SHIMMER debut event 11/6 in Berwyn, IL!

[SHIMMER office]

We are pleased to announce the formation of a brand new independent women's professional wrestling company. SHIMMER - WOMEN ATHLETES will hold its debut event on Sunday, November 6, 2005, at the Eagles Club (6309 26th Street) in Berwyn, IL, just outside Chicago. Bell time for the event is 4pm. Ticket information will be released shortly.

The goal of SHIMMER - WOMEN ATHLETES is to provide the most skilled female pro wrestlers with a forum to truly shine as athletes and perform at the most competitive level. SHIMMER management has selected an elite crop of women from around the wrestling scene who are determined to show that women's wrestling in the United States isn't always just a modeling contest, but is an athletic contest. Fans who are looking for a promotion that puts the focus on the actual wrestling ability of the women involved must look no further than SHIMMER.

Each event promoted by SHIMMER - WOMEN ATHLETES will be filmed for release as part of a DVD series, available through Ring of Honor at www.rohwrestling.com as well as their live events. Additionally, fans will be able to check out SHIMMER matches online at the www.clickwrestle.com site.

Let's take a look at the initial eight members of the SHIMMER - WOMEN ATHLETES roster...

SARA DEL REY - Height: 5'10" Weight: 160 lbs. Martinez, CA. Debut: Early 2001. After breaking in on the California independent scene, Sara became the top female product of the Inoki Dojo in Los Angeles. Del Rey spent the majority of 2005 competing in Japan for both the AtoZ promotion and All Japan Women during its final days. Since returning from Japan, Sara has resumed a schedule on the West Coast, as well as appearing for Lucha Libre Femenil in Mexico.

MERCEDES MARTINEZ - Height: 5'7" Weight: 148 lbs. Waterbury, CT. Debut: November 2000. Mercedes got her start on the New England circuit after training under Jason Knight. Martinez mixes an impressive power based repertoire with sound scientific skill.

ALLISON DANGER - Height: 5'7" Weight: 130 lbs. Belmont Hills, PA. Debut: May 2000. Allison has been a staple of Ring of Honor since the promotion's very first event, and has also wrestled across the North American independent scene. Danger has has international experience with AtoZ in Japan, as well as a recent tour which promoted events in Guam, Korea, and Japan.

BETH PHOENIX - Height: 5'7" Weight: 160 lbs. Buffalo, NY. Debut: May 2001. One of the strongest athletes on the roster, Beth made a name for herself on the Northeast independent scene before relocating to Louisville in 2003 to join Ohio Valley Wrestling. The addition of Phoenix to the mix of typical indie talent on the roster makes for some exciting match possibilities.

LACEY - Height: 5'6" Weight: 135 lbs. Minneapolis, MN. Debut: August 2000. Trained by Eddie Sharkey in the Twin Cities, Lacey got her early experience on the Upper Midwest independents before relocating to the east coast and becoming a part of Ring of Honor. She has gained notoriety for her scientific wrestling prowess while traveling the indies in recent years.

CHEERLEADER MELISSA - Height: 5'8" Weight: 142 lbs. San Francisco, CA. Debut: August 1999. Melissa broke in on the California independent scene, and has earned a solid reputation as one of the best American female pro wrestlers during the past six years. Melissa toured Japan for the ARSION promotion in 2002, and returned in 2005 for the M's Style organization. She has also wrestled in Europe, as well as in Mexico for LLF.

DAIZEE HAZE - Height: 5'4" Weight: 110 lbs. Forest Park, IL. Debut: March 2002. Daizee has rapidly developed over the past three years into one of the most versatile competitors in the Midwest, despite her small frame. Mixing a submission style with a great deal of aerial offense, Haze was added to the roster of Ring of Honor in early 2004. Aside from traveling the U.S. indie scene, Daizee also competed for LLF in Mexico during 2005.

NIKKI ROXX - Height: 5'9" Weight: 145 lbs. Boston, MA. Debut: November 2001. Nikki got her start at the legendary Killer Kowalski's training facility in Boston. Though based in New England, Roxx spends much of her year competing internationally, mainly Mexico's LLF, where she has participated in several tours and had tremendous success.

Look for more additions to the SHIMMER talent roster, which will ultimately be composed of sixteen women athletes, to be announced later this week along with ticket information for the event. The first two SHIMMER DVD releases will be filmed on 11/6 in Berwyn! Fans who attend either the 10/22 AAW event in Berwyn, IL, or the 11/5 ROH event in Chicago Ridge, IL will be given a discount on tickets to the SHIMMER debut. The Berwyn Eagles Club is just ten miles from the Frontier Fieldhouse in Chicago Ridge -- an easy trip for those fans looking to take in a full weekend of live wrestling events in Chicago.

