Shimmer_56

The most noticeable difference between Shimmer 56 as compared to the first two volumes of the weekend was a pick-up in intensity. The matches definitely seemed to matter a bit more, or at the very least the right people were put in the ring with each other. I definitely enjoyed the character work exhibited by a number of wrestlers throughout the card and was pleased with the effort. I also appreciated the effort to differentiate this card by having some of the regular tag teams split off and do singles. I think it added a different flair and dynamic to what was a solid card.

Shazza McKenzie was the first split of the night as she usually teams up with Veda Scott. After being unsuccessful in her first couple Shimmer matches, Kimber Lee got a strong win over McKenzie in a surprisingly strong opener. Not surprising because of the talent but moreso because the openers usually don’t mean much. Lee spent some of the match taunting McKenzie about her height to really sharpen her heel edge. I’m glad Lee won over her more established opponent because I think she’s got a ton of potential moving forward and needed a win this weekend. Action was strong for the opener but didn’t take away from the rest of the show.

Leva Bates, who usually teams up with Allison Danger, stepped out on her own to wrestle Miss Natural. Bates dressed as Mr. Spock from the original Star Trek. There were some Shimmanigans with Natural trying to use the force and failing because she didn’t get that Bates was from Star TREK not Star WARS. This amused me probably moreso than it had any right to but given this is an undercard match, this was a totally acceptable way of getting the fans into the show. It also played into the face/heel dynamic. Bates is a face because she’s a nerd like the fans while Bates is a heel because she doesn’t get nerd references and hates all things that are part of nerd culture. This was about as good as the opener thanks to the character work and some of the power stuff done by Natural. Bates is very good at playing babyface and working off bigger, stronger women. Fun little match.

In what was one of the few less competitive matches of the weekend, Rhia O’Reilly really (O’REILLY) did a number on Leah Von Dutch. O’Reilly basically won quickly with the Rhiadjustment (sp?) and controlled most of the action. I’m mostly happy we didn’t have a Von Dutch promo or any sort of extended offense from her. I’m fine with this being under five minutes and allowing one of the midcard heels to look strong after losing to MsChif.

I mentioned tag teams broken up earlier. To specifically play off an issue that’s been on the last few volumes, the Canadian Ninjas and 3G matched up in two singles matches. Kellie Skater and Nicole Mathews had a very solid one-on-one match that played into both women’s strengths. There was a bit of a feeling out process, but because of the feud going on, it quickly turned into more of a heated back and forth contest. This match helped elevate the midcard because of its intensity and the crowd being into the action.

Saraya Knight seems to cut a promo during every show. I would be annoyed, but she is by a country mile the best talker in the promotion. She’s done with Melissa but does have an issue with Christina Von Eerie. However, Knight as a hit list of people she wants to beat some respect into. Knight threatened to beat some respect into her opponent for Volume 56, Jessie McKay. The thing I love about Saraya Knight matches is she seems to bring out more intensity and fight in her opponents and makes the match seem more like a battle than a choreographed piece of art. I’m not against watching that style if it’s done correctly, but Knight’s abilities are so unique in today’s modern wrestling world. I almost think placing Knight with the younger, more aesthetically pleasing women is the role for her moving forward. The fans are very willing to cheer on people like McKay, and Knight has so many heels tricks. My favorite subtle thing she does is after hitting the low dropkick in the corner, she’ll poke her opponent in the eyes. Such an easy trick and something more wrestlers should pick up on. Since Knight has her list, it made sense to give her a relatively clean submission win, but I am curious as to what they’re doing with McKay given she seems to be losing a lot recently. Nonetheless, this was a good eight minute match.

Mia Yim and Evie was promoted as a kickfest, so the expectations were made pretty clear from the beginning. There were indeed a lot of kicks and strong style used in this babyface versus babyface match. I definitely got a vibe that they were going for a “Can you top this” vibe in going for so many kicks and each trying to hit top rope moves and failing. Yim won with a gutwrench suplex, basically out of nowhere, so the ending didn’t seem to make sense as either a kick combination or Sky Yim. I liked the match, but with more time and a better finish, I think I would have liked it even more.

I’ve seen Allysin Kay and Taylor Made wrestle MsChif and Christina Von Eerie a couple of times and have never exactly been thrilled with their matches. Von Eerie is very hit or miss for me. MsChif’s 2013 is meh. Taylor Made isn’t good in singles matches, and Kay needs the right opponent. This was a perfectly average tag team match with a heat segment and hot babyface comeback. Very traditional tag team match that didn’t move me in either direction. I’m glad Made in Sin won given I think they need the victories more at this point while Von Eerie is involved with a solo issue. Saraya Knight got involved with a foreign object and helped them get the win. Afterward, the beatdown continued, but Veda Scott and Shazza McKenzie made the save. I can see either a six women tag or a singles and tag match taking place on the next show.

