Becky Lynch celebrates 20th anniversary of ‘special’ indie promotion Shimmer
On Thursday, WWE star Becky Lynch took a moment to acknowledge the anniversary of an all-women’s indie promotion that gave her a chance early in her career.
Shimmer Women Athletics staged its first show in Berwyn, Illinois on this day in 2005. The promotion had its last event in 2021 but is well-remembered for how it gave women’s wrestlers a platform during the pre-evolution time period when those opportunities were hard to come by elsewhere.
“Happy 20th anniversary Shimmer,” Lynch posted on Instagram. “A very special company and a special time in my life. They gave this punk teenage gal a chance and a platform and I’ll always be grateful.”
As Rebecca Knox, Lynch made multiple Shimmer appearances in 2006 and later returned as a manager. Her career included a several-year hiatus before she returned to full-time competition in 2013, eventually becoming one of the top names in the entire industry. She is the current WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion.
Dave Prazak, the founder of Shimmer, also made a post today marking the promotion’s anniversary:
- It’s wild to think that today marks twenty years since we first gathered in Berwyn, Illinois to present our vision of an ideal women’s professional wrestling product.
- For the sixteen years that we promoted live events, the goals were always the same. To provide the talented women in this industry with a place to call their own, from experienced wrestlers to newcomers who had a desire to learn from those who came before them. For the young talent to have a place to develop as performers, so they could then use that knowledge and experience to build a career. And of course, to give pro wrestling fans a unique promotion to support and enjoy.
- It wasn’t perfect. The shows should have been shorter for the live audience. The rosters should have been smaller to put more focus on the most promising individual talents. Had we not overspent, perhaps it would’ve lasted longer than it did. We should’ve tried to do more storylines, despite the unusual taping schedule. Immediate release of the video footage should have been the priority, rather than taking too much time trying to get things right in the editing room. In hindsight, there’s a million things I would have done differently, but you live and you learn.
- We didn’t make any money as a wrestling promotion. In that respect, the promotion was a failure. But we did succeed in providing a stage for those who desperately needed one at the time, during an era before streaming, when the talent had fewer avenues to get themselves noticed. That such a large percentage of the wrestlers who competed in the SHIMMER ring were able to eventually move on in their careers and be featured on global television is truly rewarding.
- I take pride in comparing SHIMMER to the old Memphis territory. It seems like everyone in wrestling passed through there at some point in their career. Young wrestlers went there to learn. Vets stayed there to keep going. Nobody made any real money there, but it served its purpose. It was a place for the wrestlers to perform, and live entertainment for the fans in the seats every night.
- Only the locker room on October 31, 2021 knew that it was the last show. Though it would have been nice to give the fans a public farewell, please keep in mind that this is pro wrestling we’re talking about. History has proven that folks retire dozens of times and keep coming back. The same can sometimes be said for wrestling promotions, and I never wanted to be the guy trying to sell sympathy tickets for a ‘final show.’ So, our team just went out there that day, and did the same thing we always did, just one last time.
- I’ve said it before, but this twenty year anniversary is a good time to reiterate it. Thank you to all of the wrestlers and staff who gave their blood, sweat, and tears to SHIMMER during the years we were around. Every piece of the puzzle was essential to the creation of such wonderful memories when we came together.
- Shimmer, sparkle… while you can.
Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.
In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.