McXal's Reviews

It's the second show from day one of SHIMMER's Spring 2012 tapings, and once again they have put together a strong card, featuring a veritable all-star cast of female wrestling talent. Stand-out undercard bouts include Leon and Ray teaming up for the first time to face the young duo of Mia Yim and Davina Rose, former SHIMMER Champion MsChif returning from injury to meet Jessie McKay (who herself is in the hunt for a title shot), Mercedes Martinez in an international dream match against Kana and Nicole Matthews trying to rebound from her V45 SHIMMER Title loss in a clash against ambitious rising star Athena. All that is before a double header of title match main events; firstly with Hamada and Kurihara defending the Tag Titles against Hailey Hatred and Kalamity, then the biggest match of Portia Perez's SHIMMER career as she challenges Cheerleader Melissa for the SHIMMER Championship. We head to Berwyn, IL to join Dave Prazak and the aforementioned Portia Perez on commentary.

Portia Perez opens the show with a bitter run-down of her accomplishments in SHIMMER, and bemoans the fact that she has never received a SHIMMER Title shot. Just like with Nicole Matthews at V45, she is interrupted by Saraya Knight with some 'business' to discuss regarding Cheerleader Melissa. Saraya says she will offer Portia 'double' what she paid Nicole, as they walk away mysteriously.

Technically both women enter this match with some momentum. Rush is opening the show for the second consecutive Volume, having defeated Rhia O'Reilly in the first match of V45. Stephie makes her first appearance of the taping (with manager Mademoiselle Rachelle in tow), and when we last saw her it was getting her first ever (televised) SHIMMER victory; teaming with Nevaeh against Ashley Lane and Mia Yim at Volume 44. 

Rush's smiling face and crowd-pleasing antics seem to get under Stephie's skin, meaning it's Courtney who starts strongly and dominates the opening couple of minutes. It's only when Mademoiselle Rachelle trips Rush from the floor that Stephie finds a way into the match - delivering a hard clothesline on the wooden floor of the Eagles Club. After Rachelle chokes Courtney on the floor too, Sassy Stephie is now in total control. Her and her manager take turns choking Rush in the ropes, then Sassy hits a version of the Sling Blade for 2. Rush hits her own Sling Blade in response but fails to follow up before Stephie starts throttling her against the bottom turnbuckle. Last Chancery applied...but Rush escapes with a northern lights suplex. More interference from Rachelle, although it is largely ignored by Courtney who delivers a sidewalk slam. Rachelle tries to hang her in the ropes...only for Rush to hit a guillotine over the top, then the Skyward Suplex on Stephie for the win at 08:07

Rating - * - This had a solid heel/face dynamic, but much of the wrestling wasn't to my taste. The constant Rachelle interference became incredibly tedious, and I didn't feel that Stephie's time on offence was interesting enough to avoid being totally overshadowed by how irksome her manager was. Rush is incredibly likeable and the live audience were happy enough seeing her overcome two villainous adversaries - but to a DVD audience this really was quite a mediocre start to the show.

We know that Saraya has entered these tapings more angry and dangerous than ever before. She seemingly has a score to settle with champion Cheerleader Melissa, hates the SHIMMER audience and is hell-bent on savaging all in her path. At V45 she tapped Davina Rose out to the Knightmare and will have designs on doing the same thing to young Veda. At this point ROH/SHIMMER training school graduate Veda was less than a year into her career and competing at just her second set of SHIMMER tapings.

The fans audibly gasp in horror when Knight's music hits and they realise poor Veda has to face her. Tonight Saraya's entrance includes her punching out a security guard who tries to stop her antagonising people in the front row. Scott backs into the corner looking terrified, only to be dragged out and thrown around by her hair. A huge slap follows, then a stunner over the ropes. Veda hits a plucky diving clothesline out of the corner...so Knight aggressively strangles her in the ropes. Scott blocks a Samoan drop provoking more fury from Sweet Saraya. She snaps Veda's knee then tries to tap her out to an STF - albeit too close to the ropes. The crowd loudly chant for Veda, even as Knight repeatedly kicks her leg and delivers a dragon screw. Knightmare applied - and Veda taps at 06:38. But Saraya refuses to release the hold in victory...so referee Andy Long strips her of the victory and awards the match to Veda by DQ.

