MONDAY NIGHT METAL S02/E10 03/23/20

Tag Title Tournament Block B Semi-Final

The Architects vs The Enforcers

Clearwater: Welcome back to for our Main Event!

St. Remington: The Enforcers are already in the ring and we are just awaiting the Architect team of Smith Jones and Damon Warren! Oh and if you are wondering why Spartan is in the ring, he’s the special guest referee!

“Architects” by Rise Against rocks the arena! Orange and red spotlights fade up slowly, like the sun rising to reveal a fire in the sky, illuminating two silhouettes. Damon Warrens and Smith Jones stand with their heads bowed. Jones wears a shiny white robe with sparkly silver trim. Warrens is adorned in long white tights covered in blood splatters, white wrestling boots, white knee pads, white wrist tape, a black belt, black muscle shirt with "New Era" across the front. White elbow pads, and a long white trench coat with black buckles and straps resembling a straight jacket which also has blood splatters across it. Finally he wears a white expressionless mask with creepy white contact lenses. Warrens has a kendo stick slung over his shoulder. They all keep their heads bowed during the ring announcement.

Jessica Kaine: Coming down the aisle… at a total combined weight of four hundred fifty-four pounds… Damon Warrens and Smith Jones… The Architects!!!

They raise their arms, thrusting them directly into the path of the spotlights as the crowd erupts into cheers! The Architects stride confidently down to ringside as the crowd loses their minds! Jones has already arrived at the ring as he mounts the steel ring steps and wipes his feet respectfully on the apron before parting the ropes and entering the ring. Damon rolls in under the bottom rope and meets Smith inside. They fist bump one another before crossing to opposite sides of the ring and standing on different middle turnbuckles. Smith shrugs off his white robe and stoically scans the crowd with a sneer. Damon points his kendo stick at the fans in the front row and yells at them. They both return to the middle of the ring, stretching up for the match ahead.

Damon and Alex stand in the center of the ring when Smith points over Alex’s shoulder to Odin Balfore and to that point, Odin Balfore is pointing back at Smith. The crowd is going wild as both men clap their hands to get the crowd into it and the two legal men begin to circle the other, until the roar of the crowd gets Warren to tag in partner Smith and Richards to tag in Odin Balfore. However, that tag never happened as it was a ploy and Richards lashes out with a front kick to Smitty’s face, but he ducks under grabbing the ankle and twisting off to one side sending Richards flipping onto his feet against the ropes. Richards comes off the ropes with a leap frog over the doubled over Smith, but Jones with a mule kick narrowly avoids clipping Smitty’s left leg. Smith with a spring to the top rope flips back over the twisting Richards, but drops down onto one knee shoving his foot around as he spins around and nails Smith right in the midsection with the kick.

Clearwater: What athleticism by both men there! I am curious to why Spartan is acting as the referee for this match.

St. Remington: One of the more even matched teams but The Enforcers seem to know what works.

Smith rolls over, holding at his midsection and dives at Richards with a shoulder block. Spartan watches on in his best referee pose.

Clearwater: I wouldn't say it worked, Smith seems to be better prepared than most!

Richards with a leap over the diving Smith Jones, who rolls through and up to his feet with a smile on his face. Collar and elbow lockup, Smith with a go behind. Richards grabs the wrist, into a wristlock, into a hammerlock behind the back of Smith. Jones with a duck and a drop to a knee shoves into Richards, lifting him up onto his shoulders in a sort of fireman's carry, but Richards slips off and with a tornado DDT tries to send Smitty’s head into the canvas. Smith tosses and spins around and away from Richards and right into the right fist of Odin Balfore which sends him stumbling backwards into a German suplex by Richards. Damon comes into the ring, Richards rolls over to his feet, dropkick from Warren sends him down right beside Smith. Warren gets back out of the ring as Odin Balfore just looks at him, perhaps a bit of respect is there? Ok, perhaps not, the big man named Odin just stares at him continually.

Clearwater: It seems that both teams are equally matched.!

St. Remington: Repeating yourself I see! .

