Shimmer’s only show outside of Illinois thus far took place as part of Full Impact Pro’s “Hot Summer Nights” weekend. Mercedes Martinez and Sarah Stock were notably absent, but Kong (soon to be WWE Diva Kharma) returned after being in Japan for the title tournament.

The venue change is unfortunate, as the tall ceiling dampens the lighting and the extra room removes the intimate, packed atmosphere of the Eagles Club. Also, the wrestlers come out of a center stage, then go to some side stairs, which is less glitzy. There’s also an easter egg of a ten-bell salute to Sensational Sherri, shortly after her death. This is the first Easter Egg I’ve found since the Volume 1 “Come As You Are” battle royal featuring Evan Bourne, among other male wrestlers, in street clothes.

SHIMMER DVD Review Series
SHIMMER Vol. 14 DVD review
July 1, 2007
Inverness, Ill.

The DVD began with Becky Bayless interviewing Lacey outside in the Floridan sun. Lacey complained that the referees of Shimmer aren’t on her side and that she will make Sara Del Rey’s title reign the shortest in history.

(1) “Portuguese Princess” Ariel (4-4) beat Amber O’Neal (2-7) at 9:16. O’Neal hid behind the referee to buy herself time. After giving some head holds, O’Neal ran to the outside when Ariel took control. She threw Ariel into the corner then came out with a face buster and choked her on the ropes. Ariel fought back with strikes but met with an STO. O’Neal did a running crossbody but Ariel caught her with a body slam and then the Dariel cutter for the win. Amber sold her injuries longer than necessary, succeeding in her job of riling up the crowd for the evening. (*)

(2) Cindy Rogers (5-4) beat Allison Danger (5-7) at 18:57 in a two-out-of-three falls match. The hour-limit match began when Rogers rolled up Danger and grabbed the tights, scoring a shock pinfall at 0:09. After the minute break, Danger used a full nelson lock. Rogers reversed but Danger exploited the back of her knee to push her to the ground and take control until Danger threw Rogers down but failed to pin her. They rolled back and forth with leg based holds until the six minute mark when they stood up and battled strikes. No matter where Danger went, Rogers held onto a shoulder stretch until Danger leaped into an impressive front crucifix submission, but Rogers bodyslammed her.

After more holds were traded, Danger broke free and hit a Shimmering Warlock to even the score at 10:19. Danger sold exhaustion in the minute rest period then chased Rogers out of the ring when it resumed. Rogers stomped Danger when she came back in and held a chinlock. Danger stood up and threw her into the corner and they traded strikes until Danger rolled her up, but Rogers took hold of her leg and arm for a submission. Rogers then locked on a sideways figure-four and added a dragon sleeper to notch up the pain until Danger fought back. They ended in a cradle pin, rolling around the ring until Danger broke free and hit an STO. Rogers threw Danger outside to take a break then choked her neck when she returned. She pulled Danger down into a rear naked choke and held it until Danger passed out and was awarded the fall after Danger couldn’t keep her hand raised. (***)

Becky Bayless interviewed Malia Hosaka who, when questioned about her opponent Serena Deeb, instead talked up the history of Championship Wrestling in Florida from this venue, where she had her fifth match.

(3) Daffney (0-0) beat Lexie Fyfe (3-4) at 6:36. Before the match begans, Daffney called Fyfe a dinosaur, and played to the crowd with impressions. Prazak explained Daffney was replacing Portia Perez who broke her hand and noted Fyfe wanted some revenge over MelisChif and so wanted to beat their manager. Daffney reversed a hammerlock and exclaimed with happiness. More hijinks as she pointed up, then slapped Fyfe while she was distracted. After some heavy hitting, Fyfe went up top and Daffney went after her but twisted her knee while Prazak noted her history of knee problems. Fyfe came down and pinned her, but let go before the three and made her submit to a leg lock. Hosaka came to the ring to beat on Daffney but MsChif and Deeb, came down for the save. (**1/2)

(4) Serena Deeb (3-4) beat Malia Hosaka (2-4) at 11:31. Amidst the brawl, the referee rang the bell and Deeb launched corner to corner monkey flips on Hosaka then brought her back in the ring the hard way before wrapping up her shoulder. Hosaka countered with a headscissor hold then choked her on the bottom rope before kicking her in the back of the head. Hosaka countered Deeb’s fightback by standing on her hair. Deeb put the knees up to reverse a splash and started her babyface momentum with landed clotheslines and a running knee. Hosaka tried to run at Deeb who ducked under her, came off the ropes and pinned her with a spear to take singles victories over both of The Experience. (**1/2)

Becky Bayless gave an impassioned interview with Nikki Roxx talking up the importance of being recognized as a main-eventer, as part of her storyline the past six or so volumes, and how she would do so by being the first person to pin Amazing Kong.

