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By Chris Vetter

Shimmer Women's Athletes returned to its home in Berwyn, Ill., in June 2007, for a two-day, 16-woman tournament to determine the first-ever Shimmer women's champion. This is a review of Shimmer "Volume 11," which is the first day of the tournament. This DVD features all 8 first-round matches and the 4 second-round matches.

The crowd here is perhaps 150 to 200; it didn't look as packed as other events I've seen from this building. Shimmer tapes its shows in an Eagles Club -- a tavern -- in suburban Chicago. Lighting is good, and this is professional ROH-level camera work & editing. On commentary are Dave Prazak and Allison Danger.

Before looking at the event, it is worth noting who is NOT in this tournament. Amazing Kong is absent. Mercedes Martinez and Rebecca Knox are still out with injuries. Nattie Neidhart has signed a WWE developmental deal. And Serena Deeb, who was slated to be in the tournament, was in a car accident on her way to the show, causing her to be dropped. SO, the DVD didn't open with any sort of "introduction of the competitors," which is fairly common in the major indy tournaments.

One other note -- NO backstage segments at all. That surprised me. Promoter Dave Prazak has always done a good job of mixing in segments between matches to break up the flow of wrestling.

On to the show!

(1) Round 1: Malia Hosaka defeats Allison Danger at 9:19. Good match. They traded leglocks, and Danger applied an anklelock, but Hosaka reached the ropes. Prazak (calling this match solo with Danger in the ring), talked about Danger's recent feud with Cindy Rogers. These women were trading some good mat reversals. They tied in a knucklelock at 3:00, and Hosaka hit some spin kicks to the thigh, then some chops. Danger fired back with her own chops. Hosaka worked the left leg and twisted it. Prazak talked about how the "Experience" (the team of Hosaka & Lexie Fyfe) are undefeated in Shimmer tag matches.

Hosaka wrapped Allison's leg around the ring post at 6:00, and Danger was hobbled. Prazak stressed that no one can afford a major injury in the first-round of a tournament. Hosaka hit some kneedrops on the left knee, and she was in charge. However, she missed a second-rope crossbody block. Danger hit some forearm shots that leveled Malia. Danger hit some rolling snap suplexes for a nearfall at 8:30, and the crowd was hot. Danger hit a neckbreaker over her knee, which hurt herself. Danger went for the Shimmering Warlock/step-up enziguri, but her leg gave out! Hosaka applied a Figure Four Leglock, and Danger eventually passed out; the referee made the three-count as Danger was unable to lift her shoulders off the mat. An upset in the first-round, and I'm surprised that Hosaka won cleanly.

* Rebecca Bayless walked to the ring and introduced Alicia, a regular on the East Coast. (I don't think I've seen a JAPW show in the past three years without her). Alicia got on the mic and established herself as a heel, saying she should have been on Volumes 1-10, and she declared herself the "top girl on the East Coast."

(2) Round 1: Daizee Haze defeats Portia Perez at 5:44. Solid match; Portia is slowly improving. Portia twirled around in circles on her way to the ring, acting like a heel. Portia is listed as 125 pounds, two pounds more than Daizee. Prazak talked about Portia's "attitude change", and how she used a chain to beat Josie at a recent taping. Prazak noted that these two women met on "Volume 5", but he added that Portia has improved in the year since that event. They opened with some quick mat reversals. Danger joined Prazak on commentary here, and she was upset at her first-round exit. Haze applied a headscissors lock. Portia hit a headscissors takedown, then a running kneestrike in the corner and a basement dropkick to the back at 2:30.

Haze stretched Portia, and Daizee hit a senton. Danger joked about Portia's youthful looks, wondering if Perez had a "signed permission slip" to participate. Perez planted a boot in Daizee's throat, and she hit some chops. Prazak said that Alicia would debut on Volume 12. Haze hit a German Suplex for a nearfall. Portia avoided a Heart Punch attempt, and Portia hit a leg lariat. Portia then hit a Flatliner for a nearfall at 5:00, and she jawed at the referee. Haze got a backslide for a nearfall, then she hit the Heart Punch and a "Mindtrip"/Snapmare Driver for the pin.

