SHIMMERWeen aka Why I Love Wrestling (Part 1)

LuFisto, Sweet Cherrie, Kalamity and Me

The weekends of October 26-28 and November 2-4 have been the busiest, the best and the most exciting I've had in a year full of exciting things. I've actually taken a step back a few times and said, "This is my life. I get to do this stuff, I get the opportunities to travel and follow my passion. This is really my life." It's probably something I'll never get to do again (at least not until my debts are paid), but these last two weekends were amazing. I'm going to do my darnest to put together some thoughts on both shows, plus some personal musings and some pictures. My iPhone took some great shots thank goodness!

I decided to separate this into two parts. Part one is on SHIMMER and part two is on Femmes Fatales. Even still, it will be long. Fair warning!

These tapings promised to be different. First, a few names were noticeably absent, due to injury (Madison Eagles, Serena Deeb), rotation (Jessie McKay, Ayumi Kurihara), or signing (Sara Del Rey, Mia Yim). While I heard some internet chatter about these being weak tapings, for me they were some of the strongest yet. Given that Volume 50 was extremely important, I expected everyone to pull out all the stops.

Not a woman on the shows disappointed me. I enjoyed every match and every woman put 110% every time. The most exciting thing for me was getting to see so many people wrestle in person that I was familiar with, and a fan of, outside of SHIMMER. These tapings felt like another shift, with the roster rearranging to include the next generation. A lot of people got a chance to step up and not only did they take the ball and run with it, they made dozens of touchdowns. That metaphor is a bit clunky but you know what I'm saying.

I don't do "typical" reviews so don't expect that. Rather, I'm going to just give thoughts and feelings on the people and the shows overall. But first off, let me say that it was an honor to be at Volume 50. I highly doubt people at the start thought SHIMMER would make it this far...but it has. It has grown to include not only women from all parts of the world flying in to compete but it also has grown to include fans coming from all over the world to attend. That's enormous and a testament to how much fans have grown to love this promotion. My first taping was September 11th & 12th, 2010 for Volumes 33-36. I haven't missed one since. SHIMMER absolutely gave me a reason to keep watching wrestling, it gave me back my passion for it. And through SHIMMER, I came to know and start watching WSU, ACW, CHIKARA, FF, EVE, WAWW, PWWA, Joshi. I also came to know friends that I love with all my heart thanks to SHIMMER.

So to Dave Prazak, Allison Danger, David Puente, everyone in the back, the photographers and to every woman past and present who has stepped into that ring - thank you. Thank you so very much.

Now then, let's dive in~!

...With bad news. Thanks to my laziness I missed both SPARKLE shows. This is what happens when I have no one to keep me on schedule. Beyond disappointed, and I even missed the first three matches on Saturday, coming in during Made in Sin v Veda Scott and Shazza McKenzie. Trust me, this won't happen again. I won't allow it. Even if I have to sleep in the parking lot of the Eagles Club. But part of my lateness was that I went in my Halloween costume and I had to get my hair just right. I went as LuFisto, wearing the gear you see her in on the cover of her Best of Volume 5 DVD. Even had red streaks put in my hair the Thursday morning I drove up to Berwyn. Unfortunately I couldn't find the hair ties that were puff balls (seriously, I looked in several Wal Marts, Amazon, Ebay, Etsy and Danger looked around several places - NO LUCK. What the heck!?), so I had to make due with regular pink hair ties but it took several tries before I got my hair into pig tails that looked halfway even. Considering the temperature, I was cold but it was worth it. I looked great! Unfortunately I forgot to snap a picture of myself...whoops...

Kalamity v Hamada.

For Volume 49, I enjoyed every match as I said, but three in particular I loved. Hiroyo Matsumoto v Sassy Stephanie (accompanied by the devious Mademoiselle Rachelle) was really fun to watch, as you had the happiest woman on the planet against one of the most underhanded. Stephanie doesn't get the credit she deserves sometimes, but you can count on her to be one of the best heels on any show. She did great against Hiroyo. Kalamity v Hamada was hard hitting and showed just how far Kalamity has come under LuFisto's tutelage. She went toe to toe with one of the best in the world and although she didn't win, it made for an outstanding match. The other was the Canadian Ninjas v LuKana. I can't really describe how fantastic this was, and if LuFisto and Kana had actually won I would've lost my mind (although I want Lufi to win the SHIMMER title at some point!). Single they are fantastic but as a team the Ninjas continue to dominate. However, at some point I want Kana to face both of them one on one.

Intermission was crazy as usual, however since some of the women are setting up around the ring, it has made a difference. It didn't seem as hard to get around as it has before, but maybe that's because I had a game plan of what I wanted to buy, where it was, and I got out when I was done. As I was chatting near the wall with a friend, I was taken by surprise by someone coming up and hugging me. It was LuFisto, and she loved the outfit! She was also glad I came and it warmed my heart that even though everyone had to rush backstage to get ready for the second taping, she took the time to give me a hug and a few words. I'd tweeted that I had dressed up as one of my heroes, and Lufi truly is just that to me.

Volume 50 was epic. There was so much energy from the crowd it was electric. I can't explain it but it was magical. The athletes brought their A-game and every match was tremendous. The last three were five stars to me. Kellie Skater had a phenomenal match against Kana back in March that had a lot of people talking. This time she faced Yumi Ohka in her second match (the first on 49 was against Leva Bates which she won) and by the time she pinned Yumi, the crowd was cheering for her. Skater's face turn was subtle and the fans sorta turned her all the way by the end of the weekend. She refrained from cheap shots, over the top boasting, refrained from taking her "supplements" and shook hands after both matches. Whether it was by design or something that was accidental, the Rate Tank is now one of the biggest stars that is still rising. The first main event of Volume 50 was a match that had been requested since last year. It was hard hitting, fast paced, emotional and beautiful: Ayako Hamada v Kana. I freaked out when the one's music hit then the other's. Because I knew this would be off the charts and they didn't disappoint. And when they hugged at the end, tears welled up. It was beautiful.

The second main event for 50 was the second SHIMVivor Series match. Whereas the first one on Volume 36 had a lot of silliness, this one had less silliness and more intensity. There were a lot of feuds wrapped up into this one. The teams consisted of Portia, Nicole, Saraya Knight, Mercedes Martinez and Lexie Fyfe (with Malia Hosaka on a stick) taking on Cheerleader Melissa, Allison Danger, Leva Bates, LuFisto and MsChif. The match itself took awhile to settle down as there was plenty of brawling on the outside first (LuFisto and Mercedes went after each other, drawing their feud from WSU and FF into a third promotion) but fittingly it came down to Saraya v Melissa and MsChif. The two originals beat the upstart but later we found out that Saraya had laid down willingly to avoid a beat down. Smart move but it also caused Bryce to call for Saraya to face Melissa on Volume 52. But that would happen Sunday...