Smith rolls over to his knees, Richards doing the same. Both men seem to stumble towards the other, right into a collar and elbow tieup, Smith going into a hammerlock. Richards with a break, into a wristlock, but Smith lashes out with a sideways kick, right into Alex’s exposed midsection, doubling him over. Smith pressing his advantage sends a stinging chop right to the chest of Richards, backing him towards Odin Balfore.

St. Remington: What is he doing?

Odin Balfore reaches out, but Smith whips him towards Warren, Alex’s back slamming hard into the corner padding. Richards comes out, stumbling forward, right into a springboard sort of sideways and catching Richards sends him face first into the canvas. Smith tags in Warren, leaping off the top turnbuckle with a split legged moonsault right onto the downed Richards and the two men that were supposed to start this match off are in the ring.

Clearwater: What tag team unity from the Architects!

St. Remington: A real time! Just like the Cowgirls said they were!

Warren brings Richards up to his feet, but the veteran is ready for it, delivering a rapid series of five punches into Warren’s midsection, before slamming a knee upwards into his face that has him against the ropes. Richards with a whip sends him to the opposite ropes, Richards with a jumping knee sends Warren down onto the canvas with a knock-out blow; but Richards is on the canvas.

St. Remington: He’s short of breath!!! Covid-19?

Clearwater: Not funny Remi.

Odin Balfore slaps the top turnbuckle, getting his tag team partner into the match, trying to get him up and the Enforcer fans into the action and up on their feet cheering them!

(with each slap of the turnbuckle a letter is shouted)

EN!(slap) FORCE!(slap) ERS!(slap) EN!(slap) FORCE!(slap) ERS!(slap)

Richards slowly begins to crawl forward, pulling himself up to his knees and here comes Smith into the match, diving to prevent the Richards tag; but he gets it. The Enforcer fans get on their feet, Odin Balfore into the match now. Smith backs up, begging off, Odin Balfore rushes forward, but is tripped up by Damon at the perfect time sending him face first i nto a knee lift from Smith. Smith, using the momentum, has Odin Balfore in the corner and gets Warren to come in and tag him in. Warren reaches out, but Odin Balfore with a big boot sends Warren stumbling back into an inverted spinebuster(Richards catches him from behind, lifts him up, then falls forward on top of Warren(chest to chest but Warren’s head is between Alex’s legs)).

Clearwater: What a move!

St. Remington: 19 years of experience right there!

Odin Balfore with a run off the ropes, big leap into the air and a huge body splash on top of the downed Warren. Here comes Smith, the Architects fans going crazy, but Richards with a spinning heel kick catches Smith in the temple and down the gangsta goes to the canvas. Spartan stands in the middle of the ring; Odin Balfore looks at him, just glaring at him for a moment before turning his attention back to the contest at hand. Warren is pulled roughly to his feet and up onto Balfore’s shoulders, airplane spin toss, but Warren catches the top rope, somehow managing to flip the large Odin Balfore out of the ring and onto the floor outside of the ring. Warren hangs from his right hand, somehow pulling a Heartbreak Kid and flipping back into the ring.

St. Remington: Damon showing off his reflexes and athleticism!

Clearwater: Turning into a hell of a main event!

Richards rushes for Warren, who just flips back into the ring, turning around and right into Alex’s clothesline. Warren drops, pulling the rope down and shoving a shoulder into Alex’s midsection and sending him over the top rope and to the outside. Warren off the ropes, launches himself over with a twist and a yell, sending both men(who were standing up) backwards into the railing that protects the fans.

Clearwater: That never feels good!

St. Remington: My back hurts watching!

Warren rolls back into the ring, he and Smith tag in and make it a legal switch, Warren willing to take a breather on the apron, Odin Balfore stares up at Smith from the floor. Spartan starts the count out!

One!

Two!

Three!

Four!

Five!