(3) Round 1: Sara Del Rey defeats Cindy Rogers at 10:44. Rogers has a whole new look, as she wore a black leather jacket, and her hair was slicked back. She came to the ring to Garbage's "Push It." Del Rey, as usual, came out to Europe's "The Final Countdown," and fans chanted, "Next World Champ!" at her. (NOTE that no one else in the tournament got that chant!) They opened with some intense mat reversals and they had a standoff. Prazak noted that Del Rey has been pinned just once in Shimmer, and that was on Volume 8, by Mercedes. Rogers twisted the left leg. Prazak talked about an "international mystery participant" who would appear later in the tournament.

These women were trading some good standing reversals. Del Rey applied a half crab, and she pulled Cindy's hair, but Rogers reached the ropes at 4:00. Del Rey hit a weak Vader running bump. Del Rey hit an armdrag, a snap suplex, and she applied a Camel Clutch. Rogers hit an eyepoke and began working the left arm, as she twisted it repeatedly. Del Rey hit a powerbomb at 7:00 for a nice pop. Rogers applied a modified Rings of Saturn/double armbar, and fans chanted, "Please don't tap!" Del Rey reached the ropes.

Del Rey hit three consecutive big boots to the chest, for a nearfall, then she hit a Samoan Drop with a bridge for a nearfall. Del Rey applied an abdominal stretch in the middle of the ring. Rogers hit a second-rope bulldog for a nearfall at 9:30. Rogers hit a clothesline for a nearfall, then a Russian Legsweep. Rogers applied an Octopus on the mat, and fans again chanted, "Please don't tap!" at Del Rey. Sara reached the ropes. Moments later, Del Rey hit a cross-armed German Suplex with a bridge for the pin. Very good action.

* Ring announcer Joey Eastman got in the ring and said that Serena Deeb hasn't reached the building yet because of the car accident, so she will forfeit her spot, and Ariel will have a bye into the second round. However, Alicia came out and volunteered to take Deeb's spot, and Ariel agreed to face her.

(4) Round 1: Alicia defeats Portuguese Princess Ariel at 6:14. So-so match. Alicia attacked from behind and hit some stomps. Danger ridiculed Alicia, saying she has a terrible "Fran Drescher voice." Ariel hit a clothesline, a dropkick, and Alicia begged off. Alicia pulled Ariel into the turnbuckle, and she rubbed Ariel's face on the mat. Alicia hit a sideslam for a nearfall, and she jawed at the crowd. Ariel hit a basement dropkick to the chest for a nearfall at 2:30.

Alicia hit a clothesline and she choked her. Alicia hit a Mafia Kick in the corner for a nearfall, and she screamed at the referee. Alicia hit another Mafia Kick, and she paused to celebrate. Ariel hit a forearm shot and a fisherman's suplex for a nearfall at 5:00. Alicia hit a sitdown hiptoss for a nearfall. Ariel countered with a bulldog for a nearfall. Alicia hit a Michinoku Driver, and she pulled on Ariel's pants, to get the pin. Ariel looked like she was pouting after the loss.

(5) Round 1: MsChif (w/Daffney) defeats Lexie Fyfe at 8:20. Yes, that is WCW's Daffney in MsChif's corner. MsChif screamed a few times, and she got a quick rollup for a nearfall. MsChif applied a mid-ring Octopus, but Fyfe turned it into a sideslam. Fyfe hit some blows to the back. Prazak said this was a re-match from Volume 3, when Fyfe won because of a Cheerleader Melissa distraction. Fyfe applied a surfboard, then she applied a Boston Crab, and she sat down on MsChif's back, but MsChif was able to reach the ropes. Fyfe picked up MsChif in a pendulum at 3:00. Fyfe locked MsChif in the rowboat position, and she pulled back hard on MsChif's arms.

Danger talked about how MsChif is always getting twisted in weird positions in the ring. Fyfe hit a backbreaker over her knee, and she stretched her. Mschif hit a drop-toe-hold, sending Fyfe crashing in the ropes. MsChif applied a Camel Clutch in the ropes, and Fyfe bailed to the floor. The action spilled to the floor, and Fyfe dropped MsChif throat-first on the guardrail at 6:00. Daffney checked on MsChif, who got back in the ring before the 10-count.

