Road tripping with Sassy Stephanie: A Glimpse into the Independent Wrestling Life

On Thursday, September 19th, I set off for the home of independent wrestler Sassy Stephanie. I would join her for the next two days as she traveled to two different states to wrestle for two different companies. I would be lucky enough to peer through the looking glass, as it were, and get a taste of "the life". Granted, I had been on road trips with a few wrestlers prior to this, but that was to Dreamwave, a promotion that garners a sizable crowd in a rather populated city. This time, my travels with Sass would take me, first on Friday, to Farmville, Virginia (yes, there really is a town by that name) for Bruiser Wrestling Federation. Second, on Saturday, we would head to Oil City, Pennsylvania for Darkhorse Championship Wrestling. I had never heard of either promotion but it turns out, according to Adam Lash, BWF has been around for close to fifteen years; whereas DCW had only had two shows prior to the one we would be at. Needless to say, this would be a far cry from the previous promotions I had been to.

I arrived at Sassy's about 8:30 at night. Her car was already packed up. She would be heading to bed soon since she had to be up at 3 a.m. to be at her non-wrestling job at 4 a.m. She said she would be leaving work at 9 a.m. so I needed to be up and ready to go by fifteen after. Unfortunately it took an age for me to get to sleep, but I was up at 8:30 and ready to leave when she got home. We threw some energy drinks and water into a cooler, got some snacks, put my stuff into her car and off we went.

The GPS said it would take a little over seven hours. I started off driving and the weather was nice fortunately. We headed south through Ohio, into West Virginia then into Virginia. Unfortunately, due to lack of sleep (and being an amateur at long driving), I only drove for about an hour and a half before having to switch off. Since Steph had left off drinking Pepsi, she had little to no caffeine in her system anymore. So when she started drinking a Mountain Dew energy drink, she was able to drive the rest of the way. I took about a two hour nap but managed to stay awake the rest of the time. The drive itself was lovely - very little traffic and the sun was out. As she drove, we talked about lots of things: wrestling, mutual friends, her wedding, our mothers...but mostly wrestling. It was fascinating hearing her stories over those two days, what she had gone through and what she hoped to achieve.

Farmville, Virginia~!

We arrived on time at the fair, about two hours before the 8 o'clock show was set to begin. As she drove up, Steph halted the car near a parking attendant. She told him she was a wrestler on the show and needed to know where to park. His response (an older, African American man) was telling, "*You're* a wrestler??" Then he laughed. Not harshly or for long, but the fact that this was the reaction she received was galling to me. Stephanie took it in stride, saying that yes, she was and needed to get to where she needed to go. He directed her around to a gate where a second attendant stopped. This man's response was to ask, who she was going to "beat up" tonight. Once we had parked, I said, "I take it you get that reaction a lot." She nodded. "All the time. I'm used to it." I thought this a shame, but at the same time, this was the reality of people in independent wrestling. Stephanie had made a name for herself in "bigger" companies such as Women Superstars Uncensored and SHIMMER Women Athletes but in places such as here (despite having competed in BWF against Kacee Carlisle prior to this show), she was an unknown. At least, to those who were strictly working with the fair that BWF was having their show at.

When we got out of the car and went up to the building, a few men were there to greet and direct us where to go. As we walked out from behind the backstage, passing the ring, I realized...this was a barn. Granted, the weekend before this I had been to Wrestling is Heart, which was also in a barn but it was more like a showcase area, large and rather spacious. This was much smaller, dirtier and...an actual barn. Dirt and hay were under our feet, and I could hear the soft mooing of cows and clucking of chickens nearby. Past the barn was the actual fair itself. This was a far cry from the Eagles Club or the Knights of Columbus Hall. However, it was what it was, and I followed Stephanie and the man guiding us to outside, in front of the barn. There were tables set up already. The one on the left hand side had WWE merchandise such as figures and shirts. The tables to the right were clear, and we were told we could use the one right next to the entrance. Sass quickly got her merch out and set up with an efficiency that was impressive. One of her newest shirts; stickers; trading cards; a program with a small biography about her; photos from WWE, TNA and various independent shows she had taken; old 8x10s; a binder filled with her newer 8x10s; and three bags filled with misc gear. One was marked at $100 as it was a complete set; the others were lower since it was only one piece and not a full set. I wondered at setting these items out - what casual fan would purchase something like that? I said nothing though, and listened as she wrote down the prices for everything and gave me various instructions. I was to be her "merch bitch" for these two days. I had hopes of selling several things for her as, since admission to the wrestling show was free if you paid to get into the fair, I worried that her booking fare wouldn't be worth the drive.

