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December 26th, 2024
Charlotte, NC
Off Camera
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So far Clyde Sutter’s return to professional wrestling has been marked with success. He took Glory Braddock, the SCW Adrenaline Champion, to her limit in his return. He destroyed Sapphire Taylor. Now he is looking forward to his next challenge: Sean Michael Prime. Sutter intends to go into this battle with as much fury and intensity as he did the others, because The Assassin fights not out of rage or anger, but with a cause that is just; he fights for the love of his life, Melinda Braddock. He fights hoping that he can provide for her and someday prove himself worthy creating a life together with her. Unfortunately the idea of creating a life with Melinda is proving all too difficult. Melinda’s mother, the aforementioned Glory Braddock, still doesn’t fully trust him. But there’s more to the drama than just that. Clyde’s sister, a sister he never knew he had, Lilith Sutter, has returned to his life and is trying to muscle in. Lilith is now trying to dictate the terms of his life and Clyde wants none of it. The fact that his sister is trying to tell him what he should and should not do infuriates him to no end. It takes all of his will power not to lose control and become that same beast, that untamed monster he once was. Clyde knows that he needs answers about his sister but he knows little about her and he doesn’t know where to search. Except there is one person who might know something and it is high time that The Assassin paid this person a visit. It is the Christmas season, after all, and it is important to spend time with family. The Assassin has little family to speak of. His sister, Lilith Sutter, is certainly family but he doesn’t trust her. The Braddock family could be considered family, considering the fact that he is in a deeply romantic relationship with Melinda Braddock, but the rest of the Braddock doesn’t trust that he has truly turned over a new leaf. As far as Clyde knows, the rest of his family is gone. All except for his mother; Autumn Van Stanton.
The home is a charming, modestly upscale property situated in a quiet suburban neighborhood in Charlotte, North Carolina. It features a two-story design with a combination of brick and beige siding that gleams softly under the midday sun. A pair of white columns frame the porch, which is adorned with a couple of rocking chairs and a hanging fern, offering a cozy spot to sit and enjoy the neighborhood’s tranquility. The front door, painted a cheerful shade of blue, stands out against the neutral tones of the house and is crowned by a transom window, allowing natural light to filter into the foyer. The house is surrounded by a meticulously maintained lawn, lush and green from recent rain, and edged with neatly trimmed boxwoods and blooming azaleas. A stone path leads from the sidewalk to the porch, bordered by clusters of vibrant seasonal flowers. The Assassin approaches the home; he is dressed in a stylish, layered winter outfit that exudes a rugged yet polished vibe. He wears a black leather coat lined with thick, plush fur along the collar and lapels, providing both warmth and a touch of sophistication. Beneath the coat, he has a patterned scarf in shades of green, wrapped loosely around his neck for additional texture and color contrast. A black beanie snugly covers Sutter’s head, complementing his dark sunglasses, which lend a mysterious and edgy flair. Clyde sighs as he reaches up with his balled fist and knocks on the door. He waits patiently until eventually the door opens. He is grateful that it is not Henry who answers, but instead it is his mother, Autumn Van Stanton, standing there in a simple attire of stylish tight jeans that flare out at the bottom, a red floral print top with half sleeves, and her long auburn hair pulled into a neat ponytail in the back. Autumn’s eyes grow wide with surprise.
“Clyde?”
“Yes…mother.”
Immediately Autumn leans in to give her only son a big hug. Clyde’s relationship with his biological mother has been strained but is getting progressively better. It was just a couple of years ago that The Assassin even found out that Autumn Van Stanton, the sister-in-law of his former manager Mason Van Stanton, was his biological mother, the woman who had abandoned him at birth. But the more he learned about his biological father, Ethan Van Stanton, the more he honestly couldn’t blame her for wanting to get out of that situation entirely and start over. And for Autumn’s sake, she is grateful for Clyde now more-so than ever before. Her other son, Archie Van Stanton was brutally murdered in a drive by shooting. Clyde is literally all she has left. She releases the hug and then grabs him by his hand and gently but firmly tugs at him, urging him to come inside.
