Darko vs. Braddock/Raab vs. Matthews

[Braddock]

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July 21st, 2022
Phoenix, Arizona
Off Camera
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The Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona was definitely alive with excitement and action from Supreme Championship Wrestling as the promotion speeds like a runaway train down the tracks towards its final destination: Last Vegas and Rise To Greatness. The deserts of Arizona would be the battleground on this night. This is indeed the most exciting time of the year, and Rise To Greatness will be the biggest event of the year, and typically this gives everyone something to look forward to, up and down the SCW Roster. But one individual who is not exactly thrilled with her current situation is “The British Bombshell” Glory Braddock.

Is it arrogance? Perhaps it is a little egotistical of her to believe that she deserves better than the spot she has at Rise To Greatness. Granted, she isn’t fully disappointed with the match itself. It is Double Jeopardy, and two of the three other competitors are former champions in SCW, just like herself; namely Konrad Raab and Christy Matthews. Whoever is victorious in Double Jeopardy walks away as number one contender to the SCW United States Championship, a title that Braddock has been chasing for quite some time now. The frustration with this particular match has nothing to do with Konrad or Christy. It has to do with the individual she herself is facing in phase one of Double Jeopardy, that person being Danny Darko.

Ever since Darko made his presence felt in SCW, the grizzled veteran has been seemingly attached at the hip to The British Bombshell. His first two, and so far only, matches in SCW have been tag team matches with Glory as his tag team partner. In Braddock’s mind she carried the team on both occasions. In the mind of Glory Braddock, Darko has done little to contribute to the team on either occasion. And quite frankly, she is tired of working with him and she believes she is deserving of something far better and more prestigious than anything involving Danny Darko, including this match against him at Rise To Greatness.

The mind of The British Bombshell is also being plagued by thoughts of a startling revelation that was brought to her attention in recent weeks. Braddock was in London to watch her oldest daughter, Melinda Braddock, compete on the European independent circuits and it was there that she learned that Melinda and Clyde Sutter had rekindled their romantic relationship. This was a shock to Braddock’s system, because she knows for a fact that the pair broke up because of Sutter’s inability to control his anger, a problem that led him to physically abuse Melinda. The other issue is that Glory is convinced that Sutter has also sexually abused Melinda. Despite confronting her with this, Melinda has insisted that Sutter has never raped her, that Sutter has changed, and that they will continue to be romantically involved.

Obviously Glory’s change in attitude can be attributed, at least in some way, to this shocking news regarding her daughter. The beautiful blonde is deeply concerned about Melinda. She is worried about her daughter’s well-being. And even though Melinda, and even Glory’s own sister Julia, seems willing to at least consider giving Sutter a chance, Braddock herself is unwilling to believe the big monster has changed in any way, shape, or form. Unfortunately there is nothing Glory can do to change things. Sutter and Melinda are dating and she must find some way to deal with this.

The British Bombshell is walking the halls of The Footprint center shortly after Breakdown has come to its conclusion. The arena is nearly empty with the exception of a few SCW officials and arena officials staying behind to clean up. Braddock is dressed in denim jeans, sandals, and a purple t-shirt. Her long blonde hair is pulled into a ponytail in the back. She is seated on a black case in the center of the hall. Glory isn’t exactly paying attention to what is going on around her. Her mind is distracted, focused only on the problems going on in her personal life. It is for this reason that HE is able to sneak up on her so easily.

The “he” in question is Clyde Sutter. He is dressed in black dress pants, black dress shoes, and a white button up silk shirt. A smug confident smirk is plastered across the monster’s face. He finds it rather humorous that Glory doesn’t notice him. He used to work here, he used to work for this particular organization, for SCW. So some of those here at the arena recognized him. Now he works for another wrestling promotion, MWE. In fact, the last time Glory even saw Clyde Sutter was in MWE where Sutter nearly broke her in half. Now Sutter is once again dating Glory’s daughter. So to say that this meeting will be awkward is quite the understatement.

“Waiting on someone, Ms. Braddock?”

“Huh?!” Braddock’s attention is immediately perked. She looks up and narrows her eyes in an angry glare at the man who is dating her daughter. If looks could kill, Sutter would be dead right now. “What are you doing here?”