Rating - ** - A couple of minutes could have been removed from the run-time on this and it would have been equally effective, but this was very decent. Veda took a vicious ass-kicking and was really believable in the way she sold everything, whilst Saraya ran through her usual dangerous and aggressive act. The finish (Veda winning by DQ) was a little cartoonish for my liking but was an undeniably popular decision inside the building.

Unsurprisingly Saraya is irate; attacking more ringside personnel and going into the crowd to look for a fight until she is restrained and dragged to the locker room...

The NY Knockout, under various names, has been active on the American independent scene for some time but makes her SHIMMER debut tonight. Although hailing from New York she appears to have been largely West Coast based, and has a Cagematch profile stretching back to 2003 giving her a wealth of experience to fall back on as she looks to overcome a SHIMMER mainstay in LuFisto.

The NYKO quickly launches into a rowdy heel act, riling up the crowd albeit in a somewhat generic manner. She talks a LOT, and yells at Lu to avoid hitting her in the face (since that is her 'meal ticket'). She is also significantly taller than LuFisto which she tries to use to her advantage. Fisto tries a shoulder tackle - and is berated by NY again for potentially damaging her self-proclaimed surgically-enhanced breasts. LuFisto responds with a barrage of crossface strikes across the face and chest with a knowing smile on her face. The Knockout steals Pegaboo (LuFisto's doll manager), distracting her foe for just long enough to get the jump on her and stomp her to the mat. NYKO targets the midsection of the Canadienne, only for LuFisto to start bouncing her 'meal ticket' off the turnbuckles. Cannonball senton nailed, right into a facewash for good measure. Back fist nailed, setting up the Mangalizer giving Lu the win at 07:56

Rating - * - I'd have gone higher on my rating if this had been a little shorter as there was something watchable in how these two very different gimmicks meshed as opponents. Unfortunately that wasn't enough to sustain and fill a full 8-minute wrestling match - meaning some of the content we got here was a little uninspired (and at times a little awkward too). 

As a quick reminder to anyone who skipped my review of Volume 45, this is Sara's final SHIMMER taping (although it wasn't known or acknowledged as such at this point) and she is fully embedded into her 'Queen Of Wrestling' persona at this point. She still remains the undisputed ace of SHIMMER and the measuring stick all of the roster look to test themselves against. Tonight it's the turn of Leva Bates, who will no doubt have sought advice from her tag partner Allison Danger (who herself has a lengthy history with Sara).

Del Rey wipes out Bates with a mafia kick whilst she has fun with this evening's Hawkeye cos-play gimmick, but is actually surprised when the tenacious Leva busts out some lucha-influenced offence to immediately fight back. ROLLING ELBOW by Death Rey! She follows that with an emphatic spinning backbreaker that quite literally leaves Bates screaming in pain. Sara actually looks annoyed at the fans cheering Leva on and encouraging her to continue fighting - as it means she has to continue to inflict punishment on Leva's back. Out of nowhere Leva counters a suplex into a DDT, and she soon ducks Sara's capo kick attempt to rattle off a flurry of kicks to the former SHIMMER Champion's head! Unfortunately Del Rey shuts her down again with a BRUTAL roundhouse kick into a press slam off the second rope. Royal Butterfly nailed, giving Sara the win at 06:19

Rating - *** - The first 45-minutes of this show have been fairly forgettable, but predictably enough Sara Del Rey arrives and instantly lifts the standard. This was a fairly standard squash format, so what made it likeable was the sheer quality of the work coming out of both performers. Sara was meticulously brilliant in her portrayal of a dominant, veteran ace - yet always gave Leva just enough to keep things interesting. And Bates too was tremendous. She works a playful gimmick that could veer too far into the realm of comedy if performed incorrectly, but she is incredibly clever with it and projects so much charm (coupled with some really terrific and unique selling) that draw the fans into her performance. 

