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Post by nymc32986 on Mar 21, 2012 5:08:24 GMT -6
-Ray and Leon. Both were really good, but, there was just something about Ray that really sold me on her a little more than Leon. Not sure if it was her awesome theme song with all the violins or that cartwheel powerbomb she did that said to me "oh, yes, Mr. Prazak... Ray's a keeper". Either way, Ray... PLEASE COME BACK! PLEASE COME BACK! and Bring Lin Bairon With you, it was Blasphemy that Lin didn't make a single appearance at all this past weekend! Next time It Should happen I tell you! |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2012 9:59:53 GMT -6
I've had time to reflect more about our first experience. I'm the dad with the daughter and her friend. In my first post I did not even come close to giving Athena the credit she deserves. The match she had with MM was beyond description and that match alone would have given me my money's worth. Every other match she was in was outstanding. I hope she gets a title shot. LuFisto I had very high expectations for, as I did MM. Again, LuFisto was all I expected and more. She obviously enjoys what she does and her enthusiasm is contagious. ... I just want to say, when I walk into a show, especially knowing that 4 DVDs were going to be taped, I suspend all belief and totally let myself not analysis. Like a horror movie, I just enjoy the ride. This entire ride was way beyond enjoyable. Especially the last part is how I felt too. Btw, I wasn't complaining about the kids in my earlier post. See, I was never a child at a wrestling show, and it sounds like they were really into it. It reminded me of Ricky from Smallville cheering for Superman when he was in a tight spot.  Or if you've seen the "Best of X-Division" set for TNA, there's a match where this kid is calling to AJ Styles nearly the whole match (and I can just imagine his face when his hero pulls out the win). What's stuck in my head is Jessie McKay's entrance music, and that just started since Saturday. Go figure. To nymc32986: If she does come back (and I hope she does), we should get a chant together based on the auto shop jingle, no doubt. As for Leon (I like the french pronunciation, though I really thought it was "Lee Ohn" before) I think she's just as cool a masked luchadora style wrestler as Ray, even if I'm more familiar with the latter. Sure, Ray to me looks a little cuter in her mask and white, and Leon has more of the "animal" (lion?) vibe about her, but both have a place in the ring. If there's anything really Shimmer does right these days, it's with characters and diversity of looks. |
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Post by josephwjames on Mar 21, 2012 12:06:08 GMT -6
I love the fan that was sitting to my left at Paisans Sunday night who was making fun of all the guys taking pics with Leva. He was like "they all think they have a connection but really these girls don't care about them..." then after a pause he was like "I think so and so recognizes ME from meeting her (here/ there....)" I was listening to his rant about how everyone was marks except for him and laughing loudly enough that he could hear. The punchline was when HIS connection with a wrestler was REAL and everyone else's was a markout. Don't tear a ligament in your shoulder patting yourself on a the back dude.
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Post by josephwjames on Mar 21, 2012 12:21:41 GMT -6
But seriously the wrestling was amazing all around. No complaints. The women were all superfriendly during halftime or at the afterparties. I got to meet talk to or get autographs of at least 3/4 of the roster. We were in the front row but in a sort of neglected corner. All the faces came and highfived us. A lot of heels skipped our corner but Portia Perez and Saraya made up for it a bit. Also when Melissa and Portia brawled around the building they stopped at my seat, knocked it over and went back over the rail to the ringside area at my spot.
I could have gotten some sick photos but I opted to actually live in the moment, not carry a camera and watch all the action. Besides being in the (neglected corner) we were also in the corner of the fattest ringside photographer. It was almost impossible to see the wrestlers because even if they were off to the side of the ring, he moved in the way. Please hire some smaller photographers. Maybe that guy can get a job as a flight attendant or something else where his weight gets in the way. Sorry, I had to complain about something! My friend was complaining about the price of cabs but I thought it was worth it when I saw cops camping out across the street waiting to pick off drunk drivers when Paisans was closing Sunday.
The only advice I can give if you are reading this besides, check out one of these weekends, fly in or whatever you have to do because it's worth the time effort and money. Also, if you are a late fan to Shimmer, check out those DVDS that are back in stock. I have picked up volume's 41+42 this weekend and haven't gotten a chance to watch them yet but there's no doubt in my mind they are worth every penny. As far as old volumes pick up every one possible when you get a chance. I've seen 1-40 (minus one random one that didn't have Melissa on it) If you are a wrestling fan, perhaps you can sacrifice something else so you can afford these dvds or a trip to see Shimmer live. Maybe, don't support the PPVs or live events of the big 2 or maybe buy used baby clothes instead of new or stop smoking weed for a month or 2.
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Post by themib on Mar 21, 2012 12:35:08 GMT -6
Melissa's been on every volume, she's one of two ever-presents, the other being Sara Del Rey.