(5) Cheerleader Melissa (6-4) beat Rain (4-6) at 14:19. Rain worked the crowd by refusing to get in the ring until the crowd cheered her. After three minutes she came in and took Melissa in a head scissors. Melissa broke free and snapped Rain’s wrists to the mat then gave some shoulder barges and a cloverleaf while stamping on Rain’s head. Rain pulled off a lungblower to even the match, then ran a double knee strike into a seated Melissa. After being choked on the ropes, Melissa fought back with some strikes, cornering Rain on the turnbuckles and then executing the vicious curb stomp but Rain has the rope break. Rain slipped out of the Air Raid Crash and went to the top rope, landing the Acid Rain Drop but Melissa had the ropes. (***)

(6) Daizee Haze (7-7) beat MsChif (7-5) at 17:47. After Haze complained, the referee tried to check MsChif but ended up almost crying in fear. The two eventually locked up with fast paced arm holds and lucha flips, showing their familiarity having feuded all the way back to Gateway Championship Wrestling with Evan Bourne and Delirious. The first ten minutes was almost entirely taken up with fast paced drags and smooth, flawless submission holds. After this they reset the match and met in the middle with strikes. Chif took a Heart Punch but ducked the Yakuza Kick; Haze ended up on top of Chif and delivered her own Code Green sunset flip powerbomb. She stomped in the corner like Shawn Michaels but spun around MsChif, lucha style, before rolling her up. The two held hands high after the terrific match these seasoned opponents put on. (***1/2)

(7) Amazing Kong (3-0) beat Nikki Roxx (8-4) at 14:41. Highlights of their Volume 5 bout were shown to build the match but Roxx didn’t get the message as she ran straight into Kong and grounded her. It didn’t last long and Kong got back up then barged Roxx down then did a running splash before grabbing her hair after the pin failed. Roxx mounted Kong’s back for a sleeper, and when Kong barged back into the turnbuckle the ref took a bump. This allowed Kong to drag Roxx through the crowd, throwing her into chairs and vice versa.

In an awful production moment, Danger noted Kong taking advantage of the absent referee while his feet could be seen standing in the ring. Back in the ring Roxx kicked out of the Implant Buster then, when put up for a powerbomb, punched Kong until she found a DDT but Kong took a rope break. Roxx worked Kong’s arm and the crowd sensed a shock victory but Kong hit her discus clothesline combination and the Amazing Press to keep her streak alive. (***)

(8) Sara Del Rey (11-1-1) beat Lacey (4-6) at 29:12 in her first Shimmer Championship defense. Extended highlights of title tourney final were shown until Lacey came out to berate the crowd and even pumped herself up to Del Rey’s “The Final Countdown”; she can work the audience so easily. As soon as the bell had been rang, she took a water break while Prazak proudly announced Ring of Honor officially deems this as their women’s title. Lacey bit Del Rey’s hand to escape a hold and take control as Danger noted Lacey didn’t cheat during the tournament but quickly did here. Pace picked up with Del Rey doing a slam. Lacey did the splits while Del Rey was running, but popped up into a wheelbarrow and was held in a full nelson and swung around. Lacey slapped Del Rey twice which angered Del Rey and caused a stiff big boot and combination of ground strikes. Del Rey picked Lacey up into the tightest Gory Special I’ve seen then slid her down to the mat forcing numerous pins that Lacey squirmed out of.

Lacey eventually freed a leg and kicked Del Rey’s head. Del Rey occasionally took advantage but Lacey kept her down with a shrewd kick to her back or face. Lacey mixed heel tactics with an occasional power move like a stranglehold slam until Del Rey booted her out the corner then dropkicked to reset the match. After a seven count, they both went to the ropes as Del Rey hulked up with two big boots then a gut wrench suplex. Del Rey staggered around the ring before Lacey punched her way out of the Royal Butterfly and executed a lungblower.

After kicking out, Del Rey missed a moonsault. Lacey did some strikes, but Del Rey caught her hands and hit a cross-arm German but Lacey kicked out. Del Rey went for the Butterfly but was driven into the corner as Lacey went for a top-rope assisted neckbreaker. After she kicked out, Lacey picked her up and took her frustration out with strikes when Del Rey suddenly kicked her into the ropes and brought her back into the Royal Butterfly. This had to be it but Lacey slyly took the rope break; what a false finish! An angry Del Rey put the Royal Butterfly back on and after nine seconds Lacey tapped out. (****)

Afterward, a visibly exhausted Del Rey sat with the title belt across her legs. She said that she gave Lacey one month to build up to this match and she failed and Del Rey can still walk around with the belt which is “the new standard in women’s wrestling” that she wears with pride.

Overall thoughts: 8.0 What a terrific volume for wrestling and a real return to form after the worrying Volume 13. As its looked down upon, women’s wrestling doesn’t have the room to put out average or on-par material as it will be instantly used as an excuse why women can’t wrestle; this is probably what keeps Shimmer almost constantly entertaining and that main event in particular showed why, with a number of matches propping up the value of the price tag. The big stumbling block, though, is the venue. It’s so wrong for Shimmer in so many ways. The lighting is so dim that it makes me nostalgic for the occasional bleached look you get on independent wrestling tapes.

FYI: Volume 14 is available at ROHStore.com along with all other in-print Shimmer DVDs. Individual matches can be bought on ClickWrestle.com and more information can be found at ShimmerWrestling.com.

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