Despite my worries, I never discussed pay with her. That's one subject I feel is off limits, no matter how close of a friend I might be with any wrestler. It's something I never need to know about. By this point, there was an hour left until the show started, and Sass, after making sure I was fine and understood about prices, left to go get ready. The table I was at was right in the path of the setting sun, so for awhile I was sweating it out until it went down. The flyer for the show was on the wall above me. Reading over it, I noted that their main attraction, their star for today's show, was "The Patriot." 

Sass was challenging again for Kacee Carlisle's NWA Women's Championship, and their match was the semi-main. As such, we would be there for a few hours. As I sat there, listening to the Patriot call everyone "bruther", watching the people pass by, some of them headed straight for the WWF table or were attracted by the man in the brightly colored mask. Eventually, after getting her gear on and filming a promo for her upcoming SHINE tag team wrestling match, Steph came back out to stand behind the table with me. Her and the Patriot chatted about the show, the local area, and various wrestling promotions. Later, she said that they had been on shows before and knew each other from there. He also knew about Lexi, Brandi Wine and SHINE Wrestling which amazed me. As the people passed by, she would call out to them, ask them to come and watch her wrestle Kacee and see the rest of the free wrestling. Most of them stopped to talk to the Patriot, but she had no problems engaging kids, parents, older people, all kinds. Some ventured over and looked at her gimmicks, but no one bought anything. She stayed until there was only a few minutes left before bell time, then both of them went to the back. Someone with the show stayed to sell Patriot's merch.

Perhaps I shouldn't have been surprised, but I was at the fact that not only did every seat and bleacher fill up inside the barn, but people stood outside, on the slight incline to watch the show. Other than Kacee, Sass and Patriot, I hadn't heard of any of the people on the show, so between that and not wanting to leave the table unattended, I didn't have much of a desire to watch it. One young man bought a program from me for a dollar. That was, unfortunately, the only thing I sold that night which was disheartening. Something I noticed over the few hours we were there stuck with me though.

I had quite a few people who eventually came out and mostly leafed through the binder of Sassy's 8x10s. Maybe it was the fact that, at SHIMMER, it wasn't unusual to see the women in various photoshoots in either their gear, bathing suits or other attire. It wasn't unusual, to me, to see them selling 8x10s of these shoots. However, I watched the people who flipped through the binders and looked at her various shots. The reactions made me angry inside - I saw barely concealed sneers, slight shakes of heads, and looks of disapproval and judgment. Most of these reactions came from middle aged or older women and a few older men. Younger women and men didn't react the same way. I chalked it up to a combination of conservative values (we were in Virginia, after all), jealousy, and maybe a backwards conception of female wrestlers overall. If these folks were expecting a woman in a one piece bathing suit from The Fabulous Moolah's era, or a cheesecake who was only good for photoshoots, they were going to be sadly mistaken on both accounts. If they stuck around to see her match, that was.

I swallowed my gut reaction and didn't say a word. Let them judge. If they didn't want to bother to look up who Steph was or what all she had accomplished in wrestling, that was their loss. I passed the time on my iPhone or reading a book I had remembered to bring along. Halfway through the show, the Patriot came back to man his table (he was in the main event), and it was then he asked me, "You're Stephanie's friend? I'm Tom." He extended a hand and I took it, introducing myself. He said that he had driven down from Philly (I believe) and had had to do the trip on his own since his friend couldn't come with him. It had been a long drive and his voice showed how tired he was. But he never hesitated to take a picture, sign an autograph or anything the fans asked. 

When it came time for Sassy's match, I came out and stood at the entrance of the barn. The ring was slightly elevated, so I had no trouble watching it. It was strange seeing Steph come out as a babyface, playing to the crowd as "Awake and Alive" blared over the loudspeaker. Everywhere else, she plays a bitchy heel to perfection. But the crowd responded well and during the match, I didn't hear any disrespectful remarks from anyone nearby, nor was anything inappropriate shouted. This was probably due to the kids being in attendance, but not even SHIMMER is free of douchebags despite being a company that has a reputation for strong female wrestling. It was also a far cry from the judgmental looks earlier. As Kacee made her entrance, the music was almost drowned out by the boos. I had to shake my head though - in wrestling, your entrance music is a vital part of your persona. Some people become inseparable from theirs (it's why Shawn Michaels continued to use "Sexy Boy" even after entering middle age and starting to bald). Kacee had chosen Metallica's "Ride the Lightning", which, for me, was already solidly associated with a Midwestern wrestler. Plus, in my opinion, it didn't fit her persona at all - much like Steph, she's very old school in her wrestling, not the type to pull out flashy moves or create an intense persona. But it was what it was.

The match that followed saw a lot of ground based moves, head locks, arm bars and only once did Sass go up top for a flying crossbody that got a great reaction from the crowd. When she hit a Japanese arm bar on Kacee, an older man near me remarked to his friend, "I ain't never seen a move like that!" It was a very basic, but undeniably solid match that engaged fans. The two worked well together, and I learned later that this was only their second time wrestling each other. Kacee kept the belt after hitting a DDT (I think), but Steph got a round of applause as the referee helped her to the back. It was when the bell rang that I packed up all her merch and put it back into the backpack. Not long after that, her bright red hair shielded by a hoodie, she came and got me, and we went to the back to say goodbye. I believe it was around 10:30 p.m. We had a little under five hour drive ahead of us to get to the hotel, and since she was amped up from the show, Sass said she would take the wheel. The GPS naturally took us a different way since we were going north, into Pennsylvania, and we would cross through Maryland at one point.

By this time, it was pitch black and I was shivering. Shorts might have been wise when the sun was high in the sky but up in the mountains at night it most assuredly was not. With the heater on, we began our way through the mountains once more, twisting and turning as the wind blew, making the trees sway, casting shadows that we drove through. However, we sang *N Sync, Steph voxed her fiancee Chris, and I recorded videos of us singing in the dark. It was fun and at points I could look up into a cloudless sky and see the stars. It was like salt scattered onto a piece of black construction paper. Beautiful! At one point, Steph halted the car beside a small building. Out in front, highlighted by lights, was a statue of a gigantic rooster. Of course we had to take pictures. It was then I realized that this is one of the perks - when else but traveling the back roads between small towns would you stumble across something as silly as this? Moments like these are memories.

Biggest cock I've ever come across.

As we drove, Stephanie told me about something that had happened during the match that she had never experienced before. Normally, she said, once she's out there in the ring she doesn't register faces or people in the crowd. She's in that "zone" that all wrestlers enter. However, when Kacee had her in a submission, she looked out and saw a kid that probably wasn't over seven years old. Their eyes met and although she couldn't hear him, she read his lips. "You can do it." Even when she had been a babyface prior in her career, she had never had that kind of connection with anyone. "He believed in me," she said, "I wanted to justify his belief in me. He may forget this in a week, but that's something I will remember for the rest of my life." I could tell by the look on her face and the tone of her voice that she was serious. This child had connected with her. It was still real to him. To that kid, and indeed to the rest of them that were at the show, everyone in the ring was larger than life. Wins and losses still mattered. The age old struggle of good versus bad still held a magic, to kids and adults alike. Food for thought for me.

Our rooster stop and a stop at Sheetz for gas and food (Sass was good enough to stop at a next door McDonalds for me) delayed us getting to the hotel in Bedford until around 3 a.m. She had booked us in a comfortable hotel. We had to be up by 8 and gone for the three hour drive in order to make it to Oil City by noon, when the promoter had wanted everyone to be there. We were out by 3:30 but I woke up at 7:30 to get a quick shower. Four hours of sleep! Steph got four and a half since she woke up at 8, but we were out by 8:30 on the road again (after another stop at Sheetz - their coffee is AMAZING!). I dozed off for awhile but switched with her again to make the final trek to a high school gym where the show was to take place. By this time it was raining steadily, which wasn't pleasant but it wasn't bad enough to impair driving. We made our way into the main building to the gym where the previous show had been held. When we peeked in, however, there was a girls basketball practice being held. By this time it was almost noon, so Steph and I decided to huddle down in a nearby hallway, her to take a nap while waiting to hear from the promoter as to where everyone was. As we waited, she started laughing, "The glamorous life of a professional wrestler," she remarked wryly. I couldn't help but laugh too.

We didn't have to wait long - it turned out they were in a separate building nearby. We packed up our stuff again, drove the short distance and got into the school quickly. As before, we were led into the gym and Sass quickly got her gimmicks set up at a table near the entrance where fans would be coming in. It was a prime spot, although M-Dogg Matt Cross had gotten the table right next to the entryway. He was someone who knew the value of choosing your place as to maximize the prospect of fans buying merch, she said, something that came with developing good instincts. Every dollar counted. I took a seat behind the table as she went to get changed and discuss things with the people she would be working with. I watched the ring being set up, noting that both men and women were pitching in, despite some of it being heavy work. I noted that Blk Jeez and the Latin Dragon from CZW were on the card as well as Kimber Lee, Missy Sampson (the DCW Women's Champion), Marti Belle and one of the green students from the CZW school, Samantha St. Paul. I thought it was interesting and kinda cool to see some of the more well-known independent names at this show that was, apparently, broadcast on a local television station. This was going to be taped for a future airing. It amazed me that a small promotion that was still brand new was on tv, although I had no idea how that worked. As bell time grew closer, fans started to trickle in and to my surprise there were fewer people here than had been at BWF last night. I asked Sass, who had come out in her gear to stand at the table, if there had been so few at the previous first show that she had been at (having been unable to make it to the second show). She replied that there had been more at the first. I thought this was a shame as the show looked to be a solid one. But beggars couldn't be choosers, and although it began a little behind schedule, the promoter came out to thank everyone who was there.

This time, despite fewer people stopping to look at what Stephanie had for sale, an older man with his grown daughter wanted to buy a t-shirt. The girl protested, wondering what "mom" would think. He bought one nonetheless and I thanked him with a smile. That turned out to, again, be the only sale I made but she was grateful for it. Small victories are better than none. Steph again had her ring-worn gear out for sale, and I asked her while in the car if it wouldn't be better to hold onto those until she got to SHIMMER in a few weeks as they would be more likely to sell to the wider fan base. She replied that there was always the chance that one of the fans at these smaller shows would buy it. She had the same nonchalance when I told her about the women who had turned their noses up at her photoshoots. "Sex sells. I'm never fully naked despite how it looks in some of those shots, and they sell. I'm appealing to those fans." A sound business strategy, rooted in common sense. Part of the reality of being a female wrestler.

I read more of my book until it came time for Sassy's matches, which I told her I would record on my phone. The first was a tag match. I noted one older woman who was taking pictures giving all the heels grief. Yet, before the show, during intermission, and afterwards she asked several people to pose for a photo with, I assumed, was her grandson. It was fun to see not just the kids but the adults get into it, mostly for the chance to get on television. The kids still believed it was real, but these adults were clearly in the know. There was no chance of a riot here if a babyface lost, unlike last night. The contrast between the two groups of fans was fascinating.

I really enjoyed Sassy's match against Missy - being that Sampson had the size and height advantage, Steph went for different types of submissions, trying to keep her grounded. The end came when she pulled out a submission I had never seen before, from her or anyone else. I won't describe it here as I'm sure she'll use it again in the near future, but she performed it well. Missy passed out instead of submitting, making Sassy Stephanie the new DCW Women's Champion. Fans were pissed, especially the older woman who got up and yelled that Steph had cheated. Sass got right in her face, asking how she had cheated when she had had a clean submission on. The woman retorted that she went to the outside, but Steph countered by saying that Missy had knocked her to the outside to start with. The older woman had no retort to that except by repeating she had cheated. Sass laughed at her and went to the back, belt firmly around her waist.

Unlike last night, there was no rush to get things together after her match ended. Stephanie stayed until the show was over to help do local promos for television spots. She got everyone herded into the room where these were shot and made sure they were done before allowing the wrestlers to leave. In her own words, she was a bitch who made sure things got done. To me, this wasn't a bad thing - sometimes you have to be tough and firm to get a job accomplished, especially when some people are unwilling to do it without a push. It was a mark of how much the promoter relied on her to do behind the scenes work. After gathering up her gimmicks, I waited, watching some of the wrestlers interact with the fans that were slow to leave. I also watched both men and women take down the ring, admiring how there was little hesitation to do something that might not be the most glamorous thing but was essential to the process. I had no idea if these were wrestlers who were in training and paying their dues or if they had been hired from outside the promotion. Either way, they were efficient and uncomplaining.

By this time, Sass had joined me and it turned out that one of the fans who was in attendance was the host of a local radio station. He invited Steph to do some promos for his show as well as two advertisements for local area businesses. Since she had a track record of doing stuff on the radio and in front of a camera, she had developed a good, clear voice for these kinds of things so we followed the guy to the radio station after everything was done at the show. I have to admit, I was apprehensive about this. He was older and we were the only people in the small building. But nothing untoward happened, and I listened as Sass did the two ads and three promo spots, the latter three unscripted. She was a natural and the man thanked her profusely, giving her a few items for her willingness (a travel mug, knapsack, stickers with the radio station, and a stress hockey puck). After that we headed to a nearby bar and restaurant to eat with some of the folks from the show that were able to stick around.

Despite only knowing one or two people there, Steph was adept at making small talk while I ate and observed. A product of being in such a public business, you have to be outgoing to some degree, with fans and fellow workers alike. Perhaps she had always been this way. I wasn't sure how many of these guys and gals knew each other, or how well, but they all relaxed, talked and laughed in an easy way. At one point I was gently kidded by one of the guys sitting across from me about my lack of speaking. I blushed and attempted to make small talk but in large groups and especially around people in the business, I'm more likely to take a step back. I remained aware that I was a fan who was lucky enough to take a look behind the curtain.

It was nightfall and still raining when we left. Soaked again but that didn't matter much. We were both in good spirits - the fact that the drive from Oil City back to Stephanie's house was only two hours (the shortest distance we would drive over the two days) probably had something to do with this. Neither of us had difficulty staying awake, and as we drove back into Ohio she told me a few of the things that were in the area as well as some of the history, plus a few things about her mom and the high school she had attended. I offered a few stories of my mom and the high school I went to. It wasn't long before we were back at her house, I believe by 11:30 or somewhere around that time. We both crashed out, and the next day I drove back home...a five hour trip that took nine hours.

On the drive home, I found myself reflecting on what I had seen and experienced over the previous two days. I had never had any illusions about independent wrestling being some sort of glittering life. I knew it involved hard work and a dedication to wrestling that goes above and beyond what the average fan feels. You have to have a passion that motivates you to drive anywhere from 30 minutes to seven hours to perform in front of anywhere from 20 to 400 people for who knows what amount of money. You have to be willing to smile for fans, be accommodating when they ask for pictures or autographs, make small talk to try and sell an extra shirt for a few more dollars. You have to be ready to wrestle indoors or out, rain or shine, and make it through all types of weather to get to the show. You have to be able to show promoters you can do business in a professional manner, be at the venue on time, amendable to any sudden changes (while maintaining your own best interests), and work with people that you may or may not get on with. When the show is over, depending on your status in the promotion, you either tie up any loose ends, collect your pay and depart for the short or long drive home; or, you stay and help take down the ring, collect the chairs and clean up before leaving. Then you either set off for your next booking, which could take you on the road for another few hours or minutes, leaving you with the option to either sleep in your car somewhere or book a room in any kind of hotel to sleep for a precious few hours; or, you set off for your home, hoping to make it to your bed for any kind of sleep before getting up for your "real world" job.

Like I said, it's a hard life. But, it has it's rewards. Stephanie has no regrets. "I love what I do, and I have fun," she told me when I shared some of my observations after the trip was over. Indeed, she never complained about the driving, the people, the promotions, none of it. On the contrary, she was wide awake and ready for anything that could and did happen. The random things (such as running into the giant rooster and having the opportunity to record spots for a radio station) are part of what makes the independent wrestling life such a fascinating one. You never know what might happen on the next trip. The special things (such as connecting with one fan as they cheer for you during the match) are what make for lasting memories. The ability to touch a fan and bring them to their feet with cheers or boos isn't something that all wrestlers have. For those that do, that is part of why they choose to live this life. To create lasting memories, for themselves and for the fans, is something unique.

For my part, I loved it. I was captivated hearing the stories she had to share about her almost seven years in wrestling. I was fascinated by the places we went, the roads we drove, and the glimpses of small town life we caught. Especially up in the mountains of West Virginia and Virginia, the forests were beautiful. I found the people we came into contact with interesting, from the fans to the fellow wrestlers to the promoters. Sure, the drives were long, the weather was less than perfect on Saturday, and we got little sleep but I felt positively alive and thrilled to have been asked to come along. It's a life that, had I had a different body, I would have tried to live. As it is though, I was honored that Steph asked me to go with her. I have gained more of an insight into the life, and my respect for those who willingly go through the trials in order to live their passion has doubled. It only increases my determination to help support those that truly love what they do, and reward their dedication however I can, in small ways and large.

Fans may joke about the frequent user of "brother" between wrestlers, but it reminds me of the lines from Shakespeare's "King Henry V":

"From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember'd;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother."

A huge thank you to Stephanie, I appreciated this so much! Get out there and support independent wrestling and independent wrestlers - they deserve it!

(Here is a link to her promo she shot in Farmville for the SHINE Wrestling iPPV. Order it on WWNLive.com, and catch it on September 27th!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_3DbPKEPhQ )

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!