Slew of comments of my impressions of yesterday's live show:
First off, I liked it, had a blast.
Was there Sat (I have only ever been able to swing Saturdays), for my 4th ever show. I enjoyed myself quite a bit. I foolishly sat in the middle of the second row again, meaning I had to dodge the camera-man half the time but somehow it wasn't quite so annoying as before. Next time, I'll pick one closer to the turnbuckle on either side. I probably was more annoyed because I'd bought a new camera to use this time around (though it's hard to snap photos and watch at the same time anyway). Of course this meant I was having trouble getting the lighting right as it's semi dark with those bright overheads making beams across the lens. But maybe next time. I'm glad there's professional photographers at the events!
Speaking of camera men dodging, I noticed a lot more cases where the camera guy on our side had to jerk back when somebody flew into the ropes in front of him or ran around (a lot of wrestlers who fell off had to crawl back, being halfway under the apron, around to the side). I really think that those barricades were too close to the ring on our side (the left side as you enter the Eagles club not facing the stationary cameras).
SPARKLE was surprisingly good. I have generally felt like these were fluff or strictly warm-up stuff in the past, but it seems like it's been stepping up lately and been entertaining. I'm not sure if it got the crowd totally warmed up, as that took time, but I was impressed.
Crowd was quieter at times (felt like we should have dimmed the lights or something to be like those shows in Japan okay maybe not that quiet!), and some of it later on was because I think people were just tired. But early on there were some great matches but the fans just weren't warmed up it felt like.
Sat in the JoshiFan(tm) section (no Hiroyo meant no Shupercousin Designs but I did see a "3G" poster that got put to good use later) next to Epic Fez Guy (Sean), who was losing his voice by the end. Thanks for your efforts!
One of the funner moments early on was being the Rhia fan sandwiched between two MsChif fans (I like 'em both but we had to cheer according to the t-shirts we were wearing at the time!). Lot of matches it was hard to know whom to cheer for because I just liked 'em all.
Saw Epic Flower Guy (tm) had upgraded his bouquet with the profits from last year, and was quite impressed. You could start a trend, man!
Gotta say the fan interaction was better than 49-50 which was just a madhouse at half time. Also Paisan's may not be as intimate as Michael Anthony's but the food is better (even if it takes longer). I think the pizza even tasted better this time around but maybe it was because I was hungrier. I ate at that mexican place across the street from the Eagles Club like I always do and its quick, cheap and good.
Waiting for wrestlers out in the lobby kinda sucks, but some came over to us and hung out (Leva was the first one over like last time, major props). Seems like I always miss out on certain people but got a lot of chances to meet people this time I hadn't before which was nice.
Staff was constantly shuffling us around at the afterparty telling us not to block the halls, which I guess some of us were doing (dang fans!).
So no ShuperCousin meant there were dirty looks at the crepe paper streamers (and even then there were few, if I'd have known I would have gone to Wal-Mart). A few people looked like they got hit with streamers (Bryce's comment about a streamer seminar was great).
Thought the "I dream of genie" theme song chants were a little odd until somebody explained it to me. Watching some of the early volumes I see that "wrrrrrrestling...!" has a long history indeed. It isn't quite the "What?" of Shimmer yet though. "SHIMER" jokes abounded throughout the night. Epic Comedian Guy (tm) (microwave) got a little teased by us in line, but it was all in fun. Hope he didn't take it wrong.
I think the next DVD's should have an extra audio track of just Joey's quips and sarcastic asides from the evening interspersed throughout the disc.
On to the actual show. I thought there was a LOT of green in the ring (not that I'm complaining). Where was this during the St. Patty's weekend show? Little late there guys. Still, not bad. Green wasn't always luckier though! Despite the finish, I thought Hamada vs. Mercedes was the match of the night (kudos to Mercedes as her match with Ayumi on 53 was the match of the night there too IMHO).
There are a lot of great wrestlers (and characters!) in Shimmer, but if I had to pick two that consistently put on awesome matches overall in Shimmer it would be these: Hamada and Mercedes. When their music hits you know what you're getting and it will be epic. That's not to diminish anyone else's efforts, don't get me wrong.
Mercedes was super cool at fan interaction too. A class act all around.
I am guessing we are building up to Saraya leaving Shimmer, which I will say will be a shame, but so it goes. I am sorry I didn't get to see Allison's retirement which I'm guessing is tomorrow.
Christina Van Eerie, major props, I didn't get to meet her and say this, but I think she's improved greatly since the last show. Her energy level, selling moves and dishing them out just seems way better than before. The "picking a fight" during fan interaction, with Saraya at the half was an interesting angle to give her another push. The haircut and the "oi!" chants can only get you so far!
Great to see Madison Eagles. "Welcome Back" chants, she's back! Even though she was being treated more like a face by the fans I am glad to see that she hasn't lost her badness, poutiness, and overall character she's developed over the time as heel champion.
Serena was good too, but this is the berwyn EAGLES club (thanks Epic Fez Guy)!