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Post by josephwjames on Mar 21, 2012 13:02:47 GMT -6
Thanks. Then the 1 volume I missed (because I thought Melissa was absent) shall remain a mystery.
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Post by mrtuesday on Mar 21, 2012 13:08:23 GMT -6
This was my 3rd Shimmer weekend. Once again, I'm only able to make Saturday, and unable to make the after party. But it was a fun event regardless.
I sat behind the guy with the "Free Hugs" sign. It was the first time I've sat at that side of the Eagle's Club, and it made all the difference. Sitting facing the hard camera was fun for face time on DVDs, but it was fun to see Mecades/Athena & Portia/Melissa end up in front of us. I got to see Melissa put Portia into the trash can up close. Running in fear when Saraya went into the crowd. It was very fun. I know where I'll sit for future tapings.
This weekend was filled with things I miss from nationwide televised wrestling, actual women's wrestling, and great tag team wrestling. More of this for the next set, please?
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Post by dmpunk on Mar 21, 2012 13:26:34 GMT -6
Hey, I'm the free hugs guy. The one thing I didn't like sitting in that side was the amount of times the camera guy was in my way. It wasn't a huge problem, but it was kind of annoying at times, especially if I wanted to take a pic of what was going on in the ring.
I think next time, I am gonna sit on the side with the hard cam. That seems to have the least amount of issues with things getting in the way. But really, there isn't really a bad spot to sit in since the place is so small to begin with.
Intermission at SHIMMER might be the craziest part of any wrestling show I've ever been to though.
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Post by Evergrey06 on Mar 21, 2012 13:37:21 GMT -6
After intermission one of the days, I went back to my seat and one of my buddies said "You look like you got into a fight." So, yeah, that's intermission, haha.
And yeah, sitting with your back to the hard camera has the least amount of cameramen blocking your view.
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Post by gregorycameltrunk on Mar 21, 2012 13:54:48 GMT -6
Love that promo. 'I don't care where in the world it is, I'm gonna getcha.' Just over 5 years later, and she got her. |
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Post by gregorycameltrunk on Mar 21, 2012 14:02:22 GMT -6
Great write up about Saraya courtesy of ringbellesonline.com....
Almost five years ago, Sweet Saraya was injured in a match against Cheerleader Melissa where her kneecap was severed – an injury so bad that not only was she told she may never wrestle again, but she may lose her leg. Showing the same sort of guile and determination that saw her endure brutal attacks while as a valet, and become clinically blind, she returned to the ring four months later – probably earlier than she should have, but nobody is going to stop Saraya when she sets her mind on something.
Saraya and Melissa didn’t share a building again until a year ago when the British veteran debuted in SHIMMER alongside her daughter Britani. The fact that she even made it to the promotion in the first place was a big unlikelihood, as she believed her time for wrestling in the US had passed, and in her own mind, was only tagging along as part of a showcase for her 18-year old offspring, who was well on the radar of WWE at the time – she’s now signed, as has been renamed Paige, making her FCW TV in-ring debut last week – but something happened. Instead of being in the background, Saraya ended up right in the spotlight due to her surly demeanour, violent tendencies and venom-filled promos – so much so that when Britani turned babyface and they wrestled on SHIMMER Volume 44 last October, the pair brutalised each other with Britani getting the win, and the wicked witch was vanquished. Some thought that would also be the last we would see of the red-haired menace in SHIMMER.
They were wrong.
Saraya and Melissa’s only interaction in promotion before last weekend was before and after Britani’s match with the SHIMMER original on volume 41, which saw the younger Knight defeated. The two shared a moment of looking at each other, but that was as far as it went. However, the two gravitated towards each other again, as Saraya hired Nicole Matthews and Portia Perez as mercenaries to injure Melissa during their SHIMMER title challenges on volumes 45 and 46 respectively. Both were unsuccessful in wresting the title away. Jessie McKay was also approached by Saraya, but despite wavering in her resolve to play by the rules, the Australian stayed true to herself and defied the Brit’s request, leading to the mother of all pull-aparts, though not the first time that Saraya had to be dragged out of the Berwyn Eagles Club that weekend – she was disqualified against Shazza McKenzie and Veda Scott for being overly aggressive, and had to be restrained after repeatedly going into the crowd to slap fans who gave her backchat and criticised her on the SHIMMER forum. Nobody was safe from her terror.
After seeing plan A fall by the wayside, Saraya’s antics saw the Champion challenge her enemy with the title on the line, which was an opportunity which the Brit took with both hands, and would go to any lengths to get the belt. She attacked Melissa’s knee before the match on volume 48, and targeted it throughout the match, which was a big throwback to their last match which saw the gruesome injury to Saraya’s leg. In the end, it was that knee-related offence which saw Melissa tap out while Saraya held the ropes to secure the most unlikely SHIMMER title change so far.
