My First Femmes Fatales Show aka Why I Love Wrestling (Part 2)

Femmes Fatales X Roster (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis)

(Part 1 can be read here: http://thedangerousqueen.blogspot.com/2012/11/shimmerween-aka-why-i-love-wrestling.html )

When the tenth show for Femmes Fatales was announced earlier this year, I knew immediately I wanted to go. I had been an eyelash away from purchasing a plane ticket and attending FF IX in July but good sense prevailed. The temptation of being at SHIMMER Volume 50 one weekend and in Montreal for the tenth FF show the next was huge, so I went ahead and bought a VIP ticket. If worse came to worse, I could attempt to sell it and get my money back, or keep it as a souvenir (it had glossy pictures of LuFisto and Kalamity - how could I resist that?). Months passed, and as SHIMMER approached, I looked at my financial situation. Long story short, NYC had taken more money of mine than I thought, and even though I was restrained at SHIM, funds were low. Combine bills and everything, I didn't think I'd get to go to FF. I was resigned to it until coming home from Berwyn. I was on such a 'high', feeling so positive and happy that I realized I didn't want it to stop. And it didn't have to - if I could get to Montreal.

Cutting out a lot of details, thanks to a helping hand, I was on my way to Canada Friday the second. I'd only get to stay one full day but Chris and I made the most of it by getting an early start to go be tourists. Backing up a bit though, the flight to Montreal was via Air Canada and it was lovely. I'm actually starting to like flying (although take off and landing still make me clutch my companion/arm rest/cross/etc) - who'd have thunk it? Customs and immigration was easy as was converting the money so my next job was getting a taxi to the Best Western. An airport security guard flagged one down and I did my best "Parlez-vous anglais?" which got a response of "A little". I'd had the insight to write down the address of the hotel so I handed it to him. He read it out loud and said, "Downtown?"

My reply? "Si."

..........

My eyes went wide as I realized I'd just spoken Spanish to the French Canadian cabbie. My first trip to Canada was off and running~! Fortunately he asked again and I replied, "Oui." The cab ride was nice and despite it being dark, it was cool to sit back and look around. I had little cash though and it galled me to pay 40 dollars but beggars can't be choosers. It was weird not having anyone there at the airport to greet me, but considering I didn't wind up gutted in an alley somewhere, I'd say things turned out okay. Fanciest hotel I've ever been in, Best Western knows how to do things up north.

Saturday morning Chris and I got up and ventured out for some sight seeing before the show. Fortunately since he'd been there a few days before me, he'd figured out the Metro system so we didn't get as lost as we might have. Except when we tried to find the entrance to the line we were going to take originally. Took us awhile but we finally boarded and I didn't find out until later that the arena that we'd walked through to get to the boarding platform was the old Molson Centre (now called the Bell Centre) - the place where Survivor Series 1997 took place. Considering I'd at least had wanted to see it but forgot to look up details, I was STOKED we'd actually walked through it! Wrestling history took place there!

Anyhoo we made it to the Basilica I'd wanted to visit most, Notre Dame. It was magnificent. There was a sense of peace as I walked through, watching the tourists mingle with those who had come to worship. We took pictures and I noticed there were dozens of stands set up with candles that you could light for people, along with boxes you could donate money to the Church. There was a small altar to the left of the main altar, set back in a small alcove. Behind the candles, there was a statue of a lamb with a cross, and the painting behind it pictured the Virgin Mary. It was here I gave a small donation, lit a candle for someone and knelt down to pray. I felt so peaceful there I could've stayed for hours but time was short. We finished up our tour and walked around. I love old cities and there were places in the streets where the old cobblestones were still around. 

Actual apron for sale in the shop....

Eventually we found a souvenir shop and of course I had to buy some items in there for myself and my parents. But this item pictured here.......Chris said I should buy it but I refrained. Had to snap a picture though as proof. Montreal, you are a kinky city! After that we went into a restaurant and although I had a burger and friends (SO good!), he ordered some poutine. To my credit I tried it. It actually wasn't bad! Wasn't what I expected at all. Once we got done eating we took the tube down to where the venue was and waited in line until the VIP section was called.

The Femmes Fatales venue is awesome. The ceiling is higher up than in the Eagles Club so it feels more spacious. Very well lit (once I got my camera to work, I got some great shots with it and also my iPhone; both sets came out clearer and brighter than at SHIMMER), plenty of room for the meet and greet during intermission between the two shows, and the setup (stage, etc) was cool. Since Chris and I were among the people who bought the front row VIP tickets, we got to choose where we sat in the front row. We picked a good spot on the side, so that if you were facing the stage, we were to the right near the pillar.

I loved it. Both shows were fantastic, everyone put 110% into their matches and I was completely happy that I had been able to go in the end. The best part was getting to see so many talents I'd never seen before (I'd only watched up to Volume 6 by the time the show came around.) and I left Montreal convinced there is a ton of talent just waiting for opportunities to show what they can do. For the dark match, Jewells Malone wrestled Serphantina, who has a Jake Roberts thing going on that she leaves a small ball python on her victims after she pins them. The match was good, there's a lot of potential in both. Serphantina has a great look to her especially, and Jewells is an explosively spunky lady. Good match to start things off.

Every match was anywhere between good and off the charts amazing, as I said, so I'm not going to comment on each match. With a smaller roster though I can offer some observations and impressions on those that stood out to me. Some I was seeing for the first time ever since I had only watched Femmes Fatales Volumes 1 - 6 so this was a treat.


Missy. To be very honest, Missy caught my eye when she walked out for her tag match on Femmes Fatales X Part 1. Mostly because of her teddy bear. It was beat up, had black and white striped leg warmers on each leg, one eye hanging on by a thread, and she was holding it by a noose that was wrapped around it's neck. Considering I took the barbie doll heads off my dolls when I was younger and collect Living Dead Dolls now...this appealed to me. I also got heavy Raven vibes from her, which, given her attire was like his, seems to be what she was going for. If so, success! Combine a unique look, good in ring skills and charisma and Missy is someone I quickly became a fan of. Makes me interested to see how she comes across on FF VII - IX, if she started out with that look or if she evolved into it. Loved her tagging on Part 2 with Xandra Bale and Leah Von Dutch, she may have looked like the odd duck out but they did great together. Speaking of which...

FF X Part 2:The Team of Leah, Xandra and Missy.

Xandra Bale. This was someone that I had heard a ton about yet hadn't seen except in one match on YouTube. But given she'd taken the last name of the most current (and best in my opinion) Batman actor, and had a penchant for wearing superhero-themed gear from the pictures I'd seen, I was keen to see her. I wasn't disappointed either. I was VERY impressed as she held her own in the three way between her, Leah and Ryo Mizunami. This was Xandra's second highest profile match in FF (the first being part of the Rush Revolution taking on the Midwest Militia in July of this year) and her star looks to be on the rise. Keep an eye out for this lady, it can't be too long before she is seen in more promotions outside of Canada.

Leah Von Dutch. The third person in the aforementioned tag team match, she's had a tremendous rookie year. She won an essay contest former WWE wrestler Edge had set up last year, and the prize was a scholarship for free wrestling lessons. She started training at Squared Circle in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and since then has wrestled several different places such as Battle Arts, CLASH, CCW and even in CHIKARA against Sara Del Rey. This was her second appearance for FF, as she had debuted in July against Angie Skye, and Leah did not look out of place in the three way between her, Xandra and Ryo. Von Dutch has a look about her, is obviously eager and willing to learn and wrestle wherever she can, and is very friendly with fans on social media and in person. She has a ton of potential, there's no telling how far her star will rise.

Pink Flash Kira. Kira has a great look to her as well as a ton of personality, but unfortunately having missed her SPARKLE matches in Berwyn, her singles against Mercedes and Portia weren't really a good chance to see what she has in the ring. Given I'm a Powerpuff Girls fan though, her designs caught my eye. She gave it her best shot against Martinez but the veteran was too much to overcome. I'm looking forward to seeing what Kira can do in the future, she is definitely one to watch.

X-Cute Sweet. This was, I believe, the French wrestler's debut in North America. Coming out to a version of "Y'all Ready for This?", I'm not sure anyone knew what to expect but what we got was tremendous. Sweet is a ball of energy, outgoing, silly and very good in the ring. She fit right in with the others in the four way, and her match against Stephie on Part 2 was fantastic. I would definitely like to see more of her, I'm not sure what the wrestling landscape is like in France but she has talent that should be seen worldwide. Here's hoping she comes back to North America soon, she would be a great addition to any promotion.

Sweet Cherrie. I was familiar with Cherrie since she had been on all the volumes from three onwards, and she has evolved into one of the strongest people on the Femmes Fatales roster. As a protege of LuFisto's along with Kalamity, she's been taught by the best but she has a natural charisma that draws fans to her. It is impossible to not cheer for her as she engages fans instinctively. She has a great look to her (her wrestling gear is wicked cool!) and a lovely smile. Here's to more future success for her.

FF X Part 1: Angie Skye.

Angie Skye. After seeing her at FF, I kicked myself for not seeing her on SPARKLE. That "it" that people talk about that people in entertainment have to have? Angie Skye has it. In spades. Her look is unique, her gear is awesome, she has a ton of intensity and charisma, and she is eminently enjoyable to watch wrestle. Her partnership with Kath von Goth is still fairly new and makes for an interesting duo as Kath is a...unique character as well. Their shenanigans were highly entertaining, despite Angie not picking up a win on Part 1 or 2. Nonetheless, she made a huge impression on me and I'm eager to see where she goes from here.


Now for some thoughts on others that were on the card that I was familiar with...




Ryo Mizunami. As I said on my blog on SHIMMER, Ryo is amazing. Her three way with Leah and Xandra was one of the best matches of the day as was her re-match from SHIMMER with Courtney Rush. She may look ultra serious and intense, but she's as capable of shenanigans as the other Joshi are - case in point, during intermission her, Hiroyo and Kellie Skater were doing the Gangnam Style dance and after her match with Rush, the latter got her to do the dance in the ring with her! Ryo's style and look set her apart from the other Joshi and it was great that she got to make her Canadian debut.

Hiroyo Matsumoto. The second Joshi debut and Hiroyo continued her string of great matches in North America. Her rematch from SHIMMER Volume 31 against LuFisto was utterly amazing with plenty of hijinks including the Gojira mask. These two gelled so well, it was a pleasure to watch them because you could tell they were having fun wrestling each other. Hiroyo is one of my absolute favorite Joshi wrestlers, it's impossible to dislike her. Seriously! She truly lives happy even when destroying others. She had one of the best matches of the day against another FF regular...

FF X Part 2: Cherry Bomb v Hiroyo Matsumoto.

Cherry Bomb. I was absolutely stoked to see Cherry Bomb two weekends in a row. Despite being somewhat of a tweener at SHIMMER, here she was a heel, having turned on Sweet Cherrie at FF IX after they lost to the Ninjas. She opened FF X Part 1 against her former tag partner then took on Hiroyo Matsumoto for Part 2. This match was fantastic. Bomb was incredibly easy to boo against the ultra happy Hiroyo, especially after she flipped off Lady Destroyer at the start! She looked great in there against Matsumoto, recalling her time in Japan when she teamed with Sexi Star to wrestle Hailey Hatred and Kaori Yoneyama for Joshi4Hope. Cherry is a hell of a wrestler, and a performer, and I'm really happy that she had great bouts in her home country.

Sassy Stephanie and Mademoiselle Rachelle. These two, as I've said before, are a perfect team. It's as if they were made for each other, both being incredibly expressive, aggressive and talented to boot. Rachelle has amazing facial expressions and she was in her element in Canada. I don't know half of what she said (although I did learn the French word for three! "Trois! Trois!" When she argued with a ref, telling him it was three, I shouted "Trois!" She looked around and said, "Oui! Trois!" with the most exasperated look on her face - priceless!), but her back and forth with the crowd and the two wrestlers that Steph faced was amazing. Meanwhile the Sassy one showed off the French she had learned from her manager which got a nice reaction from the crowd. Sass looked incredible, getting the win over Mary Lee Rose (the match being a consequence of Rachelle turning on Mary at FF IX and joining up with the Midwest Militia); and despite a loss to X-Cute Sweet on Part 2, the redhead continues to prove her reliability and skill in the ring. I maintain that she is one of the most under-rated wrestlers in America - hopefully her work in Femmes Fatales, SHINE and AIW will prove that she deserves to be at the top of more cards. And when she gets the chance to pair up with her manager (and if Steph was not the best, why would Rachelle be working with her? Exactly.), it makes a good thing even better.

FF X Part 2: Mademoiselle Rachelle and Sassy Stephanie. That face..!

Courtney Rush. 2012 has been "the year" for several women and Rush is one of them. Her partnership with Sara Del Rey as "Death Rush/Queens of Winning" was one of the best things going earlier this year, and although it was unfortunate it got cut short due to Del Rey's signing, maybe it was for the best. After all, had she been with Del Rey, we may not have gotten to see her outstanding singles outings against Ryo, Mercedes and Hiroyo at SHIMMER (the upset win against Martinez had the crowd on it's feet); and depending on what had happened in Berwyn, we may not have seen the sequel at FF against Ryo. The mini-story line at SHIMMER where she modeled herself after Del Rey, then went back to her old self after a pep talk from ReGeneration X brought things to a nice close there. Here at Femmes Fatales she got her revenge against Portia Perez, bringing her down with a hard spear in Part 1; then in Part 2, with her rematch against Mizunami, she showed she belongs in there with the best at the top of the card. Rush has really come into her own this year and she rebounded nicely from her losses at FF IX with two solid wins at FF X. It may be only a matter of time until she challenges for the Femmes Fatales International Championship..were she to win it, maybe she will dance Gangnam Style in celebration. Time will tell!

Intermission: Cat Power and I!

Cat Power. Cat made her return to wrestling in July as part of Rush's team against the Midwest Militia, and most of us thought it was a one-off thing. Color me shocked to see her as booked to face Saraya Knight on Part 1. She took quite a beating but recovered enough to have an utterly hilarious match against Kellie Skater on Part 2. Cat Power was one of the people that first caught my attention when I attended my first SHIMMER show in September 2010 and it was a blast to see her in person again two years later. She's lost none of her appeal or her prowess in the ring. If we never see her wrestle again, at the very least I got the chance to thank her for coming back this year. Her matches were a highlight of the day.



Kellie Skater. The Rate Tank continued her three weekend run of great matches by going balls out against Kalamity in a best of 3 falls match for the FF International title on Part 1. It was somewhat jarring to go from cheering her one weekend to booing her the next, and some of us that had been at both shows cheered her anyways in Montreal despite her heel tactics on full display. However, she did win the crowd's respect by the end, and deservedly so - for the final fall it was Falls Count Anywhere, and the two beat each other up and down all over the venue. It took a Kalamity Driver through two chairs to keep Skater down for the 3. A magnificent match, and it was a relief to see her have a semi-humorous bout against Cat Power for Part 2 as she was in major pain by then. Two title shots for two major titles in two weekends - a surefire sign that Kellie Skater is a main eventer now. Most deservedly.

FF X Part 2: Athena

Athena. Wherever The Wrestling Goddess goes, whatever promotion she wrestles for, she makes an instant and unforgettable impact. The same happened in her Canadian debut during the four way on Part 1 for the Number One Contendership; then the title match between her and Kalamity on Part 2. When she hit the O-Face on Sweet for the win, the gasps in the crowd were audible. During intermission, she was a hit with fans as her natural sweetness and humor won over just about everyone. Athena went toe to toe with one of the hardest hitting women in Kalamity and despite not winning, cemented herself as a main eventer as well. It was tremendous being in the crowd and feeling/hearing the buzz she generated. Personally I couldn't wait for her matches as I knew she would create new fans in one day. Sure enough, she did. Queen of Queens winner, AIW debut, SHINE debut, SHIMMER title shot, Femmes Fatales debut and title shot - makes you wonder what's on the horizon for Athena in 2013 doesn't it?


Saraya Knight. As I wrote before, the SHIMMER Champion is a force of nature. She made sure that her Canadian debut would be unlike anything the fans of Montreal had ever seen. Absolutely no one was safe - other wrestlers, crew members, fans and poor Pat LaPrade was left with a boot print on his face thanks to her. I'm quite confident no one there will forget when 'Sweet' Saraya Knight came to play in Montreal. She warned LuFisto in Part 1 that she was coming for her and in Part 2 she took out two of Lufi's students, Mary Lee Rose and Sweet Cherrie as an example. By the end of Part 2 she and Mercedes had left Lufi and Kalamity battered after the cage match between LuFisto and Martinez. There is a score to settle here and we are left wondering when student and teacher will get their revenge. Meanwhile, remember what I said in my SHIMMER blog about the consequences of provoking Saraya? Well, case in point - she saw me twirling my finger around my head, indicating she was crazy, and it took three people to pry her away from the railing and from me. I made the mistake of thinking that since she was toned down the previous weekend she was no less dangerous. Lesson learned. However, I did NOT provoke her during the second part when, after decimating Rose and Cherrie, she walked around ringside and locked eyes with me. She asked if I wanted to play, which I shook my head no. She advanced, asking again and I kid you not I went from shaking my head to saying no to screaming and almost toppling backwards in my seat to get away from her. The fear of Saraya Knight remains. Provoke her at your own risk.

FF X Part 2: The FF International Champ, Kalamity

Kalamity. On October 8th, 2011, Kalamity won the Femmes Fatales International Championship from her mentor, her foe, her friend LuFisto. Over a year later she defended it against two top tier talents from different countries. The Oncoming Storm has now been champion for over a year. She has faced every challenge that has come her way, and in the process, has become one of Canada's finest. I've been a fan of hers from the moment I saw her, and it was a bit different watching her in Berwyn and then getting to see her defend her title in Montreal. Different but no less amazing. They were phenomenal matches as well, two great opponents for her. The only thing I would wish for Kalamity now is the same I'd wish for Athena - the chance to travel to Japan to train and compete. Both would thrive there, I feel, and further expand their skills. However, even if she never gets to the Land of the Rising Sun, Kalamity has made her mark on Canadian wrestling. She has come a long way, thanks to Lufi's training, but also thanks to her own determination to grow and evolve into something unique. Something better. Something special.

LuFisto. This lady continues to amaze me. She has been through so much physically, mentally and emotionally; she has been let down and disappointed by her passion, wrestling, yet she keeps coming back stronger and better than before - she keeps going. This is a woman who has given her heart and her soul and her body to a profession that can be ruthless, merciless, and downright hateful. Yet she keeps going. Not only does she keep going, but she gives back to the business that has caused her permanent damage physically. She has trained new students, instilling in them the skills and the love of wrestling she shares. She has helped create an all female promotion that has become to Canada what SHIMMER is to the United States. She has given her tears, her sweat and at Femmes Fatales X Part 2 she gave her blood once more. Whereas her match against Hiroyo on Part 1 was light hearted competition, her cage match on Part 2 against Mercedes Martinez was deadly serious. I had never been to a wrestling show where one of the competitors was busted open until that match. The sight of her bleeding left me speechless. I was honestly afraid for her and it wasn't until I spoke with her later that my worry started to lessen. The intensity between the two was off the charts and despite worrying about her, I was captivated by the match. They gave everything in the cage for us. It was an honor, and a privilege to witness this fight in person.

FF X Part 1: The Super Hardcore Anime, LuFisto!

LuFisto is the heart of Femmes Fatales - of Canadian wrestling itself. That may be a strong and controversial statement to make, but I will stand by and defend it. Together with Stephane Bruyere, they have made the landscape of Canadian wrestling better for women overall. November 3rd marked their tenth show and it was spectacular. I got to see how much talent and how much potential the Great North has with my own eyes. The future there looks as it does in America, Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom and elsewhere - incredibly bright.

I left Montreal the next day with memories I will treasure for a lifetime. My heartfelt thank you to Stephane, LuFisto, Pat LaPrade, the photographers, everyone behind the scenes and most of all to the women who stepped into the ring that day. Here's to another ten shows and more for Femmes Fatales!

Here is a link to all my pictures from Montreal: http://s173.beta.photobucket.com/user/elusivecharades/library/Femmes%20Fatales%20November%203rd%202012

Here is a link to the outstanding photography done by Minas Panagiotakis as well as results: http://ncw.qc.ca/resultats/resultats_20121103.html

Here are the hype videos that were shown before Part 1 and before Part 2 at the show:

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!