Sara Del Rey thinks about leaving, but instead goes after the beaten Leva Bates again; trying to snap her arm with a cross armbreaker. Allison Danger runs out to make a save, which is significant because she has been a tag partner and ally for Sara in the past. She berates Sara for her bad attitude (and for walking out on their team) - then challenges her to a tag match. Danger doesn't think Sara has any friends in the locker room, but Del Rey accepts the challenge anyway before leaving...

This is a huge opportunity for rising stars Rose and Yim to impress, as they are the first duo to face Leon and Ray in SHIMMER tag team competition. The masked Joshi stars made their debut in singles bouts at V45, and now bring their team to the US (in the midst of JWP's 2012 tag league tournament in which they were competing). Leon lost her debut match so will be desperate to secure her first SHIMMER victory.

Mia immediately draws Ray into a test of strength as she recognises she isn't going to out-run her. She successfully captures Ray on the canvas and tries to work her legs only to find her a wily and capable foe on the mat. Leon tags in with Rose, and is quickly surprised by Davina's ability to keep up with her! Rose has less experience though and leaves herself open to some thudding kicks into her ribs, leaving her prone to a flurry of double teams from the masked team. They open up an injury on her back and midsection and keep her well away from the increasingly-anxious Yim. Somehow Davina survives a violent strike exchange with Ray though and scurries away for a critical tag to Mia. Once again she grounds Ray and almost taps her out with an anklelock...before launching into a few of her signature kicks and knee strikes. Leon has to help her partner out, hanging Yim in the ropes so Ray can land a tiger feint kick for 2. Mia recovers and drags Leon to the ground in a front choke...whilst Rose intercepts Ray with another leg submission! Brainbuster attempted by Mia but countered to a snap DDT by Leon. Mafia Kick...no sold...SPEAR by Leon! But Mia shakes that off to deliver a roundhouse kick! Leon drops Rose with a backbreaker, and the tables turn as Leon & Ray work duelling submission holds on their opponents. MISSILE DROPKICK into Davina's ribs for 2! SPEAR nailed, but again the defiant Rose kicks out! MAD SPLASH! This time Yim breaks the pin...so Ray absolutely dumps her with a German suplex! MOONSAULT/SENTON BOMB COMBO! Leon pins Rose to win at 13:37

Rating - *** - Clearly the standout match from the first third of the show by a considerable distance. They were given plenty of time and kept the audience genuinely interested throughout with a well-executed and incredibly believable back and forth bout. Everything they did made sense here, from the opening minutes where we saw Mia trying to ground her opponents, through Leon & Ray trying to injure Davina's midsection to set up for her finishing moves, even to the way they methodically set-up near-falls and false-finishes to ensure there was always someone blocking, running interference or just failing to intercept an opponent. It didn't really get overtly exciting until the closing stretch, but the quality and detail of the work on display here was admirable - particularly when you consider where Mia and Davina were at this point in their careers.

In the locker room Sara Del Rey approaches Cheerleader Melissa tries to recruit her to team up against Regeneration-X, but Melissa points out that she is busy being the champion. Courtney Rush interrupts and points out that she has 'literally nothing to do' so volunteers to team with Sara (and continue her quest to bring out the 'old', Final Countdown version of Del Rey). 

The Rate Tank wants people to take her more seriously, and feels that after touring Japan she is now more dangerous than ever. She pushed Ray to the limits at V45, but ultimately fell to defeat so will not want to find herself on the losing end for two consecutive shows. Her opponent is another talent out of Canada making her main show debut tonight, having worked Sparkle dark matches at the October 2011 tapings...

