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Shimmer Women’s Athletes returned to its home base in Berwyn, Ill., to record volumes “9 and 10” back-to-back. This venue is a small Eagle’s Club, a bar, in a suburb northwest of Chicago. The crowds for these shows are always hot, with perhaps 200 people packed into the bar. (Shimmer’s own Website, www.shimmerwrestling.com, reported they actually turned late arrivals away at the door because of space restrictions.)

Despite this being at a bar – and it being a women’s show – the crowd is by and large quite respectful of women’s wrestling. (You don’t hear the ‘show your t!ts’ comments that are so typical when I see women wrestle at free, outdoor shows I attend.)

Promoter Dave Prazak has a great mind for promoting women’s wrestling, and it really comes across in his commentary, as he is energetic and focused, and really pushes across the storylines he has created. Wrestler Allison Danger joins him on commentary. Like my above comment – Prazak & Danger treat these shows like a sport, and just an extended ‘t & a’ show. The women are wrestlers, not divas. And really, only one woman on the roster, Amber O’Neill, plays up her character as a diva.

I was able to attend volumes 3-8 live, but have not been at a Shimmer taping since, so this is my first time seeing these matches. Two noticeable absences from the roster this taping are Mercedes Martinez, who is out with an injury, and Lorelei Lee, who has definitely been one of the weakest wrestlers from prior tapings. I’m not sure if she’ll be back (and she wasn’t used at the volumes 11-13 taping.)

* NOTE: One thing I don’t like is the date of this show, April 7, 2007, is never mentioned at all during commentary. I guess I prefer having a fixed ‘date in time’ that a show took place, rather than just a ‘volume number.’ It’s a small complaint.

* The DVD opened with Sara Del Rey backstage, saying she lost to Mercedes Martinez, and she wants to get back on the winning track.

To the ring! The ring has a new-looking canvas, and the building has great lighting. (This looked much brighter than recent AAW DVDs I’ve watched from this same venue).

(1) Eden Black defeats Rain at 12:08. Good match, and a great way to start the show. I’ve seen Black just once before, on the ROH UK show this spring, and this is her Shimmer debut. She has long red hair, and she wore a Milwaukee Bucks jersey. The crowd booed Rain. Black got a quick rollup. Rain worked the left arm, and they traded standing switches. Prazak talked about all of Black’s trademark spots as the women continued to mat wrestle. Prazak also mentioned that Nattie Neidhart, who looked so good at the volume 7 & 8 taping has signed with WWE. Black applied a Triangle Choke at 4:00, and Rain reached the ropes.

Black hit a crossbody block to the floor! In the ring, Rain hit a Lungblower to the chest for a nearfall, then a running knee to the chest in the corner for a nearfall, and she yelled at the referee. Rain choked Black in the ropes, and the crowd booed her. Rain hit some chops at 7:00, and the crowd let out some loud “woos!” Black hit some chops, too. Rain hit a hairmare, then a spear in the corner. The crowd rallied for Black, who got a sunset flip for a nearfall. Rain hit a clothesline, but she couldn’t hit the Raindrop/inverted DDT.

Black hit a (Jimmy Rave) Ghana Rea/spinning back suplex for a nearfall at 10:00. They both got up and traded chops, with the crowd booing Rain’s blasts and cheering Black’s blows. Black hit a clothesline and a nice Crucifix Takedown for a believable nearfall. Rain hit a neckbreaker over her knee for a nearfall, and she SHRIEKED at the referee. Rain went for the “Acid Rain”/Electric Chair, but Black avoided it, and she applied the “Garden of Eden”/Triangle Choke, and Rain tapped out. A really good match with a surprising finish.

* Cheerleader Melissa cut a backstage promo saying she has beaten Daizee Haze, and she’s confident she can beat her opponent tonight, Sara Del Rey.

(2) Ariel defeats Alexa Thatcher at 5:54. Good, short match. This also is Alexa’s Shimmer debut, and she’s from the New Jersey area; I’ve seen her on JAPW shows before. Thatcher wore a white top and black pants. They opened by trading armholds and armdrags, and Ariel hit some stiff forearms, a clothesline, and some loud chops, then a sideslam. Thatcher fired back with a headscissors takedown at 3:30, drawing a nice pop. Allison Danger left the booth ‘to prepare for her match.’ (I think this is a nice touch, as the announcers do a good job of creating a vibe that the commentary is live.)

The women hit a double clothesline, and they were both down. They traded stiff forearm shots, and Thatcher hit a snap suplex and a bulldog for a nearfall. Ariel hit a Stunner for the pin. Thatcher was solid in her role here.

* Backstage, Eden Black was pleased with her win, and she predicted more victories would be coming. “Everyone’s gonna be tapping,” she said.

BACKSTORY: Cindy Rogers has developed some heelish tendencies at recent tapings, so Allison Danger offered to take Cindy under her wing and straighten her out.