I'd always wanted to see Lexie Fyfe wrestle in person but never thought it would happen. I'd started going to SHIMMER after her and Malia stopped wrestling there so I figured I had missed my chance. The shenanigans with Malia on a Stick were quick but highly entertaining, and Lexie is still one of the best in the ring. Very grateful she was chosen for the team, it may not look like much on paper but there was a charge in the crowd when her music hit. It was tremendous!

Since Paisans was overloaded due to their Halloween party, Saturday's afterparty took place at Michael Anthony's which was nice. Super crowded as usual but with so many rooms it was fine. Plus whoever was operating the music played good stuff - Gangnam Style was aired at least once which caused Saraya Knight to threaten to hurt anyone who did the dance infront of her. Naturally some did and chances are she followed through on her threat although I didn't see. Being a short person in a crowd hampers your view!

I had a much needed talk with Allison Danger outside, then went back in to chat with various people until the party died down and folks started to get back to their respective hotels. Sunday promised to be busy so nobody stayed as late as they could have which is understandable.

I missed SPARKLE on Sunday again but at least made it before the main show. Volume 51 was such a solid card, it makes it hard for me to pick one or two matches that I loved above the rest. Ryo Mizunami v LuFisto was a hard hitting Joshi bout that was so damn good. ReGeneration X handed Made in Sin their first loss and shot the former team into number one contendership. Courtney Rush went toe to toe with Mercedes and got the upset win that made everyone applaud. Ayako Hamada and Portia Perez, Kana and Athena, Nicole and Yumi - fantastic bouts that show just how great the next generation is becoming. But the main event was something special.

Kellie Skater main eventing

Due to Skater's win over Yumi the previous day, Hiroyo's rack of wins over the previous few volumes, and the fact that MsChif had eliminated two people in the SHIMVivor Series match on Saturday (whereas Melissa had only pinned Saraya at the last), Knight deemed those three worthy of a title match. The first ever four way elimination style match for the SHIMMER title was held as the main event for 51 and it catapulted Kellie Skater into the atmosphere. I cannot even do it justice how amazingly the crowd wanted her to win. Chif got a loud response, Hiroyo got a louder one but Tank's about blew the roof off and only got louder as it came down to her and Saraya. If she had won the reaction would have been equal to that when Melissa won the belt last year and that's the truth.

During intermission, I collected a few shirts and autographs and briefly spoke to Cherry Bomb, who was as sweet as she is on Twitter. I also got a lovely hug from Danger when I got my ReX shirt. It didn't feel as rushed this time, so when I saw that Kana had no one around her, I got up my nerve to purchase first a DVD when an autographed photo. Both times she held out her hands and at first I was confused but then I understood. I held out mine, which she grasped and gave me a small bow, saying "Thank you" - utterly gracious! I responded with a bow and a thank you as well. I've heard so many fans talk about her being approachable and nice but this was my first interaction with her. The reports are very true. For as deadly as she is in the ring, outside she is wonderful.

Volume 52 saw Angelus Layne graduate from SPARKLE to SHIMMER, a dream match between LuKana and Made in Sin (which left me wanting to see Kay go one on one with LuFisto and Kana), a damn fun partnership between Skater and Tomoka Nakagawa (they had paired up in Japan before, so the pairing made sense - Skater kept her face turn while Tomoka played the naughty heel; this promises to be a fun tag team), a helluva bout between Yumi and Ryo, the epic let down as ReGeneration X lost to the Canadian Ninjas (despite ReX dressed as ninjas; seriously, the disappointment was palpable), another fantastic match featuring Athena taking on another Joshi, this time Ayako Hamada, and finally the main event featuring Saraya and Melissa.

I was absolutely certain that Melissa was going to win the belt. So much so I wasn't fully invested in it, it just seemed obvious. However, to my complete surprise, after Melissa hit the Air Raid Crash, the Ninjas ran to ringside for the distraction and who else but Rhia O'Reilly hopped the barricade (RIGHT BY ME, one minute she wasn't there and the next she was leaping past me - I think I yelled, "Rhia?!"), slid the SHIMMER belt in so Saraya could knock out Melissa and get the pin.

I started laughing like a loon. Legit. I had been so certain that Melissa would win the belt back and bring the feud to a conclusion that when I realized what had happened, I was so relieved I laughed. It was absolutely brilliant. For Volume 53, which will be part of WrestleCon, a cage match between the two has been booked, and that's a brilliant way of furthering things (or ending the feud if the case may be). But for my part, this was a fantastic way to conclude the volume. Kudos to the masterminds behind the finish!

The afterparty at Paisans was fun, and it was hilarious that just as Portia and Nicole walked in, Stevie Nicks' "Edge of Seventeen" started playing. I'm not sure if that was a planned thing or coincidence but either way it was funny. The poor Ninjas were immediately rushed by fans at the entrance so that it took awhile for them to get into the place properly, but they were all class taking pictures with fans. All the women were gracious as always and I loved getting to catch up with friends. I chatted with Nicole and Puente for a bit towards the end. Nicole is always fun to talk to, she's genuinely friendly and has a sharp wit. And David Puente is a big ol' sweetheart!

I wanted to share some thoughts on people that I got to see for the first time in person, and also on those who stood out to me. If I don't write about you, please don't take it personally - there isn't a wrestler in SHIMMER that I don't respect, but if I wrote about everyone this would take even longer to write and to read! First off, those I saw in person for the first time. Almost all of these ladies I had seen on previous shows and was a fan of, but there's something special about seeing them on DVD/iPPV and seeing them live.

KICK~! LuKana v Made in Sin

Allysin Kay. WSU had been the first place I had seen Kay, then AIW and SHINE. WSU featured her more brutal side, which was entertaining, but once I saw her wrestling skill in the other two promotions I became a fan. She has a striking look and a ton of ability, so I was curious to see if she would go solo in SHIMMER, or be aligned with her Midwest Milita tag partner Stephanie or her Made in Sin partner Taylor Made. It was the latter and although it was here that they suffered their first losses as a team, they fit in perfectly and showed they could go toe to toe with the best (as in their match against LuFisto and Kana).

Technically I'm bending the rules with her as I saw her at AIW Girls Night Out 7 but I get a better feel for people by seeing them several times over the course of a weekend of tapings. I would seriously love to see Kay in some singles matches next time, however. Her against opponents such as Athena, Lufi, Kana and Hiroyo would be awesome I'd wager. Allysin is only going to get better as time goes on and as she wrestles more places and opponents. Even in defeat she gains experience. Plus, after seeing her hanging gogoplata off the top of a cage, she has serious potential to become a submission specialist. Although if she prefers to keep using her machete, that's fine as well! (Trying to not get hurt here...)