Spinelli is full of energy and starts strongly with a flurry of takedowns on the Australian. Kellie stalls for time on the floor before somewhat inevitably sneak-attacking her opponent and bouncing her face off the ring apron. She tries to choke KC out with a sleeper and just starts battering her neck with forearms when she refuses to submit. She uses the hair to jerk Spinelli's neck into the canvas again moments later as the Rate Tank continues to dominate. Armbreaker applied next; picking apart KC's body in pursuit of victory. KC rolls into the corner and grabs a drink of Skater's 'supplements', and that seems to fire her up as she finally gets in a few shots at Kellie. Double underhook facebuster gets 2, but Skater quickly recovers and lands an implant DDT. Skate & Destroy gives Kellie the win at 07:52

Rating - ** - Another match which probably went a little longer than it needed to. Clearly that was with the best of intentions; allowing Skater more time to show off her skills as she seeks credibility and giving the debutant Spinelli plenty of time to shine as well. The problem was that they established the basic premise of the contest fairly quickly; namely that Spinelli was a fiery newcomer determined to make her mark, blocked by Skater's combination of skill and morally questionable tactics. But that wasn't enough to maintain my interest, and the 'Roo Roids' supplement gimmick is in danger of getting seriously diminished if they keep working it into every single match Kellie has. Still a positive win for the Rate Tank and a solid debut for KC (who we'll see plenty more of in future Volumes).

Sara Del Rey is still on the look-out for a tag partner and now approaches Nicole Matthews. Nicole reminds her that she's already in a team (the Canadian NINJAs, whom Sara claims never to have heard of). Once again Courtney Rush arrives and points out she is Canadian - and can work on being a ninja - so would make an excellent partner!

At Volume 45 McKay reminded us how close she came to defeating Madison Eagles last time she got the chance to challenge for the SHIMMER Championship, and stated her desire for another shot. She bested Mia Yim on that show and needs more victories if she is to earn a title match...so she has requested this match against a former SHIMMER Champion to show that she is worthy of challenging again. MsChif is returning after missing the last tapings due to an unfortunate shoulder injury (and has new Clockwork Orange inspired gear which is pretty cool).

MsChif reminds Jessie that she wants to be a two-time champ and won't be a stepping stone for her tonight, and of course also screams furiously at both her opponent and referee Bryce Remsburg. McKay tries to scream back, which sucks so bad MsChif stops the match to give her screaming lessons. Last Chancery on the former champ, who's notorious flexibility mean she is able to work free with ease. Seven Minutes In Heaven applied next, but again Chif easily escapes and counters to her own version of the Octopus Stretch. Gateway To Annihilation gets 2...not McKay survives that and absolutely DUMPS her with a northern lights bomb in response. Baldo Bomb by MsChif! SCHOOL GIRL CRUSH FLURRY! MsChif kicks out as these two women just absolutely bomb on each other. They counter each other's finishers at insane pace until Jessie grabs MsChif for a small package...and wins at 06:56!

Rating - *** - What a fun and inventive match this was. Both of these two are capable of great matches, but do have the occasional bad performance in them so I was curious to see what direction they took with this match...but really wasn't expecting the highly entertaining all-out sprint that we got. The comedy at the beginning of the match was genuinely funny, allowing MsChif to show a lighter side to her character which I think will really serve her well if she is to have some longevity on this rapidly-improving roster outside of the title picture. And the way they flipped the switch and instantly started beating the sh*t out of each other was highly enjoyable too. McKay survived or countered some of the former champion's best shots, and found a way to beat her; proving that she is now ready for another title shot.

Senior Referee Bryce Remsburg, who in recent Volumes has emerged as something of a de facto on-screen authority figure, confirms that McKay will face the winner of the Melissa/Perez main event for the belt...

This match brings together two of the top young stars on the roster in one of the stand-out matches on the card. Matthews made it all the way to the main event on V45 but failed to dethrone Melissa, and now looks to rebound strong with a win over the hugely impressive Athena. But the 'Wrestling Goddess' enters this with serious momentum having definitively beaten SHIMMER original Mercedes Martinez on the last show.