Odin Balfore pulls himself up onto the apron, Smith begging him to step on into the ring, making sure to give him plenty of room. Odin Balfore looks at Smith, who spits into his palm and slaps the taste right out of Odin’s mouth, but Odin just turns his head back to face Smith, lashing out with a left jab. Smith ducks the jab, but doesn't see Odin slam a knee into his left side, but he does feel it and is sent down onto one knee, gasping and holding at his ribs. Odin Balfore and Smith lock up again in the center of ring with Spartan making sure no funny business takes place. Odin Balfore backs Smith into a corner delivering a massive forearm to Smitty’s head, Spartan is there to break up the grappling. Odin Balfore forcefully whips Smith out of the corner, charging after the APW World Champion with a full head of steam, Smith sprawls in the corner and Odin Balfore spears the ringpost. Smith pulls Odin Balfore out of the corner delivering a spinning roundhouse kick sending Odin’s face into the top turnbuckle. Odin Balfore shakes his head and rubs his shoulder delivering a series of quick, but powerful, jabs to Smitty’s midsection. Smith holds at his ribs as Odin Balfore delivers another big series of punches, Odin Balfore whips Smith into the ropes and following up with a shoulder tackle takes Smith down. Odin Balfore is on a rampage and not allowing Smith to get much of an offense here in this portion of this match. Odin Balfore lifts Smith up in the center of the ring for a stalling vertical suplex, but Smith manages to wriggle free and deliver a modified backflip kick to the back of Odin’s skull that sends Odin into the ropes. Odin Balfore manages to catch himself before falling out of the ring, but here comes Smith with a flying leg lariat sending Odin Balfore over the ropes and onto the ring apron. Smith lands just inside the ropes, but Odin Balfore pulls him out of the ring and to the outside as Scott Swindell begins the long ten count. Odin Balfore with a big right hand to Smitty’s face as the rage burns in Jones 's eyes. Right from Odin Balfore sends Smith back, Odin Balfore with another big right handed haymaker connects with Smitty’s temple.

Clearwater: What a series of moves from all four men here in this contest, its back and forth all the way!

St. Remington: You can never count any of these men out, well... maybe Spartan will...

Odin Balfore with another big haymaker, but Smith falls out of Odin’s grasp and the fist slams into the ringpost and Odin Balfore connects with nothing but the unforgiving metal of the post. He shakes at his hand as Spartan’s count is up to six here in this tag title tournament bout. Smith with a low blow to Odin’s balls further incapacitate The big man here after the haymaker miss

~Split Action View~

Damon and Richards circle each other inside the ring, both looking for an opening that they are not willing to give the other. Collar and elbow, Damon with a go behind into a rear waistlock, Richards with a quick reversal into a rear waistlock of his own. Richards chains into a side headlock, Damon shoots him into the ropes. Richards leaps over Warren, rebounding off the ropes with a springboard back elbow. Damon with a reverse hiptoss sends Richards down to the canvas, Damon hits the ropes, but Richards rolls out of the way of the leg drop. Richards kips up to his feet as Damon does the same, they look at each other, the fans are deep into it. Another collar and elbow, Richards with a wristlock into a hammerlock, but Damon counters and reverses into a hammerlock of his own. Richards slaps at his shoulder as he rolls forward to flip Damon over his body. Damon lands with his feet on the ropes, he back flips over Richards, nailing him with a dropkick to his back.

St. Remington: Damon is a beast!

Clearwater: He better not underestimate the fan favourites!.

St. Remington: Neither of these men are legal are they?

Clearwater: Spartan may have forgotten that, as he's not a official referee.

Richards rolls out onto the ring apron, getting up to his feet. Here comes Warren, Richards with a shoulder block and a sunset flip into a powerbomb. Damon rolls out of the hold, but is slow to get up, Spartan looking really lost here in this contest.

St. Remington: Spartan looks lost.

Clearwater: I feel lost!

