SHIMMER Women Athletes – Volume 20 – 5th July 2008
So I REALLY enjoyed Volume 19. Packing a card full of young, hungry talents gave the show an infections energy, which I really hope carries through to this – the second show taped that day. On paper the card for this one is certainly better – headlined by Mercedes Martinez getting the SHIMMER Title Shot she feels is seriously overdue. The undercard pits LuFisto against Cheerleader Melissa in what could be a real war, a couple of grudge tag matches featuring the likes of the International Home Wrecking Crew, the Ohio Girls, the Canadian NINJAs and the new Allison Danger/Jennifer Blake duo…plus more featuring Amazing Kong, Sara Del Rey, Nikki Roxx etc. Dave Prazak and the aforementioned Allison Danger will provide commentary from Berwyn, IL.
Veronika Vice vs Shark Girl
V19 was a tough show for the debuting Veronika Vice. She made almost no impact in the SHIMMER Battle Royal, and was then defeated later in the night in a tag encounter with Ashley Lane and Nevaeh. Will a singles match against the unorthodox and mysterious Shark Girl be the match she needs to nail down a permanent roster spot?
Veronika shows her tenacity and determination to win here, visibly yanking on Shark Girl’s hair to pull her into a side headlock. Sharkie swiftly gets some payback by biting her arm and ass (‘Shark’s get hungry and want a snack’ – Allison Danger). Rolling suplexes by Vice, delivered with such viciousness that she’s able to toss Girl straight out of the ring. All her offence targets Shark’s back and focuses on keeping the unpredictable masked competitor grounded. She gets too cocky and botches a springboard reverse elbow (even a swift camera angle chop in post-production doesn’t hide it)…and eats an Iconoclasm for 2. Suplex Stunner gets Shark Girl the win at 07:03
Rating - * - I really liked the logic behind Vice’s work, and her strategy was the only real highlight of this one for me. As I’ve said before, I really don’t understand the Shark Girl gimmick and don’t understand why Prazak is wasting his money booking Daffney to work it. Considering her experience, her execution wasn’t a whole lot better than Vice’s here either – with both of them making quite major flubs which really hurt the flow of the contest. It would be another two years and fourteen Volumes before Veronika would get another SHIMMER opportunity…
Canadian NINJAs vs Allison Danger/Jennifer Blake
Volume 19 was a strong show for all four of these performers. Nicole Matthews and Jennifer Blake produced their finest individual performances to date, Portia Perez ended Shark Girl’s undefeated streak and Allison Danger scored a big win over her tag partner this evening. In the aftermath of their singles match she wanted to put Girl Dynamite over – but was interrupted by the NINJAs. They insulted Danger and proclaimed themselves the most ‘frickin awesome’ team to come out of Canada. Who leaves the taping with the bragging rights? This is the first time Perez and Matthews are formally introduced as the ‘Canadian NINJAs’
‘I am the world master of avoiding the body slam’ – Portia. She bets Danger $1000 (Canadian obviously) that she can’t slam her in the first minute of the match…and of course instantly tags out. Allison has to settle for taking Matthews to school on the mat for a few minutes. Perez and Blake in next; slapping the taste out of each other’s mouths. So hard in fact that Portia walks out and takes a seat at ringside. RUNNING DROPKICK THROUGH THE CHAIR by Blake! Nicole jumps Girl Dynamite from behind to hand the NINJAs the advantage for the first time. They haven’t teamed for long but clearly have chemistry and effortlessly start manipulating the rules to isolate Jennifer. Danger repeatedly makes it worse for her partner by losing her temper (in the face of extreme provocation from Portia) and trying to invade the ring. Blake has to fight back for herself – countering the Kosher Pickle with a superkick. Danger gets 2 with the Lovelace Choker on Matthews…followed by Blake’s KOBASHI CHOPS! Perez KICKS DANGER’S BAD SHOULDER! TOPE SUICIDA BY BLAKE! FUJIWARA ARMBAR BY PEREZ! DANGER TAPS! The NINJAs get a huge win at 10:56
Rating - *** - This was certainly a low-end 3* match, but it really had a lot going for it. Perez and Matthews are extremely watchable as a tag team. They are young, but their brash arrogant personas make them compelling viewing. Blake too oozed potential, and as of Volume 20 is comfortably one of the most precise high-flying talents SHIMMER have booked so far. Her job here really was to hit a couple of high spots then toss her body around selling for the NINJAs, and she did it faultlessly. The finish the real highlight of the match, and a major turning point in the career of Perez and Matthews. By violently attacking Danger’s recently-injured collarbone Portia (and her partner) instantly switch from dorky, harmless undercard heels to dangerous threats – willing to exploit weaknesses remorselessly to get ahead. The issue between Portia and Allison is far from over…
Perez refuses to release the armbar and has to be pulled off by three referees…as on the floor Nicole drives Blake into the guardrails. DIVORCE COURT ON DANGER!
