| SHIMMER: Women Athletes DVD Volume Fourteen SHimmerWrestling.com $14.95 Reviewed by Joe Babinsack Dateline: Inverness, FL It was SHIMMER’s debut in Florida, at the Citrus County Auditorium, in a weekend of top notch indy professional wrestling. While the crowds were already familiar with the local Full Impact Pro roster, and the ROH greats, and several of SHIMMER’s big names had passed through the area, this was an entirely different event. No other promotion in the world these days sports the caliber and depth of a roster that is seen in SHIMMER. And they put on an excellent display of their talent, and the promotions’ top notch booking and all-around professionalism. There wasn’t a match to leave the room for, nor a matchup that lacked some story or dynamic or pure wrestling enjoyment. It makes you jealous of Referee Bryce Remsburg’s role, directing traffic in the midst of some top-notch action and positioned close enough feel the heat of the physicality of the ladies. Not to mention being close enough to see the women work the craft, oblivious to the opinions of top brass in bigger companies, who settle for plastic bodies and Playboy faces, instead of talent and effort and ring psychology. Opening the card is a classic, a throw back to the days of heels to boo and faces to root for. Imagine sitting in the first row, dodging the barbs and the smack-talk of Amber O’Neal, and appreciating her approach to the craft. It takes much to make sure the crowd understands her role, despite her blonde locks and toned body. It takes and understanding of the sport and an approach to wrestling that isn’t often seen today…. And people wonder where the indifference comes from? But the warm up match isn’t one to overlook: Portuguese Princess Ariel is a mouthful of a name, but she has the appeal of the opening card babyface, and she doesn’t disappoint. If you expected the second match on the card to be a filler, you’re watching the wrong promotion. Where else but SHIMMER would world class athletes like Allison Danger and Cindy Rogers put on a wrestling clinic? Where else but SHIMMER, even with a faded white canvas and a sunny Florida locale, would you see a “Two out of Three Falls” match as the only gimmick of the night? Where else but SHIMMER? That’s the only place to find women’s wrestling based on the talent displayed in the ring, not the various, extraneous and boring nature of what others expect of their talent. Rogers and Danger are in the midst of a feud. Once upon a time, feuds were the staple of the sport, and the driving force behind getting involved in the cheering and the razzing of the participants. But feuds are the building blocks of the long term interest of the sport. What if this wrestler fought that wrestler? What if they traded wins? What if there’s an underlying issue of respect? What if the feud continues, just because the two wrestlers work well together, create an interesting dynamic, and make you want to see them become better, if not bitter, rivals? Cindy Rogers bills herself as the “Definition of Technician” and Allison Danger has long been my favorite gal to love to hate. But both are tough veterans, and they build off of what they know, what they can do, and what story they want to tell in the ring. I’m watching and enjoying it. Daffney is a newcomer to SHIMMER, but likely a known, if not faded, name from WCW’s dying embers. Not that SHIMMER needs another one-name wonder, or another scream-queen, but why not put her in with someone who enjoys beating people up, like OMEGA vet Lexie Fife? You may be surprised by how it turns out. If watching women wrestle is the first intent of enjoying SHIMMER, there’s always a lot of that to satisfy your interests. One match which is certainly one for your viewing pleasure is Serena Deeb versus Malia Hosaka. Why Deeb has been trapped in OVW for so long is beyond me, because she has what it takes, and wears it to prove it. Hosaka is just a pure joy to watch, because she’s impressively talented and knows how to work a match. Old school veteran versus youth is another staple of professional wrestling that has soured over the years. These two really know how to turn it on, though. The great thing about SHIMMER, and the ROH family of promotions, is the way they change up the matches, the styles and the looks. This isn’t cable TV crap where one match follows the next, where patterns repeat, where gimmicks get overused fast, and where finishers look the same, with just some different names. (What is the downward spiral called today?) Rain vs. Cheerleader Melissa may be more in the middle of the card, but these are two of the toughest broads on the roster not named KONG. Strangely enough, they’ve seen their time in TNA, without the opportunity their talents deserve. Rain often comes across as the powerful but less talented half of the Minnesota Home Wrecking Crew. But she’s a lot better than that. And the match with Melissa proves it. I completely enjoy watching Melissa in action, even though I remain in the minority. She builds matches around her finisher, and works with her opponent like few other wrestlers in the sport. This match is just a great example of working with the crowd and working to expectations, as well as playing it more physical than you may expect, if you’re exposure to women’s wrestling is pillow fights and ‘fall down and get hurt’ levels of intensity. Maybe it’s just that I’m so bored with watching overly muscled guys throw weak punches and weaker clotheslines, but it’s an eye-opener to watch two gals go at it, using all their talent and skill, making the match look far too real and far less fake than can be imagined. Third from the top is MsChif against Daizee Haze. Now, to the casual fan, you may consider this just another wrestling match. And while I consider Ricky Steamboat against Randy Savage to be overblown (there are only so many two-counts