(3) Lexie Fyfe & Malia Hosaka (the Experience) defeat Allison Danger & Cindy Rogers at 15:11. The crowd was hot. Danger wore an Asian theatre-style mask to the ring. Prazak talked about how Danger is trying to get Rogers “back on track.” The Experience are each 35 or older, but they make a great tag team. Rogers and Fyfe opened with some standing switches and armholds, and Rogers twisted the left wrist. Danger tagged in at 3:00, and she outsmarted Fyfe on some tie-ups. Prazak mentioned that Mercedes Martinez is out of action after shoulder surgery. Hosaka tagged in, and she pulled on Danger’s arms.

Hosaka kicked Rogers in the back and pulled on Cindy’s hair. Malia hit a legdrop on Rogers’ arm at 6:30, and she twisted it. Malia hit a spin kick to the face for a nearfall, and she choked her and jawed at the ref. This was solid, but a bit deliberate, of offense. Rogers hit a clothesline on Fyfe, and she made the hot tag to Danger at 9:00. Danger hit a snap suplex on Fyfe for a nearfall. Hosaka applied a Camel Clutch on Danger, and the crowd rallied for Allison. Hosaka applied a Boston Crab.

The Experience hit a double clothesline on Danger for a nearfall. Rogers had her back turned and was talking to the crowd, and she wasn’t ready for a hot tag, and Prazak even pointed this out. The heels continued to stretch Danger and work her over. Hosaka accidentally hit Fyfe, and Danger immediately hit a clothesline on Hosaka. Rogers jumped in the ring during this chaos, and Rogers hit an X-Factor faceplant on Danger! The crowd booed. The heels immediately hit a doubleteam Gordbuster faceplant, and Fyfe pinned Danger.

* An ROH commercial aired.

* Backstage, Danger was upset at Rogers, saying she tried to keep Cindy focused. Danger talked about how they’ve traveled the roads together. “I could have had that match won for us,” Danger said. Danger then challenged Rogers to a match at Volume 10.

(4) Portia Perez defeats Josie at 7:38. Portia is the girl who stands at maybe 5’2” and looks like she’s 13. Danger returned to the announcer’s booth and kept joking about Portia’s youthful looks. Josie is a black woman, and it appears she has lost a bit of weight in the past year. Prazak noted that both women are winless in Shimmer, and they need a win to keep their roster spot. Portia immediately got a rollup and she did an arrogant pose, and it appears she’s turned heel! Moments later, Josie mockingly posed as well. Danger joked about Portia being young, but Prazak insisted she is over the age of 20. They traded basic headlocks and rollups. Josie hit some armdrags, then a Japanese armdrag at 4:00.

Portia hit a cheap shot punch in the corner, and she unloaded some quick kicks. Josie hit some kicks to the gut, and she made a jackknife cover for a nearfall. Danger joked that maybe Portia needs a “timeout” or she needs to “sit in the corner.” Portia hit a Tajiri-style spin kick to the head. Josie hit a nice leg-capture overhead suplex at 6:00, and they were both down. Josie hit a pumphandle slam, but Portia reached the ropes. Portia went to the floor and got a chain from under the ring! Portia nailed a punch to Josie’s face with the chain for the tainted pin. Weakest match of the night, as Portia still has a way to go.

* Daffney (yes, the same one from WCW’s dying days) hit the ring to talk to interviewer Rebecca Bayless. Daffney praised Shimmer, which got a nice applause. She said she is here to scout talent, looking for someone to manage. Basic.

(5) Daizee Haze defeats Amber O’Neal at 8:40. Solid. Amber wore her black top and tiny pink shorts, and she came out to Madonna’s “Material Girl.” Amber got on the mic and proclaimed her “outfit is cuter.” Haze got a rollup immediately, and Amber scampered to the corner. Amber pulled Haze to the mat by her hair. Haze worked on the left arm, and she hit a shoulder tackle and a headscissors takedown, then a clothesline at 2:30. Haze nailed a loud chop! Amber snapped Haze’s neck on the top rope, and she hit some stomps and a clothesline for a nearfall, and she was in charge. The crowd rallied for Daizee.

Amber hit a Russian Legsweep for a nearfall at 5:30, and she choked Daizee. Daizee hit a chinbreaker, and they were both down. Daizee hit some forearms shots, a uranage for a nearfall, and some more chops, then a Northern Lights Suplex with a bridge for a nearfall. However, Daizee couldn’t hit the Heart Punch. Amber hit an STO uranage for a nearfall at 8:00. But, Daizee nailed the Heart Punch and a Mafia Kick to the side of the head for the pin. Solid match, and it was nice to see a main-eventer (Haze) mix it up with one of the under-card workers.