Richards pulls Damon up to his feet, elbow to Alex’s midsection, second, and a third. Damon with a swinging neckbreaker takes Richards down to the canvas. Damon climbs to the top turnbuckle, diving off with a moonsault onto Richards before pulling Richards back up to his feet. Irish whip into the ropes, Richards rebounds with a boot to the face, but Damon catches the kick. Richards with a enzeguri, but Damon manages to duck his head, clothesline takes Richards down on the mat. Damon locks on an anklelock, Richards reaches for the ropes, trying to get leverage to break the hold. Damon doesn't taunt the crowd as he pulls Richards back up to his feet. Chop to the chest, Richards counters with a chop of his own; the crowd with a "Wooooo" for each chop. Damon counters with a second chop, Richards fires back with one more. Richards with a forearm to Damon Warren’s face catching him off guard. Open palm strike to Warren’s face has him center ring. Richards with a whip into the rope, but Warren catches the rope, here comes Richards with a front knee strike. Warren catches the knee and both men go over the top to the outside;, but Warren lands heavily on his shoulder and rolls up to his feet. Richards flips back into the ring and is immediately off the ropes as he launches himself over the top and onto Damon with a suicide devil's plancha!

~Back to Smith vs Odin Balfore (simultaneously happening)~

Smith short whips Odin’s face into the post before rolling Odin into the ring, Smith follows after him as the count reaches nine and the match will continue. Smith climbs to the top turnbuckle, leaping with a leg drop across Jones 's throat, he makes a cover, but Odin Balfore shoves him off immediately to prevent a pin. Smith rolls into the ropes and under to the ring apron. Odin Balfore shakes his head and gets to his feet charging over to where Jones is standing looking at his opponent. Smith with a side kick through the ropes to Odin’s ribs, Odin Balfore continues coming, Smith with one to the other side of Odin’s ribs. The last kick halts Odin Balfore for a second before he reaches over the top rope to grab Smith, who springs to the top rope and delivers a big roundhouse kick to the side of his head sending him back down to the canvas. Smith falls back to the apron, facing the crowd, before back flipping into the ring, leaping to the top rope, and into the air to crash down on Odin with an elbow drop. Smith hits the ropes and goes for a baseball slide, but Odin Balfore sits up and Smith slides right out of the ring and Swindell starts the count, but Odin Balfore goes outside after him. Odin Balfore is yelling as he chases Smith around the ring, but Jones slips into the ring under the bottom rope and Odin Balfore is forced to follow after him. Odin Balfore rolls in to a series of big time stomps to the head from Smith before finally fighting through the stomps to get up to his feet. Odin Balfore shakes off the stomps and smiles as he once again charges at Smith, who promptly runs away.

St. Remington: Smith is making Odin spend a lot of energy to run around the ring, Jones looks to just be playing with him.

Clearwater: Smith is a veteran, but so is Odin; Jones may have gotten underneath Odin’s skin.

~Split Screen (Damon vs Richards)~

Irish whip from Richards sends Warren into the ring apron, he rebounds with a flying crossbody, but Richards with a dropkick right into Damon's breadbasket takes him off his feet. Richards rolls back up to his feet as Damon rolls away and tries to catch a breather. The fans at ringside taunt the current number one contender to the APW World Title, but he pays them no attention, looking up to Richards who hits the ring apron and dives off. Damon ducks out of the way of Richards flying over with a flying clothesline, but Richards lands on the announce table. Damon looks up, toe kick to the face from Richards backs Damon up into the railing. Richards bounces on the table, diving forward with a front flipping dropkick that sends him and Damon over and into the crowd.

Clearwater: These fans are getting a present tonight.

St. Remington: Well we are one of the few promotions still allowing fans in the arena and they appreciate it.

Richards pulls himself up, taking Damon along with him. Richards with a right hand backs Damon up against the barricade. Richards charges with a forearm, Damon back bodies him over the railing. Richards lands on the barricade, jumping to sit on Warren’s shoulders before he flips him over the railing to the ringside area as well. Richards holds at his knee as he gets back up and the action is continuing inside the squared circle. Richards bends over Warren, but Warren with a punch to Alex’s thigh and he shoves upwards. Damon with a shot to Alex’s chest, spinning elbow to the face backs him up against the announce table. Warren with a scoop slam onto the table before he runs to jump onto the ring apron. Damon takes a running start, flying off the apron with a dive as the crowd reaches a fever pitch! The table doesn't break as Damon lands, but the crowd doesn't care. Richards rolls off the table, gasping and holding at his ribs as Damon comes back towards him.

Clearwater: The action is right here at us St. Remington.

St. Remington: Do I look blind to you, Mike?!