Unlikely for many reasons. For starters, many fans had anticipated Melissa to hold onto the belt for more than one weekend of tapings, considering her run towards the title was long and arduous. Some have said since the shows that Melissa deserved a longer run, considering the duration of the other championship reigns by Sara Del Rey, MsChif and Madison Eagles. However, it can be argued that another long reign would have been somewhat predictable – so much so that the Eagles Club fell into a stunned silence when Melissa was dethroned on defence number four. Melissa’s story in the promotion has been the nearly-woman, falling short in her attempts to get a title shot on a number of occasions and then falling in her first attempt at the belt against Eagles before securing the belt on volume 44. Her vulnerability is something that endears her to fans, so her quest to regain the title puts her in a more marketable position than being the defending champion. In addition, the top feud in SHIMMER now features the most popular woman against the most hated, making the next tapings a very promising prospect indeed.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2012 14:10:24 GMT -6
Saraya (Mum) sounds like one tough lady! I hate hearing about major injuries, but it makes me respect them all the more, suffering for the love of their craft despite setbacks like that. I love the fan that was sitting to my left at Paisans Sunday night who was making fun of all the guys taking pics with Leva. He was like "they all think they have a connection but really these girls don't care about them..." then after a pause he was like "I think so and so recognizes ME from meeting her (here/ there....)" I was listening to his rant about how everyone was marks except for him and laughing loudly enough that he could hear. The punchline was when HIS connection with a wrestler was REAL and everyone else's was a markout. Don't tear a ligament in your shoulder patting yourself on a the back dude. Funny. The "don't care" thing almost sounds like he thinks we're looking for a date or something. Even though the FAQ suggested buying people dinner/drinks that still seems a bit odd considering cultural expectations here. Hitting on the performers would be very inappropriate, especially seeing as how most of them are surely spoken for. Anytime I meet somebody famous or semi-famous I just assume they won't remember me. Meet & greet is more for us than it is for them. I just want to say to them "good job, keep up the good work" maybe throw in something about something I enjoyed. Last thing any of us would want is to come across as obsessive or creepy. Some people are better with faces and names, but when you've got the schedule of even an indy wrestler I'm sure you go through tons of people, and a quick photo and an autograph when you're dead tired isn't going to create a lasting impression. It's enough for me to know I'm a fan (and a new one at that). Leva certainly went out of her way to be friendly with everyone (and the Joshi were super outgoing). Melissa was a little more reserved, but that's the way she comes off in interviews too (and that's not against her, everyone's personality is different). I didn't have a camera at the taping, but she still offered to get a photo at the after party for free (not in her gear of course, but still). Courtney Rush was like "I'm really tired, but okay..." and all smiles. It's just fun to see the contrast between some of the over-the-top characters in the ring and the perfectly ordinary people outside the ring. I didn't get to meet Saraya, but everyone is afraid of her and yet she looks like a perfectly lovely woman outside of her persona. It's called acting, people! But that includes being gracious to fans even when you might just want to get out of there and get a nap before the next show, drive/flight, etc. Every wrestler I talked to was polite, so that's really all that matters to me. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2012 14:16:12 GMT -6
On another note, during 41-42 my only complaint was that being in the Joshi Fans section (which was a blast), it was almost too much with all the chants and clever witty shoutouts. By the end of the evening one of my ears was sore from having the guy behind me shout into it. Don't get me wrong, I loved his enthusiasm and his comments were funny, but man, wish I had had an earplug to dampen it a little bit. But I think next time I'll pick a different side because of having to weave around the camera guy (who wasn't fat, but defiantly in the way). Kudos, 'Free Hugs' guy, btw. Also hats off to the hat guys, daring Saraya to knock them off. Wonder if the guy who got Saraya to wipe her bum with it will sell that on Ebay? (Rubbed by the Champion Herself!) Some of the performers didn't even look our way, because of the camera placement (Skater, Hamada, I'm looking at you!). But I'm not bitter about it. Intermission was way crazier this time than Oct 1st, but maybe it's because I was in the restroom line for part of it and missed the mad rush. Saw Kellie, Allison, etc. standing on chairs to be visible. I'll echo the sentiment of others (including the person below me) and say I can't wait to see what I missed as well! |
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Post by nugoyxi on Mar 21, 2012 14:25:10 GMT -6
I so can't wait to see 45-48!
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Post by spiffie on Mar 21, 2012 15:07:04 GMT -6
The realization that we are probably 6 months or so from the next time we get to see SHIMMER has just begun to sink in and leave me feeling a bit bummed out.
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Or if you've seen the "Best of X-Division" set for TNA, there's a match where this kid is calling to AJ Styles nearly the whole match (and I can just imagine his face when his hero pulls out the win). 