They go straight to the canvas; Matthews looking to ground her athletic opponent whilst Athena looks to demonstrate her credentials as a Wrestling Goddess. Between their skill and their personality they have the building rocking as they jostle for superiority in the opening minutes. Athena tries to build up some speed only for Matthews to put a dropkick into her midsection...so she retorts with the handspring SLAP TO THE FACE! Springboard crossbody follows and forces Nicole out of the ring to regroup. From there she grabs Athena's leg and starts smashing it into the apron and ring-post (with Prazak and Portia on commentary pointing out that Athena recently missed ring-time due to leg/foot injuries). Quickly Athena finds it difficult to stand, flip or perform any of her signature athletic offensive strikes as the confident Canadian Ninja stalks her around the ring. Athena climbs onto Matthews with a sleeper, only for Nicole to shunt her into the corner and bludgeon her with a rolling elbow smash. Matthews cockily taunts her foe and uses her hair to jerk her to the canvas just when she hints at mounting a comeback. Springboard DDT by Athena - but of course it hurts her own leg leaving her down on the mat alongside her opponent. Kicks from Athena, into a running big boot for 2. Nicole quickly prevents her from getting to the top rope for the O-Face though and reels her in to hit a northern lights suplex. Vancouver Manoeuvre COUNTERED to a Sole Food! Again Nicole refuses to let Athena position herself for the O-Face though...dragging her down with a big superplex. Matthews decides she wants to try an ill-advised top rope move and EATS a springboard dropkick which sends her flying to the wooden floor. Still the O-Face is blocked...so Athena hits a METEORA instead! Slingshot attempted...COUNTERED TO A HANGING VANCOUVER MANOEUVRE! Matthews wins at 15:46

Rating - **** - In many ways these two athletes typify the seismic shift and development in the quality of the native young talent on SHIMMER shows. They are still young, but as the 'original' class of SHIMMER talent continue to fade away women like Nicole Matthews and Athena are emerging to carry the flame and elevate the company to greater heights. There were things I could critique in this match, but I don't want to detract from what was a fine, competitive, athletic and intensely enjoyable wrestling match. Nicole has quietly gotten so good, with such a command of SHIMMER's audience within the Eagles Club and this was another strong performance from her; the kind which makes the shenanigans that marred her first ever singles main event on V45 even more frustrating. I really enjoy her work as a heel working over babyfaces and this match was no exception to that. In many ways this is a landmark victory for her, reaffirming her credentials as a top-level player in SHIMMER (after failing to win the title in her prior match).

Whenever high profile Joshi wrestlers come in from Japan, one of SHIMMER fans' dream matches for them is always Mercedes. She is not one of the aforementioned original class of SHIMMER talent that is 'fading away'; remaining every bit as relevant now as she was back at Volume 1 when her classic against Sara Del Rey put SHIMMER on the map. But she finds herself in a tough spot; out of title contention, frustrated at being seen as a 'stepping stone' for the younger talent in the locker room and reeling from her defeat to Athena on Volume 45. She needs to make a statement, and a win over the 'World Famous' Kana would certainly achieve that.

Kana seems to back herself as a better grappler and repeatedly tries to lock up with Martinez, trying to ensnare her in submission holds on the ground. Eventually Mercedes uses her raw power to toss Kana aside - dumping her with a German suplex. Kana is rattled by that and noticeably staggers around the ring. As a result she changes her strategy and tries to kick lumps out of the Latina Sensation...only for Martinez to absolutely slaughter her with elbows and chops! Running dropkick followed by a BUZZSAW KICK TO THE HEAD by Kana! Martinez collapses to the arena floor after that and looks out on her feet, and yet somehow rallies from nowhere to dump the World Famous Joshi star into the guardrails. Her relentless powerful chops and forearm strikes have Kana's eyes rolling around in her head...and she almost polishes her off seconds later with a Yakuza Kick in the corner. The SHIMMER original smiles broadly as she starts to illegally choke the visiting foreign star, showing some of the bad attitude and aggression which overcame her during her mini-rivalry with Athena. Bull Run blocked with more kicks from Kana...so Martinez starts getting her arms up to block them and plants Kana right on her neck with another German suplex. COUNTERED into a Kimura by Kana, with Portia and Prazak on commentary immediately pointing out that Martinez has had multiple shoulder injuries throughout her career. Martinez makes the ropes and counters an attempt at the Kana Lock into a gutbuster. BACK FIST! HEEL KICK! Martinez drops - but isn't out. She COUNTERS another brutal kick into a vicious spinebuster for 2. Still Kana blocks the Bull Run; this time by grabbing the injured arm again and dropping into a Fujiwara Armbar. Cross Armbreaker next when Mercedes fights the armbar! KANA LOCK! COUNTERED TO THE BULL RUN! Mercedes wins at 11:23