Danyah vs Amazing Kong
As we saw at V19, Kong was carrying a pretty bad knee injury into these tapings so is walking with a visible limp. It didn’t stop her from being so violent with Lorelei Lee that she knocked her straight out, causing her to miss V20. Danyah hasn’t made much impact during her short SHIMMER career so far, and probably needs to pull off an unthinkable upset here to earn a permanent roster spot…
The ‘weighing none of your damn business’ part of Kong’s ring introduction has gotten insanely over with the Berwyn fans. Danyah comes out swinging and pops off a flurry of forearm smashes in the first minute…but they have no effect and she gets floored with a single clothesline. It’s another massacre, with Kong chasing her opponent around the ring delivering chops and palm strikes. To her credit Danyah refuses to be pinned…then kicks the bad leg! She goes to the top and takes Kong down with a missile dropkick! LARIATOOOOOO! Amazing Bomb blocked with a diving elbow…for 2! D-Bomb countered to the AMAZING BOMB! Kong wins at 04:32
Rating - N/A - I don’t think it’s fair to give either of Kong’s ‘matches’ at this taping a rating, since they were near enough all-out squashes. That isn’t to say they weren’t both seriously entertaining to watch though. She was clearly injured, and they can’t keep have her smashing through the upper card forever more if her TNA commitments mean she won’t ever be SHIMMER Champion – so having her pulverise some bottom-feeders across both Volumes was a really fun use of her time.
SIDENOTE – SHIMMER really are selling the Danger injury at the hands of Portia, as she is off commentary for the remainder of the show.
LuFisto is in the locker room for her first interview since returning. She is so excited she checks out Rebecca Bayless’ breasts, wants to beat Melissa later…and then has MsChif on her agenda!
Daffney vs Cat Power
Lorelei Lee’s injury has effectively caused Daffney to pull double-duty tonight, appearing unmasked for the first time in several volumes since adopting the Shark Girl persona. Her opponent for her ‘return’ is Cat Power – another athlete whom, like Veronika Vice and Danyah, has looked perfectly capable without doing anything to really get noticed and establish herself as a ‘must-see’ attraction.
Power is a muscular and imposing woman…and absolutely dwarfs Daffney. The former WCW talent dials up the aggression as a result, using her strikes to drive Cat into the corner. Power goes after Daffney’s permanently-injured knee, using a stretch muffler to exacerbate that injury. Spinning toehold blocked…so she kicks at the leg and applies a Figure 4. Daffney taps at 05:30
Rating - ** - Short and forgettable, but considering this was thrown together at short notice and featured Daffney working what was technically her fourth match of the taping it was more than adequate. Power has a great look, and looked extremely strong with a dominant victory here. As an added bonus this was also the least annoying I’ve found Daffney for her entire SHIMMER run too. She toned down the irksome theatrics, sold hard for the newcomer and did the job too.
International Home Wrecking Crew vs Ashley Lane/Nevaeh
At Volume 18 Lane and Nevaeh scored a shock victory over Lacey and Rain. We haven’t seen Lacey since, so Rain is joining forces with her other Home Wrecking colleague – Jetta – in an effort to get some payback. Both Home Wreckers suffered high profile defeats at V19 (to LuFisto and MsChif) so will be looking to bounce back as well as avenge what the viewed as a fluke defeat a couple of shows ago. The Ohio Girls are on a 2-0 streak, and look to be peaking at just the right time with Tag Titles just around the corner.