“It wasn’t difficult, Ms. Braddock. Many of those here in this promotion remembered me and did not raise any alarm bells. Besides,” he points a finger at Glory “you did invite me. Or do I need to produce my mobile phone that has your text message as evidence?”

There is a long, tense pause as The British Bombshell stares intensely at Sutter. After a few more tense moments Glory sighs and nods her head, relenting to Sutter. “You’re right, I did.”

“You and I haven’t exactly had the best of relationships, Ms. Braddock. When we first met you kicked me out of your wrestling school. Then after I broke up with your daughter you began spreading wild rumors about me raping her. I wouldn’t see you again until we met in the ring, twice, and both times I nearly broke you in half.” He snickers nastily. “So needless to say, Ms. Braddock, I was quite surprised to hear from you, especially receiving this invitation to attend SCW Breakdown in Phoenix so that we could discuss…something. You did not specify what you wanted to discuss.”

“Is that a problem?”

“Not exactly.” He shakes his head. “Except that it DOES force me to take time away from my business arrangement with The Page Family.”

“You mean your arrangement as their hired gun?”

“It is an honest, legitimate living, Ms. Braddock.” He sneers. “Now what do you want? Or did I waste my time?”

“You didn’t waste your time.” Glory says as she shakes her head. “It’s just that…” she sighs “...Melinda told me that you two were dating again.”

“Ah, so you were finally told.” He chuckles softly. It isn’t exactly a mean laugh but definitely not a nice one, either. “I am glad my dear, sweet Melinda finally told you about us. I hated keeping you in the dark for so long. A secret such as that should never be kept.”

“Wait, what?” Braddock stands up and approaches Sutter. “How the hell long have you been dating?!”

“That, Ms. Braddock, is actually quite complicated. You may not believe me, but I always cared for Melinda. I wasn’t exactly a saint, I still am not a saint, but I did care for her. And I did keep up with her after we broke up. I heard about her engagement with Archie Van Stanton.”

“Henry’s son.”

“Yes, him. I was genuinely happy for her. That was when we first made contact again. I reached out to her and congratulated her, simple as that. It was then that we renewed our friendship. And then when I heard about Archie being gunned down and murdered. I reached out again to help her in her time of need. I helped her as a friend.”

“So you just swooped in when she was emotionally vulnerable?” Glory snaps in an accusatory tone. Sutter shakes his head.

“Must you always think the worst of me?”

“You don’t do yourself any favors.”

“Fair enough. But no, I did not ‘swoop in’ as you put it. In fact, I did my best to maintain a friendship with Melinda. But we grew closer and closer. She was grateful for our friendship. And what started as a friendship grew into something more. She wanted to renew our romantic involvement. I suggested against it, knowing about my own past and knowing that YOU, Ms. Braddock, would not be in favor of it, but she insisted.”

“And I’m supposed to believe that?”

“I really don’t care if you believe me or not, Ms. Braddock. The fact is that it is true. And furthermore, all I want is peace. In fact, that is the only reason I bothered to come here to Phoenix to entertain this silly invitation of yours. I want there to be peace between us.”

“You want peace, Sutter?” Glory chuckles. “You must be joking?”

“I don’t have a sense of humor, Ms. Braddock. I am very serious.” Sutter states. Glory studies him closely and skeptically. She isn’t quite ready to believe him but something about the way he carries himself, the way he speaks to her today, seems to have a sense of sincerity that comes with it. Maybe she should humor him if only for a moment?

“Then answer this question…did you hurt Melinda?”

“Interesting question, Ms. Braddock. Your wording was carefully chosen, I’m sure, because I know what you really are asking of me. You want to know if I sexually assaulted your daughter when we dated the first time. Am I correct?” He asks. Glory nods her head. “I thought so. The answer is the same as Melinda told you, the same as I have told you. I never raped her.”