“Come in! Come in, please!” She says. Clyde nods his head simply as he crosses the threshold. Autumn then takes his coat and hangs it up. “Here, let me get that for you.”
“Thank you, mother, but I don’t plan to stay long.”
“Nonsense.” Autumn says. “I haven’t seen you in forever.”
Sutter opts not to protest. Instead he simply follows his mother into a lavish living room area that looks just like that type of place the Van Stanton family enjoys; luxury and comfort. This isn’t the style that Sutter enjoys. In fact, he feels out of place as he passes the expensive pieces of decor and furniture. Autumn leads her son over to a plush sofa and gently sits him down. She sits down next to him.
“I am so glad you came, Clyde.”
“I can tell.” He chuckles. “You seem surprised to see me and yet I told you I was coming.”
“Honestly, I had my doubts you would actually show.” Autumn shrugs. “Sorry, but…”
“No, I understand.” He nods his head. “We haven’t had the best of relationships in the past. Although I understand the importance of family and I hope we can bond and build a better, stronger relationship.”
“I truly am happy to hear that.” Tears form in her eyes. “You have no idea how happy this makes me, especially after…” her voice stops, she cannot bring herself to finish the sentence. Sutter knows, though. He knows all too well. He takes her and hugs her tightly.
“I am deeply sorry for what happened with Archie.”
“Thank you.” She sighs. “Your brother was a good man.”
“He made my beloved happy.” Clyde says, referring to Melinda.
“She was devastated after Archie’s passing. In fact, she cut off all contact with us, which added extra hurt because we considered her like a daughter.” Autumn looks up at Clyde. “How is Melinda?”
“She is doing well.” He smiles. “And believe me, she isn’t avoiding you because of any bad feelings towards you or Henry. She just can’t bear the bad memories. But I am working on her.” He winks. “Hopefully I will convince her to come see you and Henry sometime.”
“Thank you.”
“Speaking of Henry…” Clyde’s voice trails off. Autumn sighs and then shrugs her shoulders.
“Yeah, I know, he’s not here. I guess he’s like Melinda and he, too, has difficulty accepting the new reality.”
“His son’s death? The fact that I am YOUR son? The fact that I am essentially his step-son?”
“All of the above.” Autumn answers with a nod of her head.
“It’s understandable.” He chuckles. “I have a reputation, a bad one, one that is not easily erased or forgotten.”
“Don’t worry.” Autumn takes his hands and clasps them tightly. “Your uncle Mason is trying to convince Henry to give you a chance.”
“He isn’t my uncle.” Clyde growls. Sutter still has very bad feelings towards Mason Van Stanton, his former manager, after the way their own relationship ended. Autumn senses the rise in her son’s temper and shakes her head.
“Calm down, Clyde.” She says, just like a mother scolding her son. “People can change, just like you have, and Mason is trying to change.”
“Mother…” Clyde shakes his head “...you of all people defending him? He manipulated you and used you to play games with his own brother, to attack his enemies such as the Braddock family. That’s all he does, he is a manipulator and user. He doesn’t care about people. Yet you defend him?”
“This coming from the man who was kicked out of Glory Braddock’s Wrestling School for being too violent.” Autumn smirks.
“Point taken.”
“My point is that people can change.” She says. “You needed a second chance, Melinda gave you a second chance. Aren’t you grateful that she did give you a second chance?”
“Of course.” He remarks. “But this is decidedly different.”
“How so?” She asks. “You were not exactly a good human being, neither was Mason. You changed your ways. Mason is trying to change his ways.”
“We’ll see.” Sutter remarks, sounding somewhat skeptical. There is a long, awkward pause. The air is thick with tension after mother and son argued over this issue of the ability of people to change. Trying to convince a man like Clyde Sutter, who believes firmly in fate deciding all things, that people can change is easier said than done. So Autumn decides to move on…
“Change of subject!” Autumn exclaims. “What have you been busy with?”
“Supreme Championship Wrestling.”
“Seriously?” Autumn seems surprised. “I thought Glory tried her damndest to keep you out?”
“I am not sure how true those rumors are, nevertheless SCW is under new management and that combined with the influence of my beloved as a member of that famous Braddock family helped me get a new opportunity, a second chance to compete in SCW.”