Rating - **** - Mercedes has now delivered the two best matches of the entire taping thus far. This was fantastic, providing everything I wanted...at a relentless pace, packed into a succinct eleven minute run-time. After putting Athena over, this was a statement win for Martinez to ensure she remains relevant at the very top tier of SHIMMER competition. The entire structure of this match was centered around Martinez overcoming everything the 'World Famous' Kana had to offer. Kana thought she could out-wrestle Mercedes early, only for the SHIMMER OG's power to make that approach redundant. Kana tried striking...but found herself on the receiving end of a savage barrage of elbows, forearms and chops. Even when it seemed like Kana was setting herself up for victory; working an old arm injury and seemingly destined to apply the Kana Lock, Martinez again showed her dominance as she swept the international star aside and scored an emphatic victory. The match provided non-stop back and forth drama and presented both women as incredibly fearsome athletes

Sara Del Rey goes into the parking lot looking for partners...and finds Lacey! Making a fun cameo, Lacey declines the opportunity to wrestle and walks off. Of course, Courtney Rush saw the whole thing and still REALLY wants to be Sara's partner. She offers Sara some gum...and misconstrues her acceptance (of gum) as the approval to form a team (to Death Rey's continued annoyance).

Hailey and Kalamity have quickly formed an imposing duo in SHIMMER, defeating Kana and LuFisto on V45 to effectively earn this championship opportunity. Hamada and Kurihara are fighting champions and have a packed schedule of defences at this taping. Is their blend of speed and experience enough to overcome the brutality and power that will be coming their way from the challengers?

It stretches the credibility of Dave and Portia's commentary as 'live' when she remains in the booth for this, given her title match is up next. Hailey emphatically shoves Ayumi to the mat in the first minute as an immediate demonstration of her power advantage. She maintains a slow pace and dominates Kurihara in the opening exchanges, with only Hamada's arrival on the scene breaking up Hatred's impressive start. Kalamity makes an equally impressive statement by out-striking Hamada; being joined by Hailey to continue beating down the veteran. FLYING CROSSBODY by Kurihara, using her own partner as a weapon to finally topple the powerhouse challengers. Even then Hatred and Kalamity turn the tables to start cranking on the champions with tandem abdominal stretches. HEADBUTT ON HAMADA by Hailey! And somehow Hamada fires back with one of her own. Hatred shows her toughness as she repeatedly stays on her feet despite Ayako blasting her with strikes. Kurihara tries to help her partner out...so Hatred suplexes both of them! TIGER SUPLEX gets 2! But Hailey misses a diving leg drop off the top and EATS a running knee from Hamada. BRUTAL DROPKICK by Ayumi! ENZI/GERMAN SUPLEX COMBO! BASEMENT DROPKICK IN THE ROPES! Hamada brawls with Kalamity as Kurihara levels Hatred with her insane missile dropkick variant for 2. Urinage blocked....Ligerbomb blocked...LARIATOOOO by Hailey! Ayumi bumps on her neck for that and is shown no mercy as Hatred hits the LIGERBOMB FOR 2! Hamada had to break the pin there. Kalamity stays on Kurihara with a swinging neckbreaker and a spinebuster. Spinning heel kick by Hamada to save her partner! It all gets a bit scrappy as all four women brawl...ending with a HEEL KICK/URINAGE COMBO on Kalamity! Kurihara pins her to retain at 12:11

Rating - **** - A generous rating possibly, because the closing stretch was certainly messy and chaotic...but for sheer violence this was one of the most enjoyable matches on the card. A lot of credit has to go to Hamada and Kurihara, who really went out of their way to bump their asses off and sell for their opponents; particularly Hatred who looked like an utter monster at points here. The challengers were rampant in the first half of the bout; their power and violence too much for Kurihara in particular. But when Hailey made an error on the top rope it was Kurihara's incredible speed (and horrifying dropkicks) which opened the door for her team to retain. A limited and simplistic story for sure, but I did appreciate that they attempted to form a genuine narrative to hold the violence together here. 