~Split Screen(Smith vs Odin Balfore)~

Odin Balfore charges after Smith, but Jones falls to the canvas in order to trip Odin Balfore up and causes the big man to hit the canvas face first. Odin Balfore immediately shoots back up to his feet though and catches Jones well before he can flee. Odin tosses Smith into the air to land in the corner where he slumps down into a seated position. Odin Balfore laughs as he stalks over to the corner, eyeing his prey like a bear does before an attack. Jones looks up into the face of Odin Balfore and begins to plead, Odin Balfore shakes his head in denial. Smith kicks out connecting with nothing as Odin Balfore moves his foot just in time to avoid the desperation kick. Odin Balfore leans down, pulling Smith up to his feet, Smith with a thumb to the eyes, but Odin Balfore turns his head just in time. Odin Balfore is laughing, actually laughing at Smitty’s antics as he pounds a forearm into his head and Smith falls back holding at his head. Odin Balfore with another big forearm and a double underhook facebuster sends Smith face first onto the canvas where Odin Balfore doesn't even attempt a pin, but instead looks intent on delivering more damage than anyone expected Odin Balfore to deliver. He picks Smith up, piledriver sends Smitty’s skull crashing into the mat, but once again, Odin Balfore does not make the cover. Odin he pulls the nearly unconscious Smith back up to his feet and puts him up in his finisher, the MARK OF ODIN and tossing him up a bit, Smith tries to fight back. Smith with a hurricanrana!

Smith hooks both legs.

~Split View~

Richards charges for the ring, Damon trips him up. 

Clearwater: Smith has Balfore pinned, and Spartan is making the count!

ONE!

...

TWO!!

...

Remi: Bro, does this count seem slow to you?

THR--NO! Kickout by Odin Balfore!

Smith gets right in Spartan's face, confronting him about the slow count. Spartan just shakes his head and walks away, and Smith puts a hand on his shoulder to stop him. Spartan immediately threatens to disqualify the Architects. Smitty glares, then turns around -- right into a huge clothesline from Odin Balfore! Odin pulls Jones up into an Electric Chair position as Alex Richards climbs the ropes!

Clearwater: Uh-oh! I don't like where this is going!

Odin falls forward with the electric chair drop as Alex hits the Zim-Quila Hangover!

Remi: ASGUARDIAN HANGOVER! ODIN PINS SMITH JONES!

ONE!

Damon Warrens rushes to his partner's aid!

TWO!!

Alex Richards stops him with a massive boot right in the middle of his chest! He lifts Warrens and plants him with a huge suplex!

THREE!!!

Clearwater: I don't believe it!

Remi: BELIEVE IT, BRO! The Enforcers have done it! They're going on to the finals at Battlecade!

Smith and Damon are both in Spartan's face as the Enforcers stand on the ropes, playing to the fans. Spartan stands, ready to defend himself, when suddenly, the Enforcers' music cuts -- replaced by the familiar, sinister tones of Stvore's "Sgori (Burn)". The cheers turn to boos as Irina Ivanova steps onto the stage. She motions for the crowd to settle down, and reluctantly, the fans begin to quiet.

Irina Ivanova: Comrade Smith... Comrade Damon... I know, you're feeling a little bit let down at the moment. You came so very, very close to cementing your place in the tag team finals. Really, gentlemen, it was a breathtaking effort. And I know how disappointed you must be.

In the ring, Jones and Warrens are pacing angrily, pointing and yelling things at the General Manager, which she chooses to ignore.

Irina Ivanova: Now, now, boys -- don't think of it as being deprived your shot at tag team gold. Think of it as protecting an investment. That World Heavyweight Championship you're so proud of, Comrade Smith; the one your tag team partner wants so badly -- that's where your focus should be. THAT is my Main Event at Battlecade next week. And there's no way I was going to let your little partnership stand in the way of one of the biggest matches in APW history. You want those tag titles? There will be other opportunities. But for now... I want you both at your best for next Monday night!

Abruptly, she turns on her heel and walks off the stage, leaving the Architects to gaze warily at each other in the ring, as the show fades to the APW logo against a black screen.