Rain and Jetta miss Lacey…me too. Lane starts extremely impressively and busts out all manner of pinning combinations looking to score a flash victory over Jetta. Rain lends her partner a hand by jamming Nevaeh’s arm over the top rope. The Home Wreckers target that arm and spend several minutes with Nevaeh isolated in the ring as a result. I notice that Rain is wearing torn up fishnets this evening, presumably a tribute to the missing Lacey. Rain works an awesome sequence of submissions, gliding from a full nelson, to a leg nelson (with elbows to the shoulder and boots to the stomach) then right into a cross armbreaker too. ARM STUNNER nailed for 2! It’s been an outstanding performance thus far by the Home Wreckers…but thus far they haven’t been able to put the plucky Nevaeh away. Somehow she makes a hot tag to Ashley, who runs straight through Jetta with an Ace Crusher! They try to set up the STO/Yakuza Kick combo on Rain…but she hauls Nevaeh by the bad arm into the path of Lane’s running boot. Rain pins Nevaeh using the tights as leverage at 12:08
Rating - ** - The International Home Wreckers looked superb here, but that really shouldn’t be all that surprising. We know Jetta and Rain are solid, capable workers with big enough personalities to easily carry a heat segment. My concern here, and the reason I had this one at 2* (whereas I went 3* on the Canadian NINJAs tag earlier) is that they really could have worked this exact match with a crash test dummy. There was almost nothing coming back at them from the Ohio Girls. They are likeable, and Nevaeh sold her beating well enough…but in longer matches like this you really need to feel like both teams have enough credible offence to pose a believable threat. This felt like the Home Wreckers CRUSHING Lane and Nevaeh, which given what would go down at V21 is a really strange decision.
Ariel vs Nikki Roxx
This one is intriguing because it puts together two of the most popular performers on the SHIMMER roster. They are both SHIMMER veterans and fan favourites for the Berwyn audience – and in future Volumes would actually go onto form a tag team. But for now they will both realise this is a critical bout for both of them. Roxx defeated Nicole Matthews at V19 so is looking to complete a 2-0 weekend for her SHIMMER comeback, whilst Ariel will want to bounce back from a crushing loss to Sara Del Rey on the last show.
Prazak outright states that Nikki has missed shows due to her ‘contractual status with other organisations’. Ariel almost sends her packing straight back to TNA too, with a dropkick so forceful that it knocks Roxx to the floor. She storms back with the Polish Hammer, followed by a big boot to the face which knocks the Portuguese Princess to the outside! Nikki declines a handshake from Ariel to boot her in the face again, showing the kind of aggression that we haven’t seen from her too often. She pulls at Ariel’s hair too…and in doing so provokes such anger from Ariel that she is able to catch her for a diving front slam. Roxx retaliates with an exploder suplex leaving them both on the ground reeling. They trade huge elbow strikes, with Ariel apparently having the edge in that so Nikki gives her a swinging neckbreaker. Bimbo Plant gets 2! But Roxx can’t execute the Barbie Crusher and eats the Three Amigos from her opponent. Ariel wheelbarrows into a pin – and gets the win at 10:59
Rating - *** - I had plenty of fun watching this one. They didn’t outstay their welcome, and did a great job cranking up the drama, intensity and aggressiveness of their work throughout. I’m not sure Ariel really needed to go over (since she’s popular anyway and Nikki is probably closer to being a viable contender to MsChif’s title) but one shouldn’t disregard the improvements in her work over recent Volumes. Without compromising her lovable character she has risen from fun-loving matches at the bottom of the card to believably going toe-to-toe with the likes of Kong, Del Rey and now Nikki.
Sara Del Rey vs Serena Deeb
Death Rey warned the entire SHIMMER roster at V19 that is going to cause chaos and destruction at every turn until she gets the SHIMMER Championship rematch she believes she is owed. Ariel suffered at her hands at the last show – getting forcibly eliminated and assaulted during the Battle Royal then beaten all over ringside when they met in a singles match later in the show. Now Deeb, another popular rising star on the undercard, is in the firing line. For Serena, someone who herself feels frustrated after missing the SHIMMER Title Tournament due to a car accident, this is an opportunity. She feels undervalued in multiple promotions right now, to such an extent that she has undergone cosmetic surgery to get more people to notice her. Nothing would get her more notice in this organisation than stopping the intimidating former champion.