* Backstage, Rebecca Bayless tried to interview MsChif. MsChif said she doesn’t fear Amazing Kong, and she would defeat her in the ring.

(6) Nikki Roxx defeats Tiana Ringer at 10:23. Good match. The fans loudly chanted for Roxx, who has really become a fan favorite in Berwyn. Ringer struck a karate pose, and she jawed at the fans. They had an intense tie-up. Roxx hit a drop-toe-hold and a clothesline, then a nice dropkick and a flapjack for a nearfall, and Ringer bailed. Prazak noted that Roxx is undefeated since losing to Amazing Kong at Volume 5. Ringer hit some stomps, yanked on the air, and she hit a nice clothesline for a nearfall at 3:00. The crowd began to taunt Ringer with a “Smurfette” chant, as Ringer wore a blue outfit today.

Ringer hit a European Uppercut, some kicks to Roxx’s legs, and she whipped one of Nikki’s legs on the apron. Roxx was doing a GREAT job of selling pain in her legs. Roxx hit some chops. Ringer tied up both arms, and the crowd rallied for Nikki. Ringer hit a guillotine legdrop for a nearfall at 6:00, and she hit some blows to the base of Nikki’s neck. Ringer went back to the left leg, and she slammed it to the mat. The announcers joked around and played up the “Smurfette” comments. Roxx hit some running clotheslines and a swinging uranage for a nearfall at 9:00.

Ringer hit a kick, swinging her leg up over her own head, to strike Roxx! Cool! Ringer hit a Spinebuster for a nearfall. The crowd chanted, “This is Smurfy.” Ringer hit a second-rope missile dropkick for a nearfall. However, Roxx nailed a “Barbie Crusher”/sit-down inverted Bubba Bomb for the pin. Ringer really looked good, and she’s definitely improved since I first saw her life at the Volume 3 taping two years ago. Roxx got on the mic and said she was challenging the winner of the Sara Del Rey vs. Cheerleader Melissa match!

* Amazing Kong cut a backstage promo, saying she is not impressed with MsChif, even with Mschif’s success in Japan. Kong said she would show MsChif some knuckles later!

(7) Lacey defeats Serena Deeb at 15:57. Good match. Lacey jawed at the crowd, and the fans booed her. Deeb came out to Gwen Stefani’s “Crash.” Lacey hit a chop, but she stalled in the ropes, and she jawed A LOT. Serena hit chop, an armdrag, and legdrop on Lacey’s arm, and she began to work the arm. Lacey hit a kick to the gut at 4:00, and she applied a top wrist lock. Serena hit some armdrags and a monkeyflip. Lacey nailed a snake-eyes faceplant. Lacey hit some kneedrops on the left arm, and she stomped on it. Lacey hit some Field Goal Kicks at 7:00, and she choked Deeb in the ropes.

Prazak said that a title tournament was in the works for “later in 2007” (which is as close as they came to acknowledging the date of the show). Lacey hit some chops, and even a chop across the exposed belly! Lacey hit an inverted DDT with the arm trapped behind Serena’s back at 11:00. Lacey hit a backbreaker and a sitdown Bubba Bomb. Lacey applied a Full Nelson Leglock. They hit double faceplants, and both women were down at 13:30. Deeb hit some clotheslines, and she applied an abdominal stretch, and she returned that belly chop to Lacey! Deeb hit a second-rope clothesline for a nearfall, but she missed a spear in the corner. Lacey nailed an implant DDT for the clean pin. Good action.

* A clip aired of Amazing Kong brawling with Nikki Roxx at Volume 5, then Kong destroying a few women in a six-person tag at Volume 6. Good way to re-introduce Shimmer fans to Kong!

(8) Amazing Kong defeats MsChif at 12:19. Excellent, hard-hitting match. Kong was announced as “weighing in at none of your damn business.” (I’m fairly certain she was announced at 240 pounds at the Volume 5 taping, and I consider that to be about accurate). The crowd chanted, “MsChif’s gonna kill you!” They had an intense lockup, and Kong hit some chops. MsChif hit a drop-toe-hold, and she tried to apply a Boston Crab, but Kong powered out! Kong hit a guillotine legdrop for a nearfall, then she hit a chokeslam powerbomb at 2:00. Kong nailed a clothesline against the ropes that bent MsChif in half! OUCH!

On the floor, Kong whipped MsChif into the guardrail. In the ring, MsChif applied a Sleeper, but Kong reached back and pulled MsChif off her back and slammed her to the mat! Kong applied a Sleeper while swinging MsChif in circles at 5:00! MsChif hit a Tornado DDT for a nearfall. Kong missed a splash in the corner. MsChif nailed a Panic Attack/running knee in the corner. MsChif couldn’t budge the prone Kong! MsChif went for the Desecrator/faceplant DDT, but she couldn’t hit it. Kong put MsChif in the Torture Rack, and she bent MsChif in half, then she slammed MsChif to the mat, for a gigantic POP!