"I am excited and proud to be part of a roster of amazing women from all across the country," commented Allison Danger. "Each woman brings something different to the table. SHIMMER will give a whole new meaning to women's wrestling in America. Fans here have waited far too long for an alternative to bra and panties matches and diva searches."

ROH standout Lacey added, "Having a serious women's promotion is long overdue in this country, and I am very excited to have a place where we can all work, learn, and improve!"

Fans who are interested in hearing more about SHIMMER - WOMEN ATHLETES, and would like to be informed of all of the latest news and updates concerning the promotion, are encouraged to sign up for the free SHIMMER Yahoo Group/Newsletter. Simply send an E-mail to [e-mail] or visit groups.yahoo.com/group/shimmerwrestling/ to sign up on the web.

I, along with all of the talented women athletes involved in the SHIMMER project, look forward to giving the fans some exciting wrestling action. Make your plans now to join us for the first SHIMMER DVD taping on Sunday, 11/6!

Dave Prazak
E-mail contact: [e-mail]
Info Hotline/Voicemail: 630-585-3958
SHIMMER web site: www.shimmerwrestling.com/

[jroemmich]

I applaud the idea, and I hope you can successfully bring female wrestling back to life in North America after certain "sports entertainment" promotions have basically done all that they possibly can to destroy it. The portion of the roster that has already been announced sounds like a huge step in the right dirrection, and I can only hope that the next update of roster addittions includes Molly Holly, Jazz, and Sumie Sakai.

Seeing female wrestling in North America that isn't all about t&a is going to be a pleasant, and very welcome change. Thank you, I'll be sure to order the first event as soon as it's released on dvd.

[magell]

I'm interested in seeing Holly but I've never been a Jazz fan and I just can't stand Sakai. I don't see what everybody else does in her. She's always seemed kind of sloppy to me.

I'm betting money on Rain and MsChif being in the next set of competitors they release. I'd like to see Tracy Brooks show up as well. It would be nice to see Mickie but I'm not sure if that will happen because of Dave quitting IWAMS but we'll see.

I won't be able to go to the taping but I'll be buying the show for sure when it comes out on DVD. Hopefully with RoH's promotion it can succeed like FIP seems to be doing.

[bullshizzle]

I'm just going to guess who the other women might be: Mickie Knuckles, MsChif, Rain, Ariel, Cindy Rodgers, Alere Littler Feather, Christie Ricci, and ODB.

I would like to see Nora Greenwald participate in this show but that is highly unlikely to happen. I would also like to see April Hunter involved, but that is also unlikely to happen.

[mercedesmartinez1]

magell said:

I just can't stand Sakai. I don't see what everybody else does in her. She's always seemed kind of sloppy to me.

I won't be able to go to the taping but I'll be buying the show for sure when it comes out on DVD. Hopefully with RoH's promotion it can succeed like FIP seems to be doing.

i personally don't like sumie either 4 the same reason, and ima get the dvds too, if Shimmer can do a show in Poughkeepsie or Yonkers, i'll be there.

[nick]

I think a lot of people overrate Sumie because they automatically assume that she = greatness due to being Japanese. Still, I reckon she's pretty good, I quite enjoy her heelish antics too.

[smokbabe]

maybe shimmer can do a japanese invasion someday and bring in the great japanese women wrestlers like yoshida, sugey and sakai

[tigerdriver91]

smokbabe said:

maybe shimmer can do a japanese invasion someday and bring in the great japanese women wrestlers like yoshida, sugey and sakai

Princesa Sugey is Mexican, actually.

[bullshizzle]

Speaking of international women Mariko Yoshida will be in the states later this month wrestling for APW in California. Too bad that she will be back in Japan by the time the 1st shimmer event takes place.

[nfler]

Man, I hope this thing works. Ever tried to tell you wife that you like women's wrestling when the E is doing a bra and panties match?? It doesn't work. I will definitely be picking this up when it's released, please get these out on DVD as soon as possible (please don't use whatever company takes 6 months to do an FIP show).
Do something shocking for the first show, like an insane j-cup style match, or a knockout, or a 1 hour draw, just something never seen in the US before from the "women's division".
Good luck

[nogimmick]

The more I think about it, the more I like this. It will be a refreshing change to see some actual womens WRESTLING. A J-Cup style match or a 1-hour draw like nfler said would be so F'n awesome its not even funny.

J

[nfler]

I have insanely high hopes for this stuff already. How long until the DVDs are ready?

[Hex]

I'm very keen to see Shimmer succeed. Also, I hope you guys don't use the company FIP are using to produce their DVDs, as nfler mentioned. It'll be very refreshing to see women's wrestling that isn't just bra and panties matches and the like.

[Starscream]

SHIMMER is my dream.

[robalure]

I'm all for it and hopefully it will do well!!

Robalure