Tomoka Nakagawa and Portia Perez continued the 3G versus Canadian Ninjas issue and we even got some progress as their respective partners became involved and we had a schmozz ending. The finish knocked the match down a peg for me, but it definitely made sense and at least we have a tag team title match booked for Shimmer 57 as it will be the final battle between the Ninjas and 3G. Best of all, it plays what’s happened previously as the match will be no disqualification and no count-out. The match ultimately served its purpose but wasn’t a must see either.

I’m generally not a fan of four ways that turn into pseudo tag team matches but the dynamic between Kana, Yuu Yamagata, Ayako Hamada, and Mercedes Martinez worked. It was case of no one being able to trust each other amidst the chaos. Alliances were constantly starting and breaking down. The tone was set toward the beginning of the match when Kana attacked her supposed partner Ayako Hamada. The controlled chaos of these various alliances made for a fun match, and I wasn’t sure who would in until Kana got a quick pin on Yamagata. The story of the match plus the great action between four women who know to deliver justified this being one of the longest matches of the night.

Allison Danger then came out to talk about her last match, which was set to take place at Shimmer 57. She announced it would be a tag team between between Regeneration X against Ayako Hamada and Cheerleader Melissa. I’ll talk about why this is such a brilliant piece of storytelling during my Shimmer 57 review, but I felt it was important to mention this promo here because Danger didn’t wrestle.

I thought Athena was a shoo-in for a title shot this weekend, but given the story that’s being told, I can understand holding her push back for a bit longer. Madison Eagles continued her unbeaten streak since returning in pinning Athena after Hellbound in what was another excellent match. Eagles is one of the tallest competitors in the promotion while Athena is the shortest. This could have easily turned into a styles clash, but Eagles played the more dominant role as she worked over the back for much of the match. Athena was a bit of an underdog, but the match was wrestled relatively evenly. This was the best back and forth match on the show and well worth checking out on its own. (Plus it’s apparently one female wrestler’s favorite star rating.)

Serena Deeb and Jessicka Havok settled their mini-rivalry in the semi main event. Deeb hit a spear and pinned the heel Havok in a match that felt a bit short. Given Deeb’s concussion issues, I understand why this wasn’t a few minutes longer. However, even in an abbreviated contest, the action and pacing stayed consistent. No feeling out process or pure wrestling (another reason to justify the shortened time of the match) but Deeb came from the crowd and got things going right away. Havok again controlled much of the action, but Deeb was able to overcome potential interference before getting the victory.

The main event of the show continued to show Cheerleader Melissa’s descent into heeldom as she defeated another popular and upcoming talent in Kalamity. It’s a shame Kalamity retired shortly this set of this shows because she was showing some real growth as a performer and played off Melissa’s antics well. Melissa used some underhanded tactics and portrayed the desperation that comes from being a world champion. I made the comparison to Bryan Danielson circa 2005, but I think this is a little different being that it’s Melissa’s second title reign and turning her heel will add a fresh dynamic to Shimmer. Plus, a lot of the better young female wrestlers in the company are spunky babyfaces. Melissa controlled much of the match, so it’s tough for me to view this as a truly great main event, but I think the story Shimmer is telling is a sound one. This is not a case of a storyline overwhelming the match and making it boring.

This was right up there with Shimmer 53 as far as quality and is an easy recommendation. For 15 dollars, you can get 12 matches. Nothing is actively bad, and I think many of the matches are worth watching. Some good storytelling can also be found in many of the matches, so you’re not in a situation where match after match isn’t just movez.

Grade: B+

********************************************************************************************************************

-Taped from Berwyn, IL

-Commentators: Dave Prazak and Portia Perez

– Kimber Lee defeats Shazza McKenzie by pinfall after a release German suplex/7:01/***

Leva Bates defeats Miss Natural by pinfall after a crucifix bomb/6:50/**3/4

-Rhia O’Reilly defeats Leah Von Dutch by pinfall after the Rhiadjustment/4:35/*1/2

-Kellie Skater defeats Nicole Mathews (Shimmer Tag Team Champion) with a stranglehold inverted DDT/10:10/***1/4

Saraya Knight defeats Jessie McKay by submission with the Bridled Rocking Horse/8:20/***

-Mia Yim defeats Evie by pinfall with a gutwrench suplex/9:01/***

Made in Sin (Allysin Kay and Taylor Made) defeats MsChif and Christina Von Eerie. Made pins Von Eerie after Saraya Knight hits her with an object/9:49/**1/2

Tomoka Nakagawa and Portia Perez (Shimmer Tag Team Champion) goes to a no disqualification/8:59/**3/4

Kana defeats Yuu Yamagata by pinfall in a four way match by pinfall with a roll-up. Mercedes Martinez and Ayako Hamada were also involved in the match/17:41/***1/2

Madison Eagles defeats Athena by pinfall with Hellbound/15:18/***1/2

-Serena Deeb defeats Jessicka Havok by pinfall after the spear/10:28/***1/4

Cheerleader Melissa defeats Kalamity by pinfall after the Air Raid Crash/14:34/***1/4

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