Family Show? Sure, if you mean the Addams Family!Shimmer is no longer PG. Despite our chants of "family show!" not only do we get profanity from Saraya (as we have for several volumes) but also from others, we saw blood (might have been accidental during a couple of matches and nowhere near Ric Flair level), way more crotch attacks, and more stuff that you'd expect to see in early Shimmer volumes. I'm not complaining, just noticing the trend. Scanning the crowd I didn't see any children this time, so maybe that was it.
Didn't see Saraya attack any "fans" this time, other than verbally, though I couldn't tell if CEV threw the cup of water or a crowd plant did during their match.
Veda and Shazza have gotten better, though I see they're not racing around the ring (and falling over) anymore.
Not sure I like Kalamity doing comedy, but when you're in a match with MsChif it's bound to happen. I'd be happy with her just speaking french and nobody understanding, but that's me.
Lots of interaction on this side with Mademoiselle Rochelle.
So once again the "spiked bras" are either really spikey and hurt or they don't, depending on the spot. Not wildly distracting, but something to watch for.
Some painful sounding slaps today. I imagine a lot of ice and skin cream last night or else there will be a lot of red faces and chests today. Yeouch.
Jessica Havok looks ten feet tall in the ring (and seems bigger, even though Melanie Cruise is taller). I think she should be pushed as a little scarier. Seems like the larger women just get cast as goofballs after awhile, which I guess works at a certain level, but still. Why can't they stay scary?
Liked Yu Yamagata (sp?) better this time than at 53, but maybe I'm just getting used to her. Still missing many of the Joshi regulars this time around though, even though I realize they can't realistically be at every Shimmer show.
Somebody commented that Skater "looks more buxom every match it seems." I can keep my comments to myself, but all I'll say is "not necessary!" I know each wrestler has their own style, look and lifestyle, but remember, this is Shimmer. 'Nuff said.
Love Skater as always and she is super nice in interactions. She and Tomoka are quite a pair in and out of the ring.
Gotta say I'm glad more heels aren't just walking in ignoring the fans then getting into the ring and acting shocked and surprised that they get booed. I know there's always somebody that knows the moment their music hits that we're "supposed" to hate or love this next person (even if they've never appeared in Shimmer before), but I at least like to have something to work with. Working the crowd, reacting in different ways (like Kimber Lea eating it up, for instance) is much better. After all, it seems like there have been heels and faces in Shimmer who just walk in, don't interact with fans at all, but get opposite reactions, even if they've never wrestled here before (and we can't go by what they've done in other promotions because they're not in continuity anyway). Didn't mean for that to be a rant, just something I was thinking about during the show.
I felt like Shimmer 53 spoiled me a bit for this show at times, as it would have seemed a lot fresher in places had I not seen the iPPV. I was sorely missing Lufisto though and the lack of any mention of it, other than Kana holding Pegaboo (whom I heard sold merchandise at the table, but I didn't get over to that side during the big rush) with her mask off during her entrance. I hope her surgery went well. Before we knew it was Danger retiring, I was sure the announcement was going to be Lufisto.
I didn't notice any obvious match mistakes this time (we did get Shazza & Vedas music then it cut before something else played), except maybe one dropkick barely touched and still knocked somebody over (and it was either a good save or realistic, but when Danger got defeated and was doing her "kicking turtle on its back" routine she got her opponent in the face and took them down), so kudos there, of course brawling in the outside is hard to see at times for us GA folks and so there could have been something there. I actually think those segments seem more intense just because you can't see, only hear what's going on.
I think the rows of chairs on our side of the ring were too close to the barriers, which was too close to the ring itself. This didn't just make it harder to get out of our seats. I noticed the black curtains and such which were fine, but I think the closer together chairs on our side meant there was a lot less room for people falling down out of the ring. People slamming into the rails on the sides may have bruised some fan toes or knees too, I don't know.
Merch was good, but once again some folks just aren't there at the tables on Saturday. I got to meet a few people I hadn't before at Paison's like Melanie Cruise which was cool. I understand everybody has their own style and timetable, but yeah it's nice to at least be able to say good job and shake a hand even if you can't get an autographed picture.
I saw Mr. Prazak for the second time in the flesh, at the afterparty and he was as nice a guy to meet as ever. Hearing how stressed out he gets at these things, I thought he was still quite personable and I thanked him for the work as I'm sure many others did as well as he was going to greet fans. Twenty more years, Dave, you hear me?
So overall pretty great. The lack of video packages was okay as the action moved along pretty quickly.
This show didn't feel quite as long as 49-50, and I checked my watch a few times just to see how it was going on. I yawned, but again it wasn't because of what was going in on the ring, I just think people were tired. I talked to folks who were really dedicated, having traveled far and wide just to get here. That's a testament to them but even more so to the company and its people.
So great job Dave, Allison and all the wrestlers and crew. Hope today is even better!!! (and no injuries, you hear me?)
Bonus: After party exchange of the night:
Me: So you didn't have your robe tonight, I guess Ric Flair wanted it back?
Miss Natural: F*** Ric Flair!