“That’s terrific. How have you done so far?”
“I destroyed Glory Braddock and Sapphire Taylor.” Sutter answers matter of factly with a cold smirk. “And an individual called Sean Michael Prime is next.”
“Wow…” Autumn laughs hesitantly “...that’s great, I suppose. Just try and control yourself this time, ok? You may not get any third or fourth chances if you mess this up.”
“I promise.” The Assassin nods his head. “But mother, I do have a question…one that may be difficult as it could bring back some painful memories. Are you ok with this or…”
“Of course.” Autumn says, nodding her head. “Whatever you need, I’m here.”
“Very well.” Sutter sighs. “Did you have any other children from my father?”
“Ethan?” She shakes her head. “You were the only child I had with him before I escaped his creepy band of followers. Why would you…” her eyes raise wide, as if a light bulb went off over her head “...you mean Lilith?”
“Yes, her.” Clyde nods his head. Autumn sighs.
“I know about Lilith but I can assure you she is not mine. Ethan fathered her with another woman. That whole group of his was somewhat of a mix of criminals and cultists Ethan was like Charles Manson, he had the women wrapped around his little finger, they would do anything for him. He always wanted a son but all the women would give him daughters. I was the one who gave him a son…you.”
“So she is my half-sister from a different mother, another woman in this…cult as you put it…that you were a part of?”
“Look, I admit that it wasn’t my best judgment call to get involved with them.” She says sharply. “I’m one of the lucky ones who got out before authorities came down hard on that group. Your father was dead, most of its members were locked up. I made sure you at least had a chance to make it, to survive.”
“And I do appreciate it.” He smiles warmly. “I apologize if I sounded harsh or judgmental.”
“No apologies necessary.” Autumn shakes her head. “I made a lot of mistakes back then. But uh, why ask about Lilith? You didn’t meet her, did you?”
“I did.” He nods his head. “Do you have any idea what she wants from me?”
“No clue.” She shakes her head. “I honestly expected any of his other children to be dead, especially the daughters considering how he obsessively wanted a son. That’s why I escaped when I did. I didn’t want him to hurt you.”
Clyde ponders this revelation. It is too much, even for him. His frustration boils over and he immediately stands up and walks away. Autumn quickly goes after him.
“Clyde! Wait!” She beats him to the door and stops him from leaving. “Clyde, I am sorry, but…”
“Do I have any other brothers or sisters still living that I need to be aware of? Are there any other lunatics prepared to come out of the woodwork, claiming to be my siblings, claiming to know what’s best for me?”
“Again, I do not know!” Autumn exclaims. “If I knew I would tell you! Honestly, I tried to put this all behind me. I never wanted that monster Ethan’s legacy to come back and haunt me. It breaks my heart seeing that his legacy is now haunting you.”
The Assassin can see the pain in his mother’s eyes. He can sense that she is being honest and sincere. She may have made some mistakes in the past but she is trying to atone for them. She is trying to protect her son. In a moment that might be considered out of character for Sutter, he embraces Autumn in a tight hug.
“It’s ok, mother. I am going to take care of this. You do no need to worry about me or protect me. I can handle this.”
“Maybe you should just stay away from her…” Autumn suggests.
“Lilith?” he asks. Autumn nods her head.
“Who else? I mean, your father was insane and cruel. If she is anything like him, then this could be dangerous, not only for you but for Melinda. And after what happened to Archie, I couldn’t bear to lose you…”
“Believe me, I would much rather just avoid my sister like the damn plague.” Clyde remarks coldly. “Unfortunately she seems hell bent on involving in my affairs. She refuses to stay out of my life. I may have to take certain steps to ensure that she leaves me alone.”
The Assassin grabs his coat from the hanger and puts it back on. He reaches for the door as he prepares to leave but his mother again stops him, grabbing him by the hand.
“Clyde, wait…”
“What?”
“Just…” she sighs “...be careful.”
“Of course, mother.” He says. “I will be careful.” He kisses his mother on the forehead. “Merry Christmas. Next time you see me, I will bring my beloved. If you can make sure Henry is here, I would appreciate it.”