MsChif couldn’t do a move out of the corner, as she sold her back injury. Kong hit a missile dropkick and a frogsplash for a nearfall at 8:30, and the crowd chanted, “This is awesome!” MsChif hit a Tornado DDT, and Kong bailed. MsChif hit a top-rope crossbody block to the floor, and the crowd chanted, “holy sh!t!” In the ring, MsChif hit a standing moonsault for a nearfall. Kong fired back with a clothesline, then a butterfly faceplant for a nearfall at 11:00, and Kong screamed in frustration. Kong hit a sitdown powerbomb for a believable nearfall! “She kicked out!” Prazak shouted. They traded back-fists to the face, and Kong hit another sitdown powerbomb for the pin. WOW. Replays of the big spots aired.

(9) Sara Del Rey defeats Cheerleader Melissa at 19:16. Another very good match. They opened with an intense lockup, and Prazak said this was their first singles matchup in Shimmer. Danger talked about how both women have competed in Japan, Europe and Mexico. Del Rey applied a headscissorslock. Melissa worked the left arm, and they traded good reversals. Del Rey twisted the left wrist, but she couldn’t lock on a cross-armbreaker at 4:00. Melissa tied up the legs, but she couldn’t hit a Curbstomp. Del Rey went back to work on the arms. Melissa applied a headscissorslock at 7:00. They hit shoulder tackles, but neither woman budged.

Del Rey hit some armdrags and a senton for a nearfall. Melissa hit some stomps, and she worked the left knee. Del Rey kicked Melissa to the floor, but Del Rey missed a flip dive off the apron to the floor, and she CRASHED hard to the floor at 11:00! OUCH! Melissa whipped her into the guardrail. In the ring, Melissa hit an ax kick to the neck for a nearfall, and she was in charge. Melissa hit a Samoan Drop for a nearfall at 14:00. Del Rey fired back with a second-rope moonsault for a nearfall! Del Rey nailed a running boot to the gut for a nearfall.

Del Rey nailed a spin kick to the chest for a nearfall, then a German Suplex for a nearfall. They traded chops and slaps in the corner, and Del Rey nailed a second-rope superplex for a nearfall at 16:30. Melissa fired back with an Air Raid Crash/Celtic Cross for a nearfall, but Del Rey reached the ropes. Melissa applied the Kondo Clutch/reverse Texas Cloverleaf, but Del Rey reached the ropes. Del Rey applied the Royal Butterfly lock, and she turned it into a Butterfly Suplex for the pin! Good, intense mat-based action.


Final thoughts: DVD runs 2 hours, 41 minutes.

This was a really strong show. The last two matches are the reasons to order this show.

I’ll give best match to the hard-hitting MsChif-Kong matchup. Kong is a fun spectacle to watch. I recently called her the female version of Samoa Joe, because she is so much bigger than her opponents, but every bit as agile, and she’s a hard hitter. MsChif is a truly flexible woman, as she is constantly being bent in half in painful holds.

The main event is a very close second best. This was a much different match than MsChif-Kong, as this focused more on good mat reversals instead of strikes. It is evident to anyone who has watched a Del Rey match that she has trained with Bryan Danielson, as she is really a master of mat reversals.

Third-best goes to the sharp opener, as Rain vs. Eden Black topped my expectations. Black didn’t impress me in her short ROH match in the UK this spring, so I was pleasantly surprised here with her match. I liked that Eden Black got a win in her debut match, as it helped push another woman toward the top of the card right away, which Shimmer really needs, with Mercedes Martinez and Rebecca Knox out indefinitely with injuries, LuFisto possibly retiring, and others like Nattie Neidhart leaving for WWE deals. Giving Black the win was a good move.

I really like Alexa Thatcher, and I thought she had a solid debut. (I actually suggested to Prazak to bring her in about a year ago, after I saw Thatcher have an impressive match in JAPW). She belongs on this roster.

The Experience-Danger/Rogers tag match was fairly obvious booking, but there’s nothing wrong with that. It seemed pretty evident at the volume 7 & 8 taping that Rogers would turn heel, and I thought it was obvious to me (and to the fans live) that Rogers would turn on Danger. Give the fans credit though, as they heavily booed Rogers when the heel turn came.

Shimmer continues to provide good wrestling with storylines (albeit somewhat basic) make sense and don’t insult the viewer. Notice I wrote, “good wrestling,” and not just “good women’s wrestling.” These are good matches, regardless of gender. There is a reason that Shimmer has generated some buzz on the indy scene, and it’s because of DVDs like this one. While I’ll stick to my prior comments that “Volume 5” is the best taping yet, this one is definitely worth viewing. Huge thumbs up, and purchase this at www.rohwrestling.com for $15.

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