Sara looks even more fired up for this than she did for the massacre of Ariel, and seems to be trying to pop Deeb’s head like a zit as she cranks onto an early side headlock. I really like that Serena’s counter to that hold is trying to work Sara’s arm to stop her headlocking. Sadly for her, Del Rey is an outstanding technician and effortlessly turns the tables to start working Deeb’s arm instead. Serena climbs the ropes and hits a DIVING monkey flip! Unfortunately she can’t pull the same spot off for a second time and it’s countered with a savage kick to the legs from the former champion. Del Rey reels off multiple leg submissions in quick succession, then delivers a FLYING ASS ATTACK TO THE KNEE! Repeated dragon screws and shinbreakers follow; the merciless Death Rey hauling her opponent back up by the hair after each move. Serena actually has the audacity to try to fight back and snatch a win with a flash pin…so Sara gives her a running kick to the leg then wraps it around the ringpost. Deeb tries a desperate Spear…but Del Rey dodges and watches her unfortunate rival plummet through the ropes to the floor. DRAGON SCREW INTO THE RAILING! Somehow Deeb crawls back in before being counted out and lands some (knee-selling) jabs! DOWN GOES SARA! Serena scores with a limping neckbreaker…which takes so much out of her she can barely make a cover afterwards. KNEEBAR by Del Rey! There is a genuine cheer of delight from the crowd when Deeb gets to the ropes there, but the soon groan in horror as Sara REPEATEDLY KICKS THE LEG! KNEEBAR AGAIN! DEEB TAPS! It’s all over at 16:45
Rating - **** - Watching both Sara and Kong, and their differing approaches to working undercard matches with lower ranking talent, has been fascinating this weekend. Kong’s emphatic squashes have had undeniable entertainment value, but for sheer drama and captivating live crowds Del Rey’s matches with Ariel and Serena have been real highlights. As with the Ariel match at V19 this was, in many ways, an extended squash and exhibition of how much of a dangerous wrestling machine Sara truly is. But the heart, soul and focal point of the match came from the impassioned, courageous and empathetic performance of her opponent. I really WANTED to like this match for Serena. It felt like her biggest SHIMMER opportunity by far, and for a woman who wants to succeed in this business so badly that she was willing to undergo major cosmetic surgery, you really want her to produce something special. She truly did here; selling marvellously, sacrificing her body and providing just the right amount of babyface fire to really make you feel her occasional offensive flurries. An outstanding performance from both women, and I’d also like to point out what a great job Prazak did on solo commentary too. He was superb in putting over the work of both women – without the insider references or sarcastic humour that some deride his commentary for. It was a great call, and certainly amongst his best SHIMMER work.
LuFisto vs Cheerleader Melissa
The title match between MsChif and Martinez might be main eventing, but this could easily have headlined the show and nobody would have batted an eyelid. Cheerleader Melissa is established as one of the toughest and most violent members of the SHIMMER roster. From her brutal war with MsChif to the periodic appearances of her devastating Kudo Driver finish, she is one of the most intimidating performers we’ll see this evening. But one person who won’t be intimidated is LuFisto. This is a woman who has wrestled death matches and stepped into CZW’s Cage Of Death. She returned to SHIMMER at V19 with a win over Rain and will want to complete a 2-0 taping sweep.
Melissa smiles broadly during her entrance and makes fun of Lu’s small stature – something which you suspect she may regret. LuFisto retaliates with a Codebreaker then a spinning heel kick for 2. It is noticeable that Cheerleader’s offence in the early going targets her opponent’s back, as it is well-documented that back problems almost caused Fisto to retire. Running cannonball by Lu, followed by a headbutt flurry! SLAPS BY MELISSA! SLAPS BY LUFISTO! Melissa boots LuFisto the ground then stands on her face looking to bully her. LuFisto’s back is starting to bother her, but she defies the pain to hit a cannonball senton off the apron! Melissa hails her back out though…for REPEATED SWINGS into the guardrails! More bullying tactics next, as she grinds pompoms in Lu’s face, then tree of woe’s her over the railings for a trio of hard kicks to the ribs. Kondo Clutch applied – a move Melissa has earned victories with in the past – putting LuFisto seemingly on the verge of defeat. KONDO CLUTCH CURB STOMP! Kudo Driver blocked with a BACK DROP DRIVER! ELBOW DUEL! BRIDGING GERMAN gets 2 for LuFisto! Cheerleader drops her on the back once more with a back suplex, but amazing Lu gets up again and hits a Michinoku Driver. DIVING STAR NAILED! FOR 2! Burning Hammer COUNTERED TO THE KUDO DRIVER! MELISSA WINS! It’s over at 12:05
Rating - ****1/2 - This stands out as one of my favourite SHIMMER matches so far. It didn’t go long but was a joyfully violent sprint peppered with really thrilling and memorable standout moments. Melissa was truly great as a playground bully, picking on the smaller woman and wearing her down using her well-known injury problems. LuFisto in turn was a revelation as the put-upon spitfire babyface who simply refused to let her tormentor get the better of her. The way she used her facials, vocals and body language to convey the sheer tenacity of her comeback sequences was special. I may get some flak for rating this one so highly, but I loved it – yes, even more than matches like Kong/MsChif and Martinez/Del Rey which I’ve been accused of under-rating in the past. This was the outstanding match from these tapings, and a performance which really marks LuFisto’s arrival as a must-see attraction on the SHIMMER roster. Both women receive a well-earned standing ovation.