“You got a deal.” Autumn says smiling as tears roll down her cheeks.
Now, as Clyde Sutter takes his leave, he can take some solace that he has some answers regarding his sister…or half-sister as it were…but unfortunately he doesn’t quite have the answers he really wants. He really would like to know what her agenda is. What does she really want from him? And most importantly, he would like to know what it will take to keep his sister out of his life for good?
Career Achievements
MWE Television Champion 2x
MWE Riot Champion 1x
GCW World Tag Team Champion 1x
Soft music plays in the background as cameras begin to roll. Melinda Braddock, The Third Generation Goddess, sits on a plush cream colored sofa with a glass of wine in her hands in a luxurious living room. She is wearing a shimmering, intricately detailed dress with delicate beadwork and embellishments. The dress is short and form-fitting, showcasing her legs, and it appears to have fringe or sparkling details cascading down from the hemline, adding movement and flair. She pairs this with sleek, thigh-high black boots that contrast beautifully with the light, glittering dress. Her accessories include a metallic headband that elegantly frames her platinum blonde hair, which is styled in soft, flowing waves. The music slowly comes to an end as she begins to speak.
“Fatal Fortunes should not have been a surprise to anyone and, if we are honest with ourselves, some of you probably heard the rumors. You heard the talk of a special talent making his return to Supreme Championship Wrestling.” Melinda sips on her wine and chuckles softly. “Yes, you heard the talk, the rumblings about the return of Clyde Sutter, and then when he did show up at Fatal Fortunes and left one of your champions in a battered heap face down in the center of the ring, what exactly did you expect? What did you expect when the familiar tones of Metallica started playing in the arena? Did thoughts of the same old, tired, dull rage monster go flowing through your heads? Is that what you were expecting?” Melinda chuckles and shakes her head.
“I hate to disappoint you but this Clyde Sutter is different. The beast you remember was mismanaged by an incompetent fool. Clyde will be the first to admit that his first stint in SCW was doomed to failure because of the fact that at his core he was nothing more than a wild animal and the person responsible for looking out for his well being and best interests never really gave a damn in the first place. But things have changed. Clyde has changed. He has controlled his rage, he is now capable of focusing that anger on whoever is standing across the ring from him when that bell sounds. And that makes him far more deadlier than ever before. That makes him a threat to do whatever he wants to whoever he wants in this company. If he wants to just continue to litter this company with broken bodies, he can. If he wants to become a champion, he can do that too. Ultimately, it all boils down to the will of fate.” Melinda winks at the camera.
“If you don’t believe my own words then just look at the evidence. Do you think the sloppy uncontrollable animal could have done what he did to your Adrenaline Champion? And look at how he choked the life out of Sapphire Taylor? And this doesn’t stop there. One by one fate will continue to line up the victims and my lover will continue to break them in half and the next name on the list is Sean Michael Prime.”
Footsteps can be heard in the background. It isn’t long until the aforementioned Clyde Sutter himself steps into view. The Assassin is dressed in an all-black ensemble consisting of a fitted black suit jacket over a black dress shirt, which is buttoned up and paired with a black tie, maintaining a monochromatic and polished look. His trousers match the jacket in color and fit, creating a seamless and streamlined silhouette. He is also sporting black dress shoes that complement the outfit. His neatly groomed beard and slicked-back hair complete the sophisticated and rugged look. Melinda stands up and turns to face her man. He leans down and they lock lips in a passionate kiss. He and Melinda turn to face the camera, his arm wrapped around her waist, and he lets out a chuckle.
“My first run here in Supreme Championship Wrestling was admittedly one of my biggest regrets. I was capable of so much more but was unable to capitalize due to circumstances. This was also during one of the darkest times of my life. Figuratively speaking I had no idea who I truly was…I had no direction and no true leader to guide me. Now I have a guide.” He gives a brief but loving glance down at Melinda before again turning towards the camera again. “And I used my time away from SCW to find out who I am and, more importantly, how to control the fire, the rage deep within my dark heart and to control it, to focus it, to use it to reach out and take whatever the hell I want. In short, I became a better version of myself. Some might argue the best possible version of myself. I have managed to win championship gold. And ever since my return to SCW I have proven that I am more than capable of winning championship gold here if given the chance.” Sutter smirks knowingly.
