head.

“Ok, you talk about Fate all the time, babe, and I bought into it. But comparing yourself to the Prince of Darkness is where I draw the line.”

“I made you ‘buy into’ Fate, as you so eloquently put it, yet you won’t even conceive that I could also be right about my similarities to Ozzy Osbourne?”

“No, I do not ‘conceive’ of that, Clyde.” Melinda says, almost taken aback by The Assassin’s suggestion. He just looks lovingly down at her and chuckles.

“Oh my love, I never thought you would be closed minded to anything.”

“Fine, you know what, I don’t want anyone to accuse me of being closed minded. Besides, this might be entertaining. So let’s hear it. I gotta hear this.”

“Consider this…he came from a poor, working class background. Me? I was orphaned. I had to fight for survival on the streets, practically raising myself. He fought tooth and nail to make something for himself through music. I had to fight like hell to make my way into the wrestling industry and to make my own mark and impact upon this business, using wrestling to improve my life. We both nearly lost everything we built for ourselves…him due to his addictions and me due to my anger problems…but we both overcame those obstacles.”

“I still find it incredibly ridiculous that you are trying to compare yourself to Ozzy.” Melinda remarks. Clyde shakes his head.

“Fair enough, perhaps it is a little unbecoming of me to try and compare myself to someone of his great standards? The truth is, my love, is that there is at least one thing that makes myself and Osbourne different.”

“Just one?” Braddock smirks. “Last time I checked you didn’t bite the head off of a bat or pissed on a national monument.”

“True…”

“You also don’t have your own reality show.”

“Yet.” Sutter chuckles. “But do you really think a reality show based on my life would entertain the masses?”

“Good point.” Melinda smirks. “Which just adds to what I said, you and him are not really the same….despite your best argument, babe.”

“Ok, let me clarify…A LOT of things make us different.” He holds up one finger. “But there is only thing in particular that concerns me.”

“And that would be what, exactly?” Melinda asks curiously. “What is the one big difference between you and Ozzy that has piqued your interest?”

“Ozzy Osbourne…Black Sabbath…they were beloved; still are beloved. The people in attendance of that final concert and the number of people watching…uncountable. Numerous. The crowds who showed up for his funeral procession? Immense. The world loved him, despite his flaws.” Sutter shakes his head. “I have made it as a wrestler. I have held championships. I make very good money, enough to treat you like the royalty you are….” his voice trails off. Melinda frowns.

“But…?”

“But I will never be beloved. The people will never accept me.”

“Do you WANT to be loved?” Melinda asks curiously. Sutter shakes his head.

“I do not need the acceptance or love of the people.” He turns and places both of his strong hands on her shoulders. “The only thing I need, the only thing I want, is to see you have a happy life.”

“Well you’re nuts.” Melinda takes his head, guides it down, and kisses him on the lips. “Because I need to be happy is you. As long as you are by my side we are going to be fine. Just look at us! Look at what we achieved at Rise To Greatness! You made your Rise To Greatness return, I made my Rise To Greatness debut, and we were successful!” She snickers devilishly. “We put Owens and Adamson in their place! We spoiled their little happy ending!” She pats Sutter on his massive chest. “And now you face Meghan Strader. You will get to put her in her place. You DO know how big a deal this is, don’t you?”

“I do.” Clyde nods his head.

“Well just in case you don’t, let me remind you. Strader was battling Syren at Rise To Greatness. Sure, Strader lost, but the mere fact that she was that high up on the card means something. You beat her, you can skyrocket past her to the top of the card. You could win more championships.” She grins knowingly. “Or you could earn more money to spend on me.”

“Yes, all of that is true.” Clyde sighs. He shakes his head. “I just wish that things were as simple as you make them out to be, my love.”

“It is that simple.” Melinda insists. She senses that something is bothering him, so she takes his hands and squeezes them tightly to try and comfort him. “We have each other. That’s all we need.”

The Assassin sighs as he turns and gazes back at the famous Black Sabbath monument, then he looks back at Melinda. He shakes his head. A sense of concern is etched across his face.

“The fact that we DO have one another could create problems for you, my love.” His voice cracks as he fights back the emotion. “I could not live with myself if you were harmed because of me.”

“Oh so that’s it.” Melinda says after a brief pause. “You’re still worked up about this stalker thing, aren’t you?”