It is the first time Portia has challenged for the SHIMMER Title, and she has openly called Melissa 'old'; planning to put her out of SHIMMER for good. Perversely, this title match is actually a reward for her interference in Melissa's defence against Nicole Matthews at V45. The champion is desperate to get her hands on Perez and is willing to put her belt on the line to do so. Meanwhile the spectre of Saraya Knight again hangs over this bout after another mysterious 'meeting' with the Canadian Ninja earlier in the show.

Portia attacks Melissa during her entrance; kicking her off the apron into the guardrails then blasting her in the head with the title belt! It is a vicious pre-match assault with Perez choking the champ so violently she is forced under the barricades and into the crowd! They fight wildly on the floor at the feet of the fans then off towards the bar...where Melissa picks Portia up and drops her into a rubbish bin! They fight towards the merch stand next where a bewildered Leon and Ray watch as the combatants heave chairs in each other's direction. Portia tosses Melissa to the wooden floor and stands on her head as they finally return to ringside...but seconds later Cheerleader swats her away and bounces her smaller body off the guardrails. FLATLINER into the apron, followed by a DDT ON THE FLOOR by Portia! She throws the seemingly unconscious champ into the ring meaning the match can finally start...with Melissa only just able to kick out. Just Facelock applied, and the champion is stuck in the hold for more than a minute; barely making the ropes before losing consciousness. Perez doesn't even let her up before grinding her face into the canvas though. Samoan Drop by Melissa...but she collapses in exhaustion and can't even make a cover. She does start to make her size advantage count though; landing multiple big strikes which rock the Canadian. Air Raid Crash blocked...Kudo Driver blocked too! Melissa dodges Portia's Superkick in return though and muscles her into the AIR RAID CRASH! Melissa retains at 05:14

Rating - *** - This probably isn't the direction I'd have gone with for this match, but the fact that it was getting some of the loudest crowd reactions of the entire night despite being the final bout in an incredibly long day of tapings tells you that what they did had people invested. We haven't seen this side of Melissa - the wild, uncontrollable brawler that we saw in early SHIMMER volumes - for a long time. And it is relevant that Perez was the one to bring it out of her, since Portia has been paid off by Saraya Knight to hurt Melissa...and as we now know, that animosity stems from an incident that occurred when Melissa brawled in the crowd with Knight in the UK. The opportunistic sneak attack, the toughness Portia showed in hanging with Melissa during the fight through the crowd and her cunning strategic mind almost saw the diminutive challenger complete the most unlikely of upsets. This wasn't a great match, but it was a lively, unpredictable and exciting watch - a complete change of pace for what we've seen out of SHIMMER Title main events recently. 

Before Melissa can even have her hand raised in victory, Nicole Matthews hits the ring and jumps her from behind. The Canadian NINJAs put a beating on Melissa until Jessie McKay runs out for a belated save (she has her own history with Nicole of course). Melissa walks out saying she doesn't trust anyone, and McKay stands alone knowing that she is next in line for a title shot...

Tape Rating - *** - I don't think this will stand out as a top tier SHIMMER release in all fairness. The undercard is full of energy and passion, but not of a consistently great quality if you were to be fully open and honest. Although the Del Rey/Bates and Leon/Ray vs Yim/Rose tag are lively, the real money in this card is in the top four matches...and in one way or another they all deliver. The main event certainly isn't a fantastic wrestling match but it will certainly live long in the memory as a fiery little brawl and an interesting creative direction to take a SHIMMER Title Match. I also thought the hard-hitting Tag Title bout was really likeable too. In reality Athena/Matthews and Martinez/Kana are both absolutely outstanding wrestling matches and the clear selling point of the DVD though. Martinez/Kana is probably my favourite match from the V45/V46 taping day as a whole in fact and well worth seeking out on the various streaming platforms through which you can find SHIMMER content. This probably is a show that it's best to pick the best bits from rather than watch in full...

3) Ayako Hamada/Ayumi Kurihara vs Hailey Hatred/Kalamity (****)

2) Nicole Matthews vs Athena (****)

1) Mercedes Martinez vs Kana (****)