Cherry Bomb. When Bomb was announced I literally did a small dance. I was hugely impressed by her work in Femmes Fatales, AIW, and Japan (on the Joshi4Hope DVD in 2010), and I knew she had been on SPARKLE twice. She made it onto the volumes and I was hugely impressed with her in the fourway against Christina Von Eerie, Ryo Mizunami and Kalamity. Her exchanges with Ryo were excellent and although she started exhibiting heel mannerisms during the match, some of the audience (including myself) still cheered her. Cherry made a great heel for Davina Rose to play off of on Sunday, and I think it suits her better than being a babyface. I got to chat with her for afew minutes on Sunday and got an autograph as well. That was the only chance I got to talk to her that weekend or at Femmes Fatales, but it was enough to just have met her. I do hope she will now be featured on SHIMMER going forward as long as schedules allow. She's a fresh face with a lot of talent and could easily make a strong impact.

Miss Natural. I first saw this lady on SHIMMER Volumes 21 and 22 and after watching her two matches, she screamed "Ric Flair" to me. Four years later, I wondered if she would fit in and if she had improved. I need not have worried - Natural has gotten even better and is a solid fit for the roster. She still reminds me of Ric Flair, even more than before. No it isn't because of the robe she wears to the ring, either. Her mannerisms, her swagger and her technical style all have flashes of him. She went 3-1 over the weekend, only losing to Cheerleader Melissa after a match where Natural gave as good as she got and almost had the pin a few times. Her fisherman neckbreaker is a stiff finisher that works great for her, suiting her style. Plus, she is the only woman I know to use Tom Jones as her theme song - that's a win in my book. I know she's had a long running feud with MsChif in another promotion, perhaps they could further it in SHIMMER, but at any rate Miss Natural made me even more of a fan after the weekend.

Santana Garrett. Santana was best known to me from her matches at SHINE where she was putting on decent matches each month, but I knew she worked other places in Florida. However, after seeing her in person there's an infectious energy that's made me a fan. She's a natural babyface, has a great look and shows a real flair for athletics (her handspring moonsault is almost flawless). She connected with the crowd very easily. Santana has a lot of potential and is off to a great start as we can follow her progress at SHINE each month. Here's hoping she continues to improve.

Ryo Mizunami. Like many of the previous Joshi that had come to SHIMMER, I didn't know anything about Ryo, and when she was announced I admit my initial response was disappointment. I'd been hoping for Mio Shirai or Syuri or, as an outside chance, Tsukasa Fujimoto. However, after hearing a bit about her from others, I figured going in with an open mind as I had for the others was the best thing to do. Sure enough, Ryo won me over like all the other Joshis had. She has a power based style that reminds me of Bull Nakano (the guillotine leg drop from the top rope might have something to do with this also). However, she is a bit less serious than Nakano, making gun signs with her hands before executing a move, which was very entertaining. Ryo fit in very well and the crowds wound up loving her. So did I, she would definitely be welcomed back in the future.

Angelus Layne. From SPARKLE on Saturday to SHIMMER on Sunday, Angelus made her debut on Volume 52 in a losing effort to KC Spinelli. However, she did get the win against Sweet Cherrie on SPARKLE so it balances out. I believe during her outings at SPARKLE in March she was a face, but here she was a tremendous heel. Angelus has some of the best facial expressions in wrestling and it's a great touch you don't see sometimes from others. Wrestling is acting to some degree after all, and this lady emotes very well. Hopefully she will be back to SHIMMER and continue to improve. I asked her if she would be willing to give her thoughts on her SHIMMER debut and she wrote this in reply:

"Debuting at SHIMMER on Volume 52 was the BIGGEST moment in my entire wrestling career. When I started wrestling, I made it a goal to be on a SHIMMER DVD. The first goal was to get invited to be on SPARKLE. That happened in March 2012. I was thrilled for just that… but I still wanted more. When I was invited back to SPARKLE for the October 2012 tapings, I was still excited, but I secretly hoped that I would get moved up to main show. After SPARKLing on the Saturday tapings, I sat in the back with friends and watched the DVD tapings. When I left the Berwyn Eagles Club that night, I left knowing that nothing would be the same. I had been told, prior to leaving, that I would be debuting on SHIMMER Volume 52. I was ECSTATIC. At dinner that night with a few of the other SHIMMER girls, I asked the question, “If I debut on DVD tomorrow, what am I supposed to do next? Like, that’s my goal and I’m achieving it!” Clearly I was in a state of shock and joy. Their response was simply, “Keep going! Get as high on the DVDs as you can!” And that’s what I plan on doing. It was a thrill and an honor to open Volume 52 against KC Spinelli. Although I lost, I had the time of my life and I cannot wait until the next set of tapings to continue being a part of the SHIMMER family!"

Now a word about a few people that stood out...

Rhia O'Reilly. Oh really? O'Reilly! One of the catchphrases of the weekend without a doubt. Rhia has gone from being a spunky babyface who paid her own way to be on SPARKLE in March of 2011 to being a key villainess in October 2012. The transformation has been amazing - in a year, the Fighting Irish has become a mouthy, aggressive badass who backs up her talk in the ring. There's a few fans who can't help but applaud her (including myself), but she has no trouble getting the majority riled up. Her first match was against Cheerleader Melissa and she went toe to toe with the Terminator, proving how far she's come in the ring. At the end of Volume 52, after she helped Saraya retain the title, when Melissa got on the mic and said, "Really?" some of the audience replied, "O'Reilly!" - which provoked an irritated Melissa to snap, "Oh shut up." That was hilarious, and a testament to the impact Rhia has made. She's made herself part of SHIMMER and I can't wait to see her back in 2013. Very proud and happy of how far she's come!

Kellie Skater. 2012 has been her year. The Rate Tank has gone from her deubt in May 2009 as a comedy figure doing open challenges that she invariably loses to being a main eventer and one of the most cheered women on the roster in October 2012. She had a great set of tapings in March where her match with Kana was one of the best from that weekend, and perception started to change. Whether it was planned to make her a face (the little touches that made her a bad guy such as drinking the "supplements" and the cheap shots weren't there in her first match against Leva Bates), or whether it happened because the fans refused to boo her after her first match I don't know and don't much care honestly. Skater ended the weekend with a ton of support and it is just awesome to watch her become a star. Her time in Japan only made her better and more focused. If she had won the match against Saraya Knight for the title, I believe the reaction would have equaled that of when Melissa won the belt last year. If her tag team with Tomoka Nakagawa continues ("3G - Global Green Gangsters") then we could be looking at future tag team champions. Either way, Kellie Skater was on fire with her match against Yumi Ohka and then in the four way for the SHIMMER title. Her being the second Aussie to capture that belt isn't out of the question after establishing herself as well as she has. Congratulations Tank, you deserve everything you're getting!