“Like I said, myself and Osbourne do have a few things in common. We both overcame great obstacles to make something of ourselves. Callum Slater could have had a similar story, he could have had a nice success story like mine and he could have made a big name for himself.” He shakes his head. “Thanks to me, that did not happen and it never will happen.”

“That was a different time and you were a different person.” Melinda insists. “You have changed. You talk about how you and Ozzy are so similar? Ozzy changed. He fought his demons and overcame them. You fought your demons of anger and rage and you became a better person. Trust me, I would not be here with you, I would not be prepared to marry you, if I suspected that even the slimmest trace of the old Clyde was still there.”

“I love you, Melinda, and your faith in me gets me through each day.” Sutter says as he plants a kiss on her forehead. “But you are one of the very few who can look beyond my past and accept that I have changed. Even your mother refuses to accept that I am a better person now.”

“Screw my mother and her high and mighty opinions.” Melinda remarks.

“My point is that not everyone is like you, not everyone is willing to give me a second chance.” He sighs. “Callum Slater is a man who could have made it big in professional wrestling had I not injured him, permanently ending his career before it could even get started.”

“And you’re convinced he is the guy who is stalking you?” Melinda asks skeptically. “You are convinced he is out for revenge?”

“He and I come from the same background. We both were raised on the streets. Both of us knew only one thing; street justice. If he wants payback for what I did, he will get it the only way he knows how.”

“This is all well and good but you still don’t know for sure this Slater guy is responsible for anything.” Melinda shrugs her shoulders. “You have zero proof, Clyde. None.”

“I know him.”

“Do you really?” Melinda asks. “I thought he was just another student at my grandfather’s school; not like some close associate of yours, like Joey.”

“I know his type.” Sutter clarifies. “And his type would seek revenge.”

“You used to be that type. But you changed. Even if it is Slater, how do you know he hasn’t changed too?”

“What would you have me do?” Clyde asks, sounding more and more frustrated. “Ignore a potential threat?”

“No, I’m not asking you to ignore anything.” Melinda says soothingly. “I’m just asking you to calm down. You have more important things to do. You just came off of a victory at Rise To Greatness and this match against Strader on Breakdown will be huge. You cannot allow yourself to be distracted.”

“I won’t get distracted.” Sutter shakes his head. “But I also will not let this threat go ignored.” He runs his hand through Melinda’s long blonde hair. “I love you too much to risk your safety.”

“I appreciate it, Clyde, I really do.” She sighs. “But you don’t even know for certain if Slater is responsible for any of it. Like I said, you literally have zero proof.”

“Agreed.” He nods his head. “But I intend to find out really soon if my suspicions are correct.” He kisses Melinda on the lips. “No harm will come to you, my love. I swear it.”

“I worry about you.” Melinda says, shaking her head. “I know you mean well, Clyde; everything you do is for me, and it makes me feel wonderful but…” she sighs “...the things you do can be risky. I mean, what if Slater isn’t behind it but everything you plan to do, all this digging into his past, what if it provokes him? Then you’ve got a legit stalker and Slater both angry with you.”

“I have endured worse struggles.”

“Yes, but I care too much about you to see you get hurt.” She remarks. “Promise me you will play it safe.”

“I promise.” He says assuredly. “Besides, I do have an idea of where I could start my search.”

“Really?” Melinda furrows her brow. “It better not involve sending your pal Joey on any adventures. You know what happened the last time.”

“Don’t worry, my love, I have no intention of utilizing Joey or even doing anything slightly illegal. In fact, I intend to keep things in the family, so to speak.”

“What do you…wait…” Melinda’s eyes grow wide “...you’re not going to ask my mom for help are you?”

“God, no.” Clyde chuckles. “I would never think of asking her for help, not yet anyway.”

“Then what do you mean by family?”

“I’m going to see if your aunt can be of some assistance.”

“What the hell would she know about that guy you beat up?” Braddock asks curiously. Sutter chuckles and pats her on the back.

“Do not worry yourself, my love. Just trust me, everything will work out.”

“I will trust you on this one, babe.” Melinda says. “But you promise me that you don’t get too crazy obsessed over this, ok? Remember you still have your wrestling career. You still have SCW. This match against Meghan Strader is a big opportunity for you to step up to the next level in SCW.”

“Trust me, I know.” Clyde nods his head. “Rise To Greatness was just the beginning of my momentum. I intend to continue that momentum. Strader’s Fate is sealed.”

“That’s just what I wanted to hear.” Melinda says, smirking.