In the ring, MsChif hit the "Gateway to Annihilation"/Eye of the Hurricane inverted DDT, then she got a reverse bodyscissors rollup for a believable nearfall. MsChif missed a standing moonsault, but moments later, she hit the Desecrator/hooked leg DDT for the pin. Prazak said this avenged the Volume 3 loss. Solid action.

(6) Round 1: Sarah Stock defeats Cheerleader Melissa at 8:22. Very good match. Prazak said that Stock, a Canadian who wrestles full-time in Mexico, was the "international wildcard" in the tournament. Danger called Stock a "lucha superstar." The match began with an intense lockup, and they shoved each other. Stock got a quick rollup. Melissa hit a bodyslam and an elbow drop. Melissa worked the left arm, and she slammed Sarah's hand on the mat repeatedly. Melissa hit some shoulder thrusts in the corner. Stock got a quick rollup, then a (Castagnoli) Waterslide and a splash for a nearfall at 3:00.

Melissa fired back with some right & left paintbrush slaps. Danger said that Stock is a "gym junkie" who has gotten into phenomenal shape. Melissa hit a vertical suplex for a nearfall, and she applied a sleeper. Danger said this is an "International Dream Match." Melissa hit a running powerslam for a nearfall at 5:30, but she couldn't hit an Air raid Crash. Melissa hit a clothesline for a nearfall. Stock fired back with a clothesline, a nice dropkick, and Melissa rolled to the floor.

Stock hit a flip dive off the apron to the floor (this looked quite dangerous, but Melissa was able to catch her.) In the ring, Stock hooked Melissa's leg, rolled forward, and got a nearfall. Melissa hit a German Suplex for a nearfall. they traded kicks to each other's arms, and Stock hit a kick to the jaw. Melissa couldn't hit the Kudo Driver/Cop Killah. Stock immediately hit a Victory Roll for the pin. Very good stuff.

(7) Round 1: Lacey defeats Eden Black at 10:55. Another very good match. Lacey yelled at fans on her way to the ring. Black wore an Atlanta Braves jersey (even though it looked like a basketball jersey.) Black got a quick rollup, and Lacey stalled. Prazak said these two had a match in Europe. They traded armholds. Black slowed Lacey with a headlock, and she hit a shoulder tackle. Lacey hit a monkeyflip at 3:30. Black hit some forearms, a clothesline, a back elbow, and a spine kick, then a headscissors takedown. Prazak listed all of Black's finishers. Lacey hit some kicks to the stomach in the corner and some stomps.

Prazak compared Black to Homicide, saying she is a "UK thug." Prazak & Danger joked that they hope she doesn't pull out a ghetto fork. Funny. Black applied a nice leglock on the mat, but Lacey reached the ropes at 6:30. Black hit some chops. Lacey hit a running knee to the back, a backbreaker over her knee for a nearfall, and a faceplant for a nearfall. Black hit a nice gutwrench suplex, and they were both down at 9:00. Lacey sold the pain in her back.

Black hit a basement dropkick into Lacey's back in the corner, for a nearfall. Black then applied the "Garden of Eden"/Triangle Choke, but Lacey reached the ropes. Black immediately re-applied the Garden of Eden, but Lacey escaped. Lacey couldn't hit the implant DDT. Black hit her (Jimmy Rave) Ghana Rea/spinning slam for a nearfall. However, Lacey hit the implant DDT for the pin. Good match.

(8) Round 1: Nikki Roxx defeats Rain at 8:09. Roxx got a big pop, and she's a huge fan favorite here. Rain corrected ring announcer Eastman on her weight. They started wrestling, and Rain pulled Roxx's hair and hit some blows to the back. Roxx hit a clothesline, a dropkick, a Samoan Drop, and Rain dove to the ropes for a 'time out.' Roxx hit some forearm shots. Rain hit some chops and a hairmare for a nearfall, then a running kneeshot in the corner. Rain choked Roxx and put her foot on Roxx' throat at 3:00.

Prazak noted that Rain beat Roxx on Volume 3. Roxx fired up and hit some stiff clubbing forearms. Rain hit a clothesline for a nearfall, and she SCREAMED at the kickout. Rain ripped at Nikki's face, nose, and she pulled the hair. Rain hit an elbowdrop for a nearfall. Prazak said that Amazing Kong was in Japan, but when she returns, she will be coming for the winner of the tournament. Roxx hit a running boot and more forearms in the corner.