Sassy Stephanie and Mademoiselle Rachelle

Sassy Stephanie. This woman is one of the most under-rated wrestlers in SHIMMER. She has had great matches against some of the best out there, such as Sara Del Rey, Hailey Hatred, and Rain among others, and she continues to prove she belongs there with them. Her matches against Hiroyo and Kalamity were awesome. Her pairing up with Mademoiselle Rachelle puts two of the most devious women together in a formidable partnership. Here's hoping for higher profile matches in the future for Steph, she has the total packaging to be a force in SHIMMER.

Davina Rose. Much like KC Spinelli last year, I didn't "get" Davina. She debuted in October 2011 and was known as Serena's protege, even getting involved in the feud between Deeb and Portia, but beyond that that was it. Then she was paired with Mia Yim in March of this year and kinda lost in the shuffle, but these tapings she hooked me. I see a lot of Serena in her style, and even her arm drags remind me of Deeb. If Serena has to truly hang up the boots, then Davina will continue to make her proud. Her personality continues to develop as does her in-ring ability, and this time out she picked up her first two singles wins, against Rhia and and Cherry Bomb. I'm looking forward to seeing how great she becomes.

"Just Another Hussy!" Athena v Kana

 Athena. Dear Lord, this woman is amazing. Her matches on both days were off the charts astounding as she went toe to toe with not only the SHIMMER champ Saraya, but also had phenomenal matches against Tomoka, Kana and Ayako Hamada. 2012 has been one of her best years yet, showing she not only has the personality, charisma, swagger and look to be a star, she can also look right at home with Joshi women and veterans such as Mercedes Martinez. Athena is by far one of the most well-rounded wrestlers today and despite a leg injury costing her the match against Ayako Hamada, it was still awesome. I hope she has the opportunity to train in Japan at some point, it would only boost her skills - which are already at a high level. I love watching Athena wrestle, her versus Kana was one of the best of the weekend. She wasn't even phased, calling the other woman "just another hussy" - tremendous!

LuFisto. It's no secret Lufi is one of my heroes and a wrestler I have the utmost respect for. But she was simply on fire this weekend and I'm so happy she was part of the main event on Volume 50. She may not have been there from the first volume on, but she has become an integral part of SHIMMER. Her and Kana got a shot at the tag titles on 49 and while I really wanted them to win...I want Lufi to win the SHIMMER title even more. That would be an epic moment, and her outings this weekend prove she deserves a shot. She pinned veteran Lexie Fyfe in the SHIMVivor Series and the only reason Portia got the best of her was the distraction by Mercedes. This and the loss of LuKana to the Ninjas were the only losses she suffered - LuKana handed Made in Sin their second loss after she hit the Burning Hammer on Taylor Made, and she had one of the best matches I've ever seen against Ryo Mizunami. Twice I got to see the Burning Hammer! Loved seeing that in person. If anyone thinks Lufi has slowed down or gotten rusty, trust me - watch her and Ryo go at it, balls to the wall and see if you still think the same way. It was a pleasure to get to see her two weekends in a row - she never, ever disappoints.

Veda Scott. After her two weeks in Japan, I was curious to see how she might have changed. Unfortunately I got to Saturday's tapings just in time to see her and Shazza lose, and considering I love them as a tag team, that was disappointing. However, she did great against Miss Natural, but her match against Tomoka Nakagawa on Volume 51 was the one that impressed me the most. Tomoka's gremlin antics played up nicely against Veda's hyper determination. I believe this was her first time wrestling a Joshi and to me she did great. There is still plenty of room to grow and improve, as she is still a rookie (which is hard to remember sometimes), but Veda has a willingness and a desire to work hard to get where she wants to be. Her match against Tomoka showed just how much potential she has. Who knows - in a year or two we could be seeing her face off against Kana or Hamada. That will be epic, but for now I'm proud of how far she's come. The best is yet to come for her.


Lastly, a few words about others that made for a great set of tapings..

Anyone who thinks Leva Bates didn't deserve to be in the main event of Volume 50 should take a look at how much she has grown and improved over the last few years. She made her SHIMMER debut on Volume 30 against Malia Hosaka on April 10th, 2010 and she herself would admit it wasn't a good match. At that point she had only been wrestling since 2007 and hadn't wrestled much outside of Florida (I believe - I might be wrong about this). Since then, she has wrestled not only for SHIMMER but also for WSU, AIW and has been an integral part of SHINE since it's beginning. I'd argue that working with Allison Danger and forming a tag team has helped her grow as Danger is a veteran and willing to work with those who want to improve and contribute. Leva isn't the same wrestler she was in 2010 - she has worked hard to become as strong of a wrestler as she is a character and that should be applauded. She could have kept relying on her status as "the cosplay girl" but she didn't. Leva deserved to be in the main event and had her and Danger won the tag straps on Volume 52 it would have been the icing on the cake. I think it's just a matter of time until they do win the belts but until then she will keep working to improve. Another example of hard work paying off.

Gojira! Matsumoto! Destroy!

Hiroyo Matsumoto wearing the Gojira mask was GOLD. I laughed myself silly! Loved all the matches she had, especially when she incorporated the mask into them. It was hilarious when we started chanting, "GO-JI-RA! GO-JI-RA!" Hiroyo shushed us and then said, "No! I Hiroyo!" - so we started a chant for her instead which made her happy! Truly she does live happy.

The Ninjas competed in only one singles match each but they were doozies - Portia wrestled Hamada, and Nicole wrestled Yumi. Both of them did outstandingly - maybe next time we can see them take on Kana in singles? Two of the best in SHIMMER as a tag team or solo, it was a great weekend for both.

Yumi Ohka made her return and I was extremely happy about this as she captivated me in her debut last year. Tall, beautiful, graceful and very lethal with her kicks, Yumi reminds me of a lioness. Her matches against Nicole, Skater and especially against Ryo were amazing. Also, her entrance is one of the most unique I've ever seen. Perfectly choreographed.

The Oncoming Storm

Kalamity was magnificent and it's a testament to LuFisto's training, and her desire to learn, that she looked completely at home against the likes of Ayako Hamada. It was one of her best matches to date. Her against Sassy Stephie was also good, and her interactions with Rachelle were highly entertaining. Kalamity's star continues to rise everywhere she goes.