MsChif vs Mercedes Martinez – SHIMMER Title Match
Few could argue that Mercedes is the undisputed #1 contender for the SHIMMER Championship right now. Obviously she did miss a year of competition, but the last time she tasted defeat in singles competition was way back on Volume 5 – and is currently on a five match winning streak with victories over some of the biggest names in SHIMMER. LuFisto, Sara Del Rey, Wesna Busic, Cindy Rogers and Cheerleader Melissa have all fallen before her, meaning she is without a doubt a serious threat to MsChif’s fledgling title reign. Can the durable, flexible and resourceful champion find a way to combat the aggression, power and devastating finishing moves (either the Bull Run or the Back Drop Driver) of her challenger tonight?
First blood to Martinez, who pokes MsChif in the eyes as she tries to produce her traditional bellowing scream in the first minute. Mercedes is very obviously adopting a vastly different strategy to many of MsChif’s previous opponents – in that she looks to be trying to bludgeon the champion to defeat. An exploder suplex floors her, and the challenger is immediately on top of her with crossface strikes. She starts having fun with MsChif, choking her openly and gleefully counting along with a powerless official as he tries to reprimand her. Very few women have been able to dominate MsChif in this manner, and the champ shows her resilience by taking all of that then flooring the challenger with a single knee strike to the jaw. Three Amigos into a GERMAN SUPLEX puts the Latina Sensation in charge again though. She takes the fight to the outside and whips Chif into the guardrails with a clanging sound which echoes throughout the entire building. SNAPMARE INTO THE RAILS by MsChif! Mercedes returns fire by hot-shotting Ms chest-first into the same segment of guardrail. LARIAT ON THE FLOOR! Dave Prazak points out on commentary that MsChif’s chest has been torn apart by Mercedes’ relentless chopping too. Chif is getting desperate – but gets some respite by heaving her opponent shoulder-first into the steps, knowing that she is impacting her major weakness. How much impact did it have? So little that Martinez is able to counter the Desecrator into a ONE-ARMED SPINEBUSTER! Panic Attack by MsChif as one perhaps starts to wonder if Martinez is starting to exhaust herself. Desecrator countered into another spinebuster! Bull Run blocked into a DDT to leave both women down. When they do come back up they lay into each other with some crazily fierce strikes! MsChif chases Martinez up the turnbuckles and hits an AVALANCHE GHANA-REA for 2! BUCKLE BOMB by Martinez! Bull Run COUNTERED TO THE DESECRATOR! MsChif retains in a seriously hard-fought 17:03
Rating - **** - I questioned whether a borderline comedy match with Jetta was setting the right tone for MsChif’s title reign during my V19 review. THIS was the match MsChif needed to get the ball rolling for her as she looks to follow up the impeccable example set by Del Rey as the top dog in the SHIMMER yard. In many ways this had everything which we know and love about both women. Martinez was aggressive, rugged, powerful and determined…and the way she swarmed and completely dominated Chif from the opening bell made a welcome change of pace from MsChif’s usual routine (which involves a few minutes of screams and token ‘I’m flexible’ spots). MsChif, meanwhile, showed all of her resilience and guile – clinging on and battling to survive for the first fifteen minutes then coming into her own as Mercedes started to tire herself out. The courage and ferocity both competitors showed should not be under-estimated either. They were taking some SERIOUS bumps on the outside, and poor MsChif was essentially bleeding from the chest as a result of Martinez’s horrific chops. Dave Prazak deserves a lot of credit for the booking here as well. He clearly didn’t have plans to put the belt on Mercedes at this point – but by booking her strong for the last few Volumes (even longer if you count her pre-injury stuff) he has made her an immensely credible contender and a major scalp to solidify MsChif’s championship reign (without having to make his ‘ace’ Sara Del Rey job again or negotiate some kind of BS ending by putting Kong in there with her).
Tape Rating - *** - I won’t say that this one had quite the energy and youthful exuberance of Volume 19, and perhaps it was a return to the typical SHIMMER format of a rather uneven undercard. But what this one did feature was three extremely good main event matches - including a real candidate for SHIMMER MOTY. Del Rey/Deeb, MsChif/Martinez and Melissa/LuFisto were all really strong…with the Melissa vs LuFisto match going down in my estimation as one of the very best matches in SHIMMER history and something you absolutely must seek out. That isn’t to say the undercard lacks any quality either – with the Canadian NINJAs tag match being an obvious highlight. A fun encounter between Ariel and Nikki Roxx and another entertaining Kong squash round out what was another really solid show.
Top 3 Matches
3) Sara Del Rey vs Serena Deeb (****)
2) MsChif vs Mercedes Martinez (****)
1) Cheerleader Melissa vs LuFisto (****1/2)