that I appreciate before it gets old,) you may take note when I say that this match is the equivalent of that WrestleMania III mat classic. Sara Del Rey may be considered the ‘best in the world’ wrestler, but I’ll take the Haze any day as my Most Valuable Player. Daizee Haze is the clichéd ‘pound for pound’ best in the business, but she’s just got it all: intensity, talent, psychology and look. Haze looks like the girl next door, but I don’t most of those types can do a plancha and stand up and deliver a heart punch, a yakuza kick and a pinfall in series, afterwards. And then there’s MsChif, who rumor has it will win the prestigious SHIMMER Women’s Championship on a future volume. This match is slightly less physical than the previous, but on a higher level in psychology and pacing. When these two start trading moves -- stealing each others finishers -- you know they’ve taken the game to a higher level. And I loved the commentary by Prazak and Danger, with Prazak (the best in the business today) letting the audience know that these ladies have fought all over the Midwest. Danger pipes in about them finally realizing what their finishers feel like, and I’m giddy with how the whole package is put together. Third from the top, indeed. Let’s see TNA or the WWE put on three matches of one-tenth the quality of this one! Now we have an interesting rematch, from Volume 5. (That’s nine DVD’s previous to this one.) This one pit’s the Amazing Kong against up-and-comer Nikki Roxx. Nikki’s sporting some nicely colored darker hair. Kong looks like she’s imbued herself with the spirit of Aja Kong of Japanese infamy. This is one of those matches that is special despite the finish, and in spite of the reality of what has to happen. It’s all about the worked reality that getting the match done in a proper fashion is what entertains. Not the damn music and entrance, not the stupid and fluffy gimmicks, and not the reality of being photographed naked on a glossy magazine centerfold. No, I’m looking at women wrestling and seeing them show their talent in the ring and tell a story. Sometimes the story has a happy ending. Sometimes the story is a chapter in the ongoing, episodic nature of the entertainment form. But more than sometimes, the viewer wants to see how the action plays out, and see how the monster beats someone up, and see how the energetic and pretty face can do against overwhelming odds. But that’s too much for most bookers these days to even begin to comprehend. So I’ll remain thankful that a few places still feature that sort of old-fashioned mentality, with SHIMMER being the best example. The SHIMMER Women’s Title match is the main event, as it should be. And Volume Fifteen will feature the winner of the previous match against the champion, as good booking demands. Lacey is only trumped by Daizee Haze as one of the most well-rounded athletes on the roster. Not the most powerful, not the most creative and perhaps not the most talented, but she’s just got each of the categories in levels that defy her often soft appearance. As in, she looks too good to be that good. My only complaint about Lacey is that she’s still this one-named character, who, despite long histories and long and involved storylines and participation with some of the best and brightest in ROH, she’s not given the due she deserves. On the other hand, Sara Del Rey is the best in the world. She’s likely to have a problem getting into the WWE or TNA, but you can tell just by looking at her that she could break most women in half. Sometimes the “Royal Butterfly” doesn’t look so good, but wow, there’s a strength displayed and a scientific worked reality of it all that makes you sure of why she’s the champion. And these two fought in the final of the tournament for the title belt, and this is the much anticipated rematch. Storylines and dynamics…. Wow, I’m going long and while it’s well deserved, let’s just wrap up the review by saying that SHIMMER is as good as it gets, and the main event -- logical, storywise and truly a battle, show’s that they’ve got the talent from top to bottom and a passion for the sport that I wish more promotions would display. Volume Fourteen merely shows that if you’ve not heard of SHIMMER, you can start buying SHIMMER’s DVDs now, and watch them once per month, and by the beginning of 2009, you’ll have your faith in professional wrestling restored. That, I can promise. Joe Babinsack can be reached at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
. I pondered the banal column about indifference, but will wait to read all the comments directly. I figured this would be the best response until then…. |
Send us a news tip: newstips@wrestlingobserver.com
Note to webmasters/reporters: When recapping news from this site or from our newsletters, please include a link to www.wrestlingobserver.com
For the most in-depth and detailed news and analysis on pro-wrestling and MMA, always turn to Wrestlingobserver.com/Figure Four Weekly Online, the #1 website of its kind on the Internet. Members receive online access to both the Wrestling Observer and Figure Four Weekly newsletters and growing archives, Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer three times per week, the popular Bryan and Vinny Show twice per week, additional radio shows including Figure Four Daily with Alvarez, Mike Coughlin's Five Star Radio, the Dr. Keith Lipinski Show, The Adam and Mike Big Audio Nightmare, Tough Talk and the Karl Stern Wrestling History Show, the infamous BOARD, and more! Members also have full access to the thousands of hours of audio in our radio show archives which date back to 2005. For your convenience, we offer secure online payments using your VISA, Mastercard, American Express, Discover card or PayPal account. Don't miss out on the fun, sign up now! Don\'t miss out on the fun, sign up now!
Want full access? QUICK AND EASY $10.99 SIGNUP!