“Ah but fate is not without its own sense of humor. You see, Mr. Prime, you yourself had a career in this promotion. You also took some time away only to make a return with much fanfare. But that is where the similarities end, isn’t it? Because I have been dominant since my return. I have broken the bodies of every person I stepped into the ring against since my return. In a very sharp contrast, you have done nothing but humiliate yourself since returning to Supreme Championship Wrestling. Your latest run with this promotion can be illustrated quite simply: defeat, defeat, defeat, a long break, defeat, defeat, defeat, another long break, defeat…rinse, wash, repeat.”
“Don’t get me wrong, Mr. Prime, I am not bringing your streak of bad luck up to insinuate or to imply that I believe my night on Breakdown will be some cakewalk. One very important lesson I learned from my lover, my Third Generation Goddess, is that you should always take every opponent seriously. So believe me there is no disrespect here, Mr. Prime. I am taking you very seriously. I am stepping up to you as if you are a legitimate threat to me. I will treat you like the man that you are and I will put you down like a warrior deserves to be put down. So lets get that straight, I am not overlooking you, that is not why I bring up your lackluster past since returning to SCW.” The Assassin shakes his head.
“You see, Mr. Prime, there are so many people out there who would kill to be in our situation, competing for arguably the best wrestling promotion of all time. Unfortunately they haven’t had the best luck, they cannot get their big break. There are those who DID have their time in this hallowed spotlight we will share, Mr. Prime, but for one reason or another they are unable to set foot inside this spotlight again…perhaps they suffered a career ending injury or maybe their behavior was so toxic that they were blacklisted forever and now no one will give them a second chance? Whatever the reason, they want a second chance but they don’t have it. They will never get it.” Sutter points a finger at the camera and the look on his face grows more intense.
“You, Mr. Prime, were granted a second chance. Fate saw fit to grant you another opportunity to shine in Supreme Championship Wrestling. Fate gave you a gift that so many others would kill to have. What did you with that gift, Mr. Prime? You squandered that gift. That beautiful, that wonderful opportunity fate gifted you and you threw it away. You wasted it, you wasted the gift that fate gave you and that, Mr. Prime, offended fate. You offended fate.” Sutter snickers nastily. A cold smirk forms on his face. “That is a very bad thing you did, Mr. Prime. Offending fate is something you should never ever do. You offended fate and now I am tasked with taking that gift away from you…and in the process I just might tear your god damn head off…”
“Sounds like a lovely idea.” Melinda says.
“Honestly, I do not give a damn that you wasted your opportunities. My love here doesn’t give a damn that you wasted your chances. I sincerely doubt that any of the fans or anyone else on the roster gives a damn that you wasted away what could have been a grand return. But fate cares. Fate was offended because you did not take advantage of the opportunity it gave you. Now I have been tasked with eliminating you. Fate has decreed that I shall put you down like the dog that you are and Mr. Prime, you should know that I take my job very seriously. When Fate gives me an assignment I make damn sure I get the job done. Your judgment day has arrived, Mr. Prime, and I will choke the life out of your second chance in Supreme Championship Wrestling.”
“Yet, at the end of the day, your second run in SCW will have some meaning.” Sutter grins coldly. He nods his head. “When I have finished with you, when I have left you for dead, you will serve as a word of warning of what the others on the SCW roster can expect when fate decides that their time is up. The champions of SCW can look upon the wreckage I create and see what will happen to them when fate decides that their respective reigns will come to an end. Unlike you, Mr. Prime, I did not return to simply be an afterthought. I did not return to be a joke or to be lost in the shuffle. I returned to make an impact. I returned to do what I do best and that is to break bodies, get wins, and get paid for it. I returned to continue to do the will of fate and fate has decided that your time is up, Mr. Prime.”
The Assassin turns and plants another kiss on the lips of his beloved Melinda Braddock. The camera fades to black.
Career Achievements
MWE Television Champion 2x
MWE Riot Champion 1x
GCW World Tag Team Champion 1x