“I’m serious, Clyde, I…”

“AND I AM BEING SERIOUS TOO!” He shouts angrily. He is so intense that it even causes Glory to take a few steps back. Even Sutter himself takes a few steps back. It is almost as if he realizes that he is about to explode. He takes a few deep breaths to calm himself. Braddock can sense that the big man is slowly but surely calming himself. “Apologies, Ms. Braddock…but I assure you, I did not sexually assault your daughter.”

“You did hit her.”

“Yes, I admit that I did hit her. That was a mistake on my part, when I could not control my rage. I may never live that down. But I assure you I did not rape her. I would never rape her. I won’t hurt her ever again.”

“How can I be so sure of any of this?”

“I have been taking anger management classes.” Sutter states stoically. “They have been very beneficial in helping me to focus and control my rage, so that I take out my rage on my opponents in the ring, not on my loved ones outside the ring.”

“I’m still not sure I admit you.” Braddock sighs and shakes her head. “Even with the anger management I’m still not sure I can trust you.” Braddock pulls at her hair. “She’s my daughter, mate. I can’t help it but I’m protective of her.”

“I understand.”

“But I guess…I guess I am willing to at least give you a chance.” She extends a hand, very reluctantly. Sutter smirks but nods his head and accepts the handshake.

“A chance is all I ask, Ms. Braddock…a chance to prove you wrong, to prove that I am worthy of your daughter.”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself.” Glory says, rolling her eyes. “I have pretty high standards.”

“With all due respect, Ms. Braddock, I believe you should open your mind to the possibility that perhaps you do not know everything. There is still much for you to learn.”

“What are you babbling about now, Sutter?” Glory asks. He turns and walks off. He motions for her to follow him and reluctantly she obliges. She is actually surprised at herself that is following Sutter, as if she actually trusts him. But something about his demeanor tells her that she can trust him. Braddock follows Sutter to the exit of The Footprint Center. He steps through the exit door and holds it open for Glory. She exits as well, now she finds herself outside next to Sutter. He points up into the dark Phoenix sky.

“Look up at the stars. It is a big universe, isn’t it?”

“Yes, I suppose it is.”

“Yet at the same time it is a very small universe when you start to think of how connected we are. I learned that myself recently.”

“You’re beginning to sound crazy, mate.”

“Shaddup and listen.” He growls. Sutter turns and looks directly into Glory’s eyes. “You kicked me out of your wrestling school, Ms. Braddock. And you had used your influence to try and blackball me from any and all major wrestling promotions. Had it not been for Mason Van Stanton, I would not have completed my training and I would not have attracted the attention of any promotion. Now did you ever stop and think why Van Stanton would give a damn about me?”

“That’s easy, mate. He knew I hated you and he wanted to stick it to me.”

“That’s what I thought as well. But as it stands we are both wrong.” Sutter chuckles. “See, I recently learned the identity of my mother. Today she is known as Autumn Van Stanton, Mason’s sister-in-law.”

“That makes Mason your…uncle?” Glory asks. Sutter nods his head.

“Correct. You may think of me as a hired gun, a mercenary, but the money I make off the Page sisters enables me to be well connected and well informed. As a matter of fact, I am aware of another problem you are having, Ms. Braddock.”

“I have no problems, Sutter.” She sighs. “Nothing that you could help me with, at least.”

“I’m offering my advice merely as a way of peace. We are at peace now, correct? I am dating your daughter. I may as well be family now. So…mom…let me help.” He grins knowingly. Braddock shakes her head.

“I can handle things myself, thank you very much.”

“Very well. I accomplished what I came here to do. I buried the hatchet. It may be a tense peace, and perhaps we do not fully trust one another, but at least there is a fragile peace between us. I will say this to you, Ms. Braddock, and take my advice or leave it, it does not matter to me. Do NOT trust anyone.”

The British Bombshell watches as Clyde Sutter turns and walks off. Her eyes never leave Sutter as he slowly disappears into the night. She wants to simply dismiss his advice but she is finding it difficult to do so. What does he mean by ‘do not trust anyone’? The words are eerily reminiscent of the warning Jamie Ryan gave Glory weeks earlier. Does Sutter know of Glory’s corporate problems? That sounds impossible. But still, whether he knows or not, the advice is sound. She has been betrayed before. She could be betrayed again.