Rain hit a top-rope Lungblower/Taliban Backpack for a nearfall at 7:00. Rain hit a neckbreaker over her knee for a nearfall, then some blows to the back. Roxx hit a chinbreaker, then the Barbi Crusher/sitdown Bubba Bomb, for the pin. Above-average match.

* Rebecca Bayless got in the ring, and introduced Serena Deeb, who has now made it to the building. Deeb said she is ok, but her car is not. Deeb said she will wrestle on Volume 12, then she will be coming for the tournament winner.

* A commercial aired for the ROH store.

(9) Round 2: Daizee Haze defeats Malia Hosaka at 9:00 even. Malia stomped on Haze's stuffed flower, and the crowd booed this action. The match began, and they traded quick rollups immediately. Malia is really on her game tonight. Haze applied a modified ankle lock, and she tied up the legs. Prazak said this was a first-time-ever meeting. Haze applied a bodyscissorslock. Hosaka tied her in the rowboat position, and they had a standoff at 2:30. Fans chanted, "Flower Power!" Hosaka twisted the left wrist, and she choked Haze in the corner, and she was in charge. Prazak said he was still hopeful that Rebecca Knox would return to the ring in 2008.

Haze applied a modified Figure Four Leglock at 5:30, and she pulled on the ropes for leverage. Hosaka stayed in charge and hit a Hennig necksnap. Haze countered with a second-rope missile dropkick, a Thesz Press, and some punches to the face. They traded offense in a knucklelock. Haze hit a faceplant, and the crowd chanted for Daizee. Haze nailed a Northern Lights Suplex for a nearfall, then the Heart Punch for the pin.

(10) Round 2: Sara Del Rey defeats Alicia at 8:58. Solid match. Del Rey fired a plastic ray gun at Alicia, and Alicia fell over backward, terrified at the weapon, and the crowd laughed. Fans again chanted, "Next World champ!" at Del Rey, then they chanted, "Sara's gonna kill you!" Alicia cowered on the floor. Del Rey hit a dropkick in the ring, and Alicia bailed. Alicia whipped Del Rey into the guardrail, and she got in the ring and celebrated. Del Rey hit a shoulder tackle and her running Vader body block. Del Rey hit a backbreaker over her knee for a nearfall at 2:00. Del Rey whipped Alicia into a fan's arms at ringside on the floor.

Back in the ring, Del rey hit some kneedrops on Alicia's face and a falling headbutt. Alicia countered with a hiptoss, and she choked Del Rey. Del Rey hit a snap suplex for a nearfall at 5:00, then a knee strike to the head. Alicia choked her repeatedly. Del Rey hit a Samoan Drop for a nearfall, then a running boot to the chest for a nearfall. Alicia hit an Iconoclasm/flip slam off the top rope, for a nearfall at 8:00. Alicia hit a sitdown bodyslam, and she applied a sleeper on the mat. However, Del Rey got to her feet with the sleeper still applied, and she reversed the hold and applied the Royal Butterfly lock! Del Rey then nailed the Butterfly Suplex for the pin! Neat finish.

(11) Round 2: Sarah Stock defeats MsChif (w/Daffney) at 9:08. Good match. MsChif let out a scream that knocked over ref Bryce Remsburg. Funny. Prazak said this was another first-time-ever matchup, and he again put over Stock as a "well-traveled wrestler." Stock tied up the left arm. MsChif hit a headscissors takedown and a standing moonsault for a nearfall. Stock hit some spine kicks, and she twisted the left leg and she hit some kneedrops on it. Stock hit a bodyslam for a nearfall at 3:00. MsChif hit a catapult basement dropkick on Stock's back in the corner for a nearfall. Stock fired back with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker over her knee for a nearfall.

Stock applied a modified standing Figure Four leglock, and she then applied a modified Sharpshooter, but MsChif reached the ropes at 5:30. Danger said that MsChif is like Gumby in the ways her body gets twisted. MsChif hit a Tornado DDT and some rapid-fire chops, then a big boot for a nearfall. Stock got an O'Connor roll for a nearfall, and she applied an inverted Boston Crab. Stock applied a Full Nelson leglock, but MsChif rolled backward to get a nearfall on Stock. Stock hit a top-rope crossbody block, then an airplane spin around her back. Stock then nailed a Tiger Driver/butterfly powerbomb for the clean pin! "Yet another surprising decision," Prazak exclaimed.