KC Spinelli's energy is infectious. She is gorgeous, her look and multi-colored hair set her apart, but so does her attitude. She is plain fun to watch, whether it's mouthing off to her opponent or hitting the Eye of the Hurricane. Spinelli has also now been ECCW Women's Champion for a year, congratulations to her! Looking forward to seeing where she goes in the future, she has all the tools to become an international star.

Tomoka Nakagawa is adorable. Didn't realize how much I had missed her until she wasn't on the last tapings. So glad the Green Gremlin is back!

I'm not sure what happened between March and October, but Melanie Cruise impressed the hell out of me. Whether it was because she faced Hiroyo in her first match (it's very hard for anyone to have a bad match against Lady Destroyer), or whether it's because she's feeling more secure in herself and her training - whatever the reason, I liked both her matches. Cruise has a lot of potential with a good look to her. I'm very interested to see how she progresses from here.

Su Yung graduated from SPARKLE last year to SHIMMER this year and what a difference a year makes. Being released from FCW may have been the best thing for her, as she has competed not only in SHIMMER but has been a mainstay in SHINE, wrestled in ACW, Slammin Ladies and NWA Ring Warriors. Su has gained a ton of experience and looked right at home on the main roster. She's come a long way since 2008 wrestling sporadically in the Southern states - now she has a large fan base and has developed into an experienced wrestler. There is still a ton of potential for growth, and I hope she continues to seize every opportunity she gets.

Ayako Hamada and Kana had one of the all time best matches I've ever seen on Volume 50. These two set the bar for excellence high every time, and every time they outdo themselves. It's a pleasure and an honor to see them wrestle in person.

Shazza McKenzie and Courtney Rush are not only completely hilarious to watch, they are bursting with positive energy and unlimited potential. Seeing Rush step out of Del Rey's shadow and embrace herself fully was magical. She looked right at home against Ryo and Hiroyo, and the Eagles Club exploded when she beat Mercedes Martinez - no mean feat. Rush is coming into her own and the transformation over the last two years has been astounding. Meanwhile Shazza is a ball of energy, just plain fun to watch as a wrestler and a character. I adore her tag team with Veda, but on her own Shaz Mac is another impressive import from Australia - the country is overloaded with talent. Australia's Resident Cheerleader brings her own unique personality with her, and now it's hard to imagine a SHIMMER without her. Madison Eagles should be proud of Shazza and Skater both.

Despite not seeing SPARKLE, I was familiar with most of the ones that competed on there. Sweet Cherrie is another trainee of LuFisto's and I believe she is on the right path to becoming truly great. She has that 'something' that makes it hard not to cheer for her. Heidi Lovelace is the current OVW Champion, and she has improved massively since I first saw her in her AIW debut against Mary Dobson. I'm enjoying watching her progress, Heidi has an abundance of potential. Thunderkitty is another I first saw at AIW and her 'old fashioned' gimmick caught my attention. She had a great match against Heidi in September at Insanity Pro, so I'm sorry I missed her SPARKLE matches. However, I am confident she will be on the tapings at some point. Nikki St. John stood out at SPARKLE in March, and I saw her in a tag team with Annie Social at AIW. Another one to watch, as is December. Finally, Pink Flash Kira and Angie Skye are two I hadn't seen before, but seeing as I was at Femmes Fatales X the following weekend, I'll save my impressions for that blog.

Now, a word about the SHIMMER Champion, Saraya Knight. When she and Britani made their debuts in March 2011, my immediate impression of the elder Knight was that she was a force of nature. Over a year later and my assessment stands. This time she didn't hit any fans, but she wreaked havok on just about everyone at ringside and was only barely restrained at times from going into the crowds. Saraya remains as scary as ever - but there was a marked change between March and now. It's as if by winning the belt, taking something that precious away from Melissa, she has obtained a measure of vengeance against her worst enemy. Indeed, if you know the history between the two, it's hard to see Melissa as the righteous person in this. She almost retired Saraya completely and never showed remorse for it. It's poetic justice that years later, after holding the prize she had worked so hard to obtain, someone from her past shows up and takes it away. Saraya is a force of nature with a cause, a direction, a focus. I have a feeling the steel cage match in March will not be the last we see between these two. Recruiting the Ninjas and her own protege to aid in keeping the belt was a master stroke.

Stepping outside for a minute though, last March Saraya said something to me I've not forgotten. She told me, "Sometimes it's good to be scared." It is. Long time wrestling fans sometimes say that it doesn't feel 'real' anymore. While I disagree largely, I see their point. Violence and riots used to erupt, and Bobby Heenan was so hated he was once shot at. While we don't need to go THAT far, people who can evoke a response on that scale, positive or negative, are rare. Saraya is one of those that legitimately scares me. When she flips that switch on, it is on and if you provoke her, you pay the price. She isn't the sweet, soft-spoken mum then - she is the cold blooded tornado that destroys everything in her path. This fear of her is real, and I've never been scared of a wrestler before until her. I love it.

A Work of Art

And on a personal note, as I wrote here about my reaction to her WAWW Calendar (http://thedangerousqueen.blogspot.com/2012/07/wrestling.html ), I mentioned that I might pick up one of her calendars if there were any left. There were and after the Saturday shows I took a look at it. Saraya was right - they were tastefully done and beautifully shot. The women are all beautiful, posed just right to avoid showing any intimate body parts, and all of them look completely comfortable. I repeat my apology to her - I'm sorry for jumping to conclusions and speaking out of turn. The calendar is a lovely work of art, and I'm happy to have bought one.

I know I've used it a lot, but the keyword for this set of tapings is "potential." It felt like we were seeing a new generation of women coming in and starting to evolve and grow in front of us. I am immensely excited for the future of wrestling - seeing so many rising stars, how could I not be? All in all, it was a privilege and a pleasure to be in Berwyn for the historic Volume 50, but also to watch so many women coming into their own as top tier stars. A very special weekend that makes me proud to be a wrestling fan. My thanks to everyone again - here's to fifty more volumes!

The Dark Knight of SHIMMER (March 17th & 18th tapings)

Come on, I had to use that title. Nothing else fit!

I have been home since Monday the 19th, and I put off this entry because I wanted to do SHIMMER and the women who wrestled on it justice. But I really don't know if I can. SHIMMER is always an experience. Always. But this time was different. There were several new faces replacing some established ones, and two major players who are on the sidelines due to injury were sorely missed (we love you Serena Deeb and Madison Eagles!). We saw story lines introduced, titles change hands and (as always) tremendous wrestling you probably can't see anywhere else outside of Berwyn.