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July 22nd, 2022
Phenix, Arizona
On Camera
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The camera begins to roll. We open in an office, an opulent luxurious office overlooking the Phoenix, Arizona skyline. A few moments later and we hear a door opening and shutting, followed by the sound of clicking heels across the marble floor. Eventually “The British Bombshell” Glory Braddock steps into view from the right. Braddock is dressed in a pale skirt that falls to just below the knee, a dark gray quarter length sleeve blouse, and matching high heel pumps. Her long blonde hair hangs straight and unrestrained to past the shoulders. A confident grin is etched across her lovely face.

“Phoenix, Arizona was the last stop before Rise To Greatness. Now last week when we were in Charlotte, I was told by one Danny Darko that I would appreciate this little crazy idea of his, I was assured that I would thank him for whatever insane notion he put into Shaun Cruze’s head for a match at Rise To Greatness. Now that I know Shaun Cruze has decided on a Double Jeopardy Match to determine the number one contender for the SCW United States Championship, well, I have to say that I have mixed emotions. On the one hand I am grateful for the chance to earn a shot at the United States Title. I have had this title in my sights since last year’s Rise To Greatness when I came up short in the four way for the title, the same four way Christy Matthews inevitably won, the same Christy Matthews who is also part of this Double Jeopardy. I nearly had the title a few months ago when I wrestled and won two straight matches in a tournament, but came up just in the third and final match, failing to become United States Champion. I know I can beat Hudson. And I know I can beat Owen. It doesn’t matter which of them wins the title at Rise To Greatness, I KNOW in my heart of hearts that I can beat either of them. I just need one more shot. And I can earn that shot by winning Double Jeopardy. So in that sense I am grateful for this opportunity.” Braddock shakes her head.

“Unfortunately, this isn’t entirely a good thing. Because once again old yeller himself Danny Darko managed to worm his way into my business. Is this your grand scheme, Darko? You wanted to worm your way into my spotlight, ride my coattails in order kickstart your SCW career? Did you whisper into Cruze’s head and convince him somehow that you deserve to wrestle me at Rise To Greatness? Because in phase one of Double Jeopardy I’m forced to wrestle your broken down ass.” Glory smirks.

“Many fans are no doubt surprised by my attitude towards you, Daniel. I can understand because I was a fan myself once upon a time. I grew up watching my dad compete. My dad was my hero, my idol. I worshiped the ground he walked on. So I was a fan once and I understand the excitement fans get for a returning legend, and that is what you are, Daniel. You are a legend. And when legends like you return to the ring, we wrestlers hear the same echoes from the audience…”

“One More Match! One More Match! One More Match!”

“You Still Got It! You Still Got It! You Still Got It!” Braddock chuckles lightly.

“We hear it all the time. Wrestlers hear it all the time. Fans believe what they chant but wrestlers, we know better.” She nods her head. “We know that while some returning legends really do have ONE MORE MATCH left in them and they STILL GOT IT, other returning legends just do not have it anymore. Some returning legends should leave well enough alone and stay home sitting their ass on the sofa while the rest of us do the work that you cannot do any longer. Or if you insist on keeping your name in the lights then show up and do an autograph signing, do a Make-A-Wish event, something like that, but do not put your well being on the line by stepping into the ring because you do not belong there anymore. Us wrestlers know that and while the fans want to tell you what you WANT to hear, us wrestlers will tell you what you NEED to hear.”

“Your return on Breakdown sparked excitement amongst the fans. They remember you from your days in Uprising amongst other companies. The fans of SCW were ecstatic to see Danny Darko had arrived on Breakdown ready to compete with the top stars of Supreme Championship Wrestling.” Braddock shakes her head. “But not me…I was not excited for your return. I was annoyed because you interrupted me. You stole my spotlight. Furthermore you sat on your ass while Tsunami beat the hell out of me and Christy. At least Christy was gutsy enough to try and fight back but you just watched. You did nothing.” The British Bombshell shrugs her shoulders.

