Post by jtron on Feb 9, 2006 23:20:08 GMT -6
There's a nice review up at Death Valley Driver Video Review message board:
I just finished watching SHIMMER: Volume 1, and was REALLY impressed. I know a lot of people here have talked about how Trish, Mickie James & Co. have been the highlight of Raw lately, and thought I would point those people (and anyone else who might be on the fence about women's wrestling) to some really good American Women's wrestling you can pick up cheap.
When most US wrestling fans think of women's wrestling, they think of WWE's version of "women's wrestling" and write it off as poorly trained models playing wrestling for the sake of T&A. When ROH started running occasional women's matches last year even a good portion of their fans responded, sight-unseen, that they hated the idea because "women's wrestling stinks". Sure, if your range of experience was Candice Michelle, Ashley Massaro and Lita you'd come to that opinion. But if all WWE showed you was Gene Snitsky, Nathan Jones and Heidenriech, you'd quickly form the opinion that "men's wrestling stinks." Just as there's both good and bad men's wrestling, there IS good women's wrestling out there to counteract what most of us have been exposed to.
And SHIMMER: Volume 1 has plenty of good women's wrestling. Lacey Vs. Sara Del Ray is a good women's match that shows that the women can get a reaction out of an ROH crowd just as much as the men. Cheerleader Melissa Vs. MsChif is a good women's match that proves the girls can take some NASTY shots and some painful submissions. Daizee Haze Vs. Lacey is a really good women's match that proves that women CAN make a crowd get into a match, and want to see one girl kick the other's ass. And Mercedes Martinez Vs. Sara Del Ray is a GREAT women's match that proves something else entirely.
These aren't just good women's wrestling matches. They're good pro wrestling matches.
Del Ray Vs. Martinez is probably getting the most hype from this show, and for good reason. For people who are a fan of women's wrestling, it's a match that stands as validation that this is a legitimate part of wrestling. For people who have their doubts, it's a match that will make people forget that they're watching women's wrestling, and remind them why they enjoy watching wrestling.
It's hyped as a first-time-dream-match, with the East Coast's Martinez taking on the West Coast's Del Ray. And they start the match in that spirit, shaking hands and working a slow feeling out process, including clean breaks in the corner. As the match heats up, they engage in a strike exchange, that while stiff, is clean and obviously feuled by respect.
Del Ray gets the advantage from there, and frustration sets in as she decides she's going to hit a powerbomb for the win, but Mercedes keeps countering and reversing. When Del Ray finally does hit the move, it only gets 2, and Sara looks shocked that the move she spent 10 minutes trying to hit didn't work. As Del Ray looks to regroup, Martinez hits a nasty German Suplex right on the shoulder and then ties her opponent up, taking a moment to get back her strength. A second strike exchange follows, and this time there's more slaps and considerably less patience.
Martinez works the arm and shoulder, including a really pretty butterfly lock, but Del Ray gets a couple of flash pin attempts to swing the momentum. That's short-lived, as Martinez uses the same strategy, