Actor who wrestled with O. Reed stops (6)
I believe the answer is:
abates
'stops' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to change as well as being verbs in their -s form.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for abates that I've seen before include "Goes down like storm" , "Calms down a" , "Becomes less strong like storm" , "moderates" , "Becomes less severe or strong" .)