(12) Round 2: Lacey defeats Nikki Roxx at 15:10. Very good match. The crowd was again quite hot and behind Nikki. Lacey yelled at the crowd, and she was distracted. Prazak noted that Roxx beat Lacey on Volume 7. they tied up, but Lacey stalled. Roxx hit a drop-toe-hold and a chop at 3:00, then a monkeyflip and a sideslam for a nearfall. Lacey snapped Nikki's back over the top rope, and roxx fell to the floor. Lacey beat her up on the floor with some chops. The crowd was really LOUD, and Lacey was annoyed. Lacey hit some kicks in the corner, and she choked Nikki. Roxx fired back with a second-rope crossbody block for a nearfall at 6:00.

Lacey hit a Field Goal Kick to the gut and some spine kicks for a nearfall. Lacey applied a Camel Clutch, and she hit some crossface blows, then she pulled on Nikki's hair. Lacey hit a sitdown bomb, and she applied a Full Nelson Leglock, then she rolled Roxx over to get a nearfall. Lacey applied a Cobra Clutch at 9:00, and she turned it into a backbreaker over her knee. Lacey stood on Nikki's hair while pulling on her arms. Lacey hit a Russian Legsweep for a nearfall, and she yelled the referee. Roxx got a jackknife rollup for a nearfall. Lacey choked Roxx and she yelled at the crowd, and she hit some blows to the back.

Lacey hit a nice standing neckbreaker at 12:30, and she applied a Japanese Stranglehold. Roxx fired back with some clotheslines, a nice dropkick, a Spinebuster for a nearfall, but she couldn't hit the Barbi Crusher. Roxx dropped Lacey chest-first to the mat for a nearfall. Lacey couldn't hit the implant DDT. Roxx couldn't hit the Barbi Crusher. Lacey then nailed the implant DDT for the pin. Good match.

Final thoughts: DVD runs 2 hours, 56 minutes.

This was a very good women's show. I really appreciate how Prazak focuses on good, quality women's wrestling, with no "diva" silliness. No stupid 'bra & panty matches.' No, this is good, athletic competition. I still consider "Volume 5" to be the best of the Shimmer shows (and I've seen almost all of them now.) This show comes up short of that DVD, but this is still quite good.

With the absence of all the wrestlers I mentioned earlier (most notably Kong, Knox, Mercedes Martinez), Prazak did a good job filling that void by bringing in Sarah Stock. I admittedly didn't know her, and the crowd didn't seem to know her either. But she delivered a tight pair of crisp matches against Cheerleader Melissa and MsChif. Prazak immediately made it clear to fans that Stock is near (or at!) main-event level in Shimmer with those victories.

I'll give best match to Lacey vs. Roxx, just ahead of Lacey vs. Eden Black. I really liked Stock-Melissa, and that earned third-best, just ahead of a really good Del Rey-Rogers match; that was easily the best match I've seen from Rogers so far in Shimmer.

I really liked that Prazak on commentary noted if the women had met before, either in Shimmer or elsewhere, and who won the match. Point being, WINS MATTER. No, Prazak isn't saying that Del Rey has a "8-1" record, but he makes it clear that it MATTERS if a wrestler wins or loses. Women who win move up the card. Women who lose regularly (like Amber O'Neal, Josie, Lorelei Lee) can be left off the next card.

What didn't work: Ariel seems stuck in a rut. Maybe her disappointment in her loss will lead to a heel turn? Alicia doesn't do much for me, and she was the weakest first-round winner. Portia is improving, but she still has a LONG way to go.

No fault of Prazak, but with the women who have defected to WWE, and all the women who are injured or unavailable, this show felt like it needed one other big player. The fact that only one woman got a chant of "next world champ" -- and she did eventually win it -- shows that the fans didn't see another real challenger for the top spot.

This DVD earns a thumbs up. With 12 matches and nearly three hours of action, there is a lot of good stuff here. Purchase this DVD at www.rohwrestling.com for $15.

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