This set of tapings also proved that a lot of assumptions made about SHIMMER were inaccurate. For instance, one of the main complaints about the company is the lack of story lines. In these volumes you'll find:

-The re-ignition of the feud between Sweet Saraya Knight and Cheerleader Melissa that has five years of history behind it. Not to mention Saraya's escalating level of violence over the four volumes. That in and of itself was a story line.
-The unlikely formation of the tag team of Courtney Rush and Sara Del Rey ("Queens of Winning"/"Death Rush"). Their partnership is quite the odd couple and should make for interesting unfolding over the next year or two.
-The determination of Kellie "Rate Tank" Skater to become more than a comedy act. Her 4 matches did much to showcase this, as well as the experience she picked up during her time in Japan. No more "open challenges" - this Tank is ready for battle.
-The moral struggle of Jessie McKay. After being threatened by Saraya to do whatever it took to pin Melissa, she had to choose between winning at all costs or remaining true to herself. It was a conflict that played out in her match against the champion, and one that many fans felt truly involved in. I know I did.

That's only a few I could name. Another criticism of the promotion was how predictable the title reigns are, mostly the main championship. Everyone expected Melissa to leave this weekend as the champion. Some probably thought Ayako Hamada and Ayumi Kurihara would also retain (I admit, I'm one of those people). This past weekend effectively proved there are never any guarantees. I can understand some fans' frustration (especially with Melissa losing the title so quickly) but if you can look past that, the title changes made sense. It wasn't "Vince Russo booking" as I heard someone in the crowd say after the show ended (when told about this remark, one SHIMMER woman said derisively, "Fuck Vince Russo." Sums it up.); there is reasoning and thought behind both title changes. I'll get to that though.

I can't do justice to the matches, so I won't try. Needless to say these are must-buy volumes when they come out. Instead I want to give my thoughts on the women, the story lines, the atmosphere - just the whole thing. I'll certainly talk about some of the matches, but as far as trying to give something like a top five or top ten or give them star ratings, forget about it. I never saw a 3 star match. They were all 4 and 5's in my opinion.


The Next Generation

We saw a few more fresh faces for these volumes. Some (such as Athena, Mia Yim, Davina Rose) had been at SHIMMER before while others (such as Veda Scott, Rhia O'Reilly, NY Knockout and Shazza McKenzie) were either making their presence known or debuting altogether. I want to start with one woman who really upped her game the entire weekend, only losing once - "The Wrestling Goddess" Athena.

Athena immediately resumed her feud with Mercedes Martinez on the first volume (number 45) and the match was stellar. The referee pretty much let it go, leading to some devastating spots and her getting the win with her "O Face". This finisher has to be seen to be believed. I'm not sure how it hasn't broken someone's neck yet, the way it's designed, but both Athena and her opponent always take care to make sure it's properly set up before hitting it. Her only loss came to one half of the Canadian Ninjas, Nicole Matthews on Volume 46. Number 47 had her pinning Sassy Stephie in a superb match, but her against Ray on number 48 was just as good as her versus Mercedes.

One criticism I'd heard from several folks about Athena was that she was great at spots but there wasn't much wrestling from her. I think some of that was dispelled by the great showing against Ray, which brought out a technical side to her that we hadn't seen before. In my view, it solidified her as well rounded and with the potential to become one of the best in the world. Charisma, skill, looks, personality - she has it all. I hope she gets the chance to work in Japan and learn from them as it would only increase her skill level.

Plus, all her matches were higher up on the card than before. Athena really elevated herself after this set of volumes and it shouldn't be long before she gets a title shot. We may well be seeing her as SHIMMER champion in the future.

Davina Rose and Mia Yim made an unlikely tag team which only saw each of them have one singles match over the weekend, but their partnership worked. (There were a lot of people paired up in tag teams due to the large roster, but by and large most of them worked well together.) Davina is still finding her personality but she makes a good babyface with her look and stature. Mia has come a long way since I first saw her at SPARKLE in September 2010. Her time in Japan served her well and both finally achieved their first win in SHIMMER when Mia hit her corkscrew moonsault on Mena. Davina's only singles match was against the fearsome Saraya Knight, which was mostly one-sided, whereas Mia faced Jessie McKay in her only singles that was highly competitive and evenly matched. She may have lost but she shined during it. Both ladies still have a ways to go, and more years to put under their belt, but they are well on their way to becoming solid, dependable wrestlers.

Veda Scott was a SPARKLER last October who made it onto Volume 44 in a losing effort against Taylor Made. This time she was in a few more matches and learned quite a bit from her opponents. I can't help but feel that Veda has all the traits to make it far in wrestling, although maybe that's personal bias speaking. So does Shazza McKenzie, a newcomer from Australia that made her SHIMMER debut. Both women are talented, enthusiastic, energetic, beautiful and eager to learn. They made for a random tag team but they had chemistry together and separately. Shazza wrestles in PWWA, alongside Madison Eagles, Kellie Skater and Jessie McKay. Seems like Australia is a breeding ground for greatness along with Canada.

KC Spinelli had been part of SPARKLE before but she hadn't really 'clicked' with me until this time around. She has a unique look with her hair and gear, and I thought she was Canadian since she mostly wrestles in ECCW, but it turns out she's from New Jersey. That detail made for a fun match between her and someone who made her SHIMMER debut from the west coast, the "New York Knockout" Nikki (although here she was announced as "New York Knockout", dropping the Nikki). Their New York v New Jersey thing in their match was hilarious. Spinelli competed in SPARKLE back in October 2011 so this was also her debut onto the main volumes as well. Nikki has had a heated rivalry on the west coast against Allison Danger, and apparently impressed enough to gain a spot. Like I said, Spinelli clicked with me and definitely stood out. So did Nikki, she has a great look, tall, athletic and her Brooklyn accent is ear-catching. Both women did well against their respective opponents and it was nice to see the new additions stand out.

I'm not sure if Irish import Rhia O'Reilly will return to SHIMMER but I daresay her presence would be welcome from now on. I first saw her in Pro-Wrestling EVE at their first show taping in the spring of 2010, and in the space of two years she has improved tremendously. She has a real presence, her wrestling has gotten better and since turning heel her character has caught fire. By a happy chance, St. Patrick's Day fell on the first day of taping and her match against Courtney Rush was hilarious and a great way for her to debut. Back in March 2011, Rhia had traveled over on her own dime to compete on SPARKLE. She had no guarantee that she would be on the main card, yet she still came. That takes real dedication and it payed off. If she continues to up her game, she could be another version of Rebecca Knox, SHIMMER's original foreign heel. Her outings at the EVE v Ice Ribbon shows in October 2011 and EVE's "No Man's Land" iPPV were great and I thoroughly enjoyed her matches against Rush, Shazza, and Taylor Made.

But whereas we had an influx of new blood, the SHIMMER mainstays continued to put on matches that were of the best quality. Some upped their game to new levels and some remained as awesome as they always are. Some ran solo and some formed unlikely partnerships that, while strange on paper, worked very well together. The Joshi contingent lost a few familiar faces but the new additions made up for those losses. There was a strong tag team presence throughout the weekend.


Tag Teams Replenish

Since becoming free from any obligations to TNA, Christina von Eerie returned and took up with an unlikely partner in MsChif. The Punk and Metal Connection teamed up on Volumes 47 and 48 after having good singles matches on 45 and 46. An interesting combination but I'm not sure if it will last beyond March. In her only singles match of the weekend, MsChif was specifically requested as an opponent by Jessie McKay, who wanted to earn a title shot by beating the former champion. Part of MsChif's appeal is her attire, and her gear in this instance was awesome. She sported a top hat and cane, and had the iconic artwork from "A Clockwork Orange" on the front and back of her shirt and pants. As a special bonus, whilst delivering a beating to the former Pink Lady, she began growling/singing "Singing in the Rain" - absolutely tremendous. Her tag match with Von Eerie against another interesting duo was chock full of comedy. It's a different direction for MsChif, who for years as been "Your Soul's Tormentor" - but even tormentors have a sense of humour.

That "interesting duo" I mentioned would be "The Oncoming Hatred" - Hailey Hatred and Kalamity. Champions in different promotions, they teamed up back in October in a losing effort to Melanie Cruise and Mena Libra in what people thought would be a one-time thing. Evidently they took notice that fans liked their combination, as each only had one singles match over the weekend, instead teaming together for their other three matches. Personally I loved the duo working as a team. They are both hard hitting, known for their strikes, and Kalamity can learn a lot from Hailey. Their win against another new tag team earned them a shot at the SHIMMER tag titles but they were unsuccessful. I'm a huge fan of both ladies and the more I can see them, the better! Hailey is a phenom and I'm incredibly happy we got her for all four tapings this time around. Kalamity is becoming more and more solid in the ring, and her character is a real departure from others in the promotion. Both are a pleasure to watch perform.

Plus, they were part of one of the absolute best matches of the weekend, in my humble view. The Oncoming Hatred faced a duo that, to my knowledge, had never partnered before anywhere. The World Famous Kana teamed with the Super Hardcore Anime Lufisto in a partnership of mutual respect and admiration. It made sense - in Kana's last match, Lufisto wrestled her and wound up losing. Yet whereas after facing Mia Yim, Sara Del Rey and Cheerleader Melissa, she refused to shake hands, this time she took Lufi's hand in a gesture of sportsmanship and respect. I'm not sure whose idea it was for them to team up but they made a tremendous tag team! Kana and Lufisto against Hailey Hatred and Kalamity. I'd absolutely wanted Lufisto to wrestle Hailey, but this match was beyond my wildest dreams.

It. Was. AWESOME. I tweeted that words failed me on how "f'n awesome" the match was and words STILL fail me. It has to be seen to be believed. Kana and Lufi were a superb team and I can only hope that they get a shot and win the SHIMMER tag straps. But not for awhile because the duo that currently hold said straps are one of the oddest pairings of the whole weekend...

It began with Sara pinning Leva Bates and continuing to assault her after the match. Enter the other half of ReGenerationX, Allison Danger, to make the save. Danger calls out Del Rey for her behaviour and tells her to find a tag partner, if she can - Del Rey has no friends. Death Rey scoffs, saying she has several hundreds of twitter followers. However the people she approaches (Melissa, Lacey - of all people! - Nicole) turn her down. Enter one Courtney Rush. She begs constantly to team with Del Rey, who shoots her down. In a twist involving SDR's weakness (gum), Rush tricks her into agreeing. Not only do they beat ReX...........on Volume 48 they win the tag team titles in a four way elimination match.

I'm not even going to try to describe what happened, either. It has to be seen to be fully appreciated. The dynamic of Rush and Del Rey is golden. It's been compared to Raven and Stevie Richards, which is a very good comparison. They have chemistry and Courtney's comedic timing was on point both days. Their skits were some of the funniest things over the weekend, and to say that them winning the straps was unexpected is an understatement! It's definitely going to be interesting to see where they go from here. Courtney has proven herself to be a total package as far as charisma, personality and skills go and I'm really happy to see her elevated. And the win makes Del Rey the first double crown (can't really say triple crown since there's only two belts in SHIMMER) champion. An extremely worthy woman to have been the first SHIMMER champion and now one half of the tag team champions.

I admit, I was disappointed when Ayumi Kurihara and Ayako Hamada lost the tag straps. I felt after changing hands three times in 2011 it would be nice for them to have a lengthy run. Maybe not as long as the Ninjas, but make it through a full set of tapings. However with "Death Rush's" win, I can let it go. HamaHara had a great set of matches, against the two debuting Joshi, Ray and Leon this past tapings; against Kalamity and Hailey; and in a dream match for the former, against Allison Danger and Leva Bates. (Not to mention their defenses over the weekend in October.) Elsewhere, Mena Libra and Melanie Cruise continue to form an imposing partnership as the bruisers of the company; and despite their singles runs, Portia Perez and Nicole Matthews have shown that they always have each other's backs and remain a dominant tag team as the Canadian Ninjas.

I have to put in a few words about ReGenerationX. Allison Danger is a vet and continues to show why she is an integral part of SHIMMER with her great matches leadership. When she took Leva Bates under her wing in March of last year, Leva's skill level in the ring has grown by leaps and bounds. She already had the personality and the charisma thanks to her love of all things geeky (seriously - X-Men, Doctor Who, Big Bang Theory, horror movies, comics, gaming - this girl is awesome!), but she was still slowly learning. Danger's tutelage has done wonders, but it's not a one-way partnership. Allison's role for awhile was taking younger rookies and gauging them when they came into the promotion. Now, thanks to teaming with Bates, she has reinvented herself and let her own geeky side out. Each time she wrestles she looks like she is having a ton of fun and it's fantastic to see her enjoying a renaissance of sorts in her career.


The Mainstays and New Joshi Faces

Due to a conflict in schedules, these tapings were missing two long-standing Joshis - Hiroyo Matsumoto and Tomoka Nakagawa. One who had made an impressive debut back in October, Yumi Ohka was also absent (if she was going to be there that is, she may not have been booked) due to the same show that had Tomoka and Hiroyo on it in Japan. However, we got two new Joshis that took SHIMMER by storm - Ray and Leon. Both are high-flying masked competitors that I had not seen before but they're on my radar now. Their matches were some of the best in the weekend, including their tag title match against Ayako and Ayumi. That match had a ton of near falls and a ton of action that you had to really keep up with! "That was awesome" was chanted by the crowd for almost five minutes after the match was over - a testament to how fantastic it was. Those two will definitely be welcomed back with open arms if they choose to come.

Kellie Skater made it clear at the onset that she was tired of being seen as a joke, and with her stellar matches over the weekend, I don't see how anyone can take her as a comedy act anymore. Sure she still has her entrance (being announced as having "muscles so big they make the Incredible Hulk GREEN WITH ENVY!"), but once in the ring, she was a machine. The time she spent in Japan (from December 2011 to March 2012) has only improved her. Kana's only solo match was against Skater, and even though Kellie lost, it was one of the best matches I had ever seen her in. I'm very much looking forward to seeing the new, serious Rate Tank carve out a path for herself.

Kana, Lufisto, Sara Del Rey, Jessie McKay, MsChif, Sassy Stephie (minus tag partner Nevaeh, but accompanied by Mademoiselle Rachelle, who makes a fitting valet for Steph) - they all continue to be awesome as they always are. Mercedes Martinez had some stellar matches over the weekend (although almost all the matches I saw were stellar, so this may be a moot point!), against Athena, and getting two big wins against Kana and Hailey Hatred. Some have criticized that her heel turn hasn't taken or gone nearly far enough. But I like the subtle arrogance that Mercedes is radiating - she's always been confident but now the confidence has been turned up to 50 on the volume meter. The way she brushes her shoulder towards each of her opponents after beating them shows her contempt. It suits her character very well.


Missing but not Forgotten

Noticeable by their absence were two SHIMMER mainstays - one, the former SHIMMER Champion Madison Eagles, the other the Deebious One Serena Deeb. Both were out due to injuries that have put them on the shelf for the time being, but both sent touching videos in their place that touched everyone in attendance at the Eagles Club.

Madison spoke of her knee injury and though she tried to be the menacing, brooding Eagles we know her to be (even referring to herself as "Your Living Nightmare"), there was real emotion with a ting of sadness and determination in her voice. She vowed to come back when she was fully healed so she could compete with the best, since, in her words, that's what SHIMMER has to offer, the best female wrestlers in the world. Knowing her determination, I have no doubt Madison will return to us - better than ever.

On the second day, SHIMMER kicked off with a message from Serena, who gave the same heartfelt comments as Madison had, but in more gentle, less menacing tones. She regretted not being in attendance, and gave her best wishes for all the women in the locker room. She gave a special shout out to her protege, Davina Rose, which had to mean a lot to both women. It was a touching way to start Sunday's tapings off (and I believe Serena's video is up on YouTube), bringing tears to many people's eyes including my own.

No matter what happens, I wish both women all the best for the future. They have given us fans so much of their lives they deserve to be happy and completely healthy.


Knightfall

Neither of the Canadian Ninjas could get the job done. Nor could Jessie McKay (who struggled against the temptation to take the easy way out during her title match against Melissa, and successfully remained true to herself). So the person who had put a bounty on Melissa did it herself.

After five years, 'Sweet' Saraya Knight had her revenge against the woman who severed her kneecap at Real Quality Wrestling. The woman who had potentially ended her career with that brutal injury. She even choreographed how she would do it - in each of her matches against Davina, Veda and Shazza, Saraya put them in the Knightmare (a variation of a Boston Crab), torking back on their knee, to the point where she was disqualified in her matches against Veda and Shazza for not breaking the hold. She targeted their knees, foreshadowing what was to come.

To make sure Melissa got the point, Saraya ambushed her backstage, going after Melissa's knee with a wooden cane. The prey was weakened and in the match, Saraya went for the kill. I'm sure everyone in the audience expected a six-pier brawl, as had happened during her title defenses against Nicole and Portia (each going into the audience and around the Club) but to our surprise, it was almost a straight wrestling match. No going to the outside, no interference, no foreign objects. Each woman felt instinctively that they needed to win by submission, and we saw each do their best to put as many painful holds on each other as possible.

It was a glorious match. Saraya had been in a downward spiral all weekend, becoming progressively more violent and out of control. She had struck fans (which, I know a lot of people had problems with, but there were only two and each provoked her and knew what was coming. One man took off his glasses and leaned forward even), cursed at them, threatened them and at one point, in a wildly weird twist, named two people on the SHIMMER forum calling them out for comments they had made. After being DQed in the two matches mentioned beforehand it had taken several referees and wrestlers to hold her down and carry her out by her arms and legs. It was like she was becoming a wild animal - yet there was a method to her madness.

She had a plan, she even foreshadowed it, and in the end it worked. When I say no one in the crowd expected Melissa to submit, I mean NO ONE expected it. After all, she's Cheerleader Melissa. The Terminator of SHIMMER. The woman who feels no pain and does not stop until she has pinned her opponent. The woman who has chased the SHIMMER title for over a year. Who had finally achieved her dream last October, pinning Madison Eagles after a hard, brutal match.

Only to be confronted by a vengeful demon from her past. Who returned a knee for a knee, crippled her and stole her dream, cheating her out of her title by grabbing the ropes for extra leverage. Until the Volume comes out, the picture can be painted by several photos that have been taken of the match and it's outcome.

Saraya with her hand held high. Grabbing the belt. Laughing maniacally as she walks around the ring. LICKING the belt as Melissa stares in disbelief. The shock and outrage of the fans (including one small brunette with her hand over her mouth, eyes wide).

It was one of the most astounding moments in SHIMMER's history.

As we approach Volume 50, I can't help but feel like we have entered a new chapter in the promotion's story. Fans are buzzing about this and will no doubt keep buzzing until the next four tapings. Melissa has vowed to get the title she worked so long and so hard to attain back. Will she? Or will the Demon from the United Kingdom hold sway?

One way or another...SHIMMER has entered the era of the Dark Knight. How long that era lasts remains to be seen.


In summation, this set of tapings feels like a new chapter, not just with Saraya's win, but with more story lines, more backstage videos, the women showing more to their characters, and other noticeable shifts. Against the odds SHIMMER has succeeded and thrived and now draws fans from all over the world. Whenever my passion for wrestling starts to wane, along comes this weekend and not only restores it but also increases it.

My thanks to Dave Prazak, Allison Danger, everyone involved backstage, the camera men, the referees, Joey Eastman, Kevin Harvey and last but DEFINITELY not least every woman who makes the trek to Berwyn, puts on her gear and gets in the ring for us fans. Each and every one of you is appreciated!