“I suppose I should have expected that, I mean, that is your modus operandi, am I right? You are unreliable, Darko. You always have been. You can’t hold on your own in a fight, you always have to rely on someone else to save your ass. So why should I have expected you to help me and Christy? I guess the only thing that really surprised me was why Shaun Cruze thought it was a good idea to put you and me together as a tag team against Jenni and Tsunami. They didn’t attack your old broken ass. They attacked me and Christy. So wouldn’t Glory Braddock and Christy Matthews against Jenni and her pet monster have made more sense?” She points a finger at the camera.

“Yet somehow you managed to find your way into the action. Somehow Cruze thought it would be better if you were my partner, an unreliable old fart instead of someone more than capable of holding her own like Christy Matthews. But hell, at least the fans got something out of it. They got to see two legends team up. Not just once but twice! We teamed up against Jenni and Tsunami and then we teamed up against The Brand. And both times we were victorious. Both times I carried our team, both times I did all the heavy lifting while you road my coattails. Are you beginning to see a pattern because I know I can. First you interrupted me on Breakdown. Then you ride my coattails in two tag team matches. You clearly want to be in my spotlight. You realize that I am right about everything I just said about you, you recognize that you do not have it anymore, that you do not have one more good match left in you, so you are leaving it up to me to carry you into the spotlight.” Glory sarcastically claps her hands.

“Well congratulations, you old bastard. You managed to ride my coattails into Double Jeopardy where if you become just like Jesus Christ himself and perform a bloody miracle you can earn a shot at the United States Title. Seriously, let’s look at this for a moment, Daniel. Look at the field; Konrad Raab is a former SCW Underground Champion. He definitely belongs in this match. Christy Matthews has held multiple championships in this company. She has won just about everything there is to win in SCW. She damn sure belongs. And then there’s me…” she smirks knowingly “...now I could mention my fifteen world title reigns across my entire career, but I will just bring up my achievements in SCW alone. I am a former Adrenaline Champion, back to back Trios Tournament winner, and a former SCW World Champion. Do I belong in this match? Damn right I do. But what about you?” Glory shrugs her shoulders.

“Honestly, you are just an out of shape beat up old horse who should be put out to pasture. You have had only two matches in SCW, neither of which were singles matches, and both matches I had to carry your broken ass. How the hell did you get into this match? Is it just based on your name recognition? Is that how SCW operates under a Shaun Cruze administration? Danny Darko has name reputation so he automatically gets put at the top of the line for a US Title Match? Hell, I should have waited to join SCW until that buffoon Cruze was in charge. With my reputation I would have automatically been gifted world title shots in my first few bookings.”

“So I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I have to tell the truth to the SCW fans. They are excited about what they think will be legend versus legend in phase one of Double Jeopardy. But Glory Braddock versus Danny Darko will not be legend versus legend. It will be a massacre. Legends can still go. I am a legend and I can still go. But you, Daniel, you cannot go any longer and you know it. Even in your prime you were unreliable. How long have you been out of action, Daniel? How many years were you sitting there, wallowing in obscurity, before you decided to pick your old broken down ass up and try for one last run? While you were wallowing in obscurity I was busy winning championships in multiple promotions at once. While you were busy doing nothing I was busy toppling monsters, winning titles, and making myself an even bigger legend than I already am. Yet you think you can hang with me?” She shakes her head. “You should not have come back, Daniel, because you cannot hang with me. You are one of those legends I told you about, one of those legends who think they can go one more match but then they find out just how wrong they are. You want ONE MORE MATCH, Daniel, and you will get it at Rise To Greatness, but you will find out that you will have had one match too many.”

A cold look washes across her face. “Let me tell you about my father. You remember him? I told you about him earlier, he was my hero, my idol. He was a lot like you, Daniel. He was like you in that he wanted to keep going and keep going. He wanted to keep wrestling and keep reliving his past glory days. He didn’t believe that the idea of ‘one match too many’ even existed. But then I had to sit there in horror as I watched him wrestle that one match too many. I watched him break his back during a match because he wrestled one too many matches. Now you get to become just like my father in that sense because I will make damn sure you wrestled one match too many. I will make sure you wrestle your last match. In other words, I am going to cripple you at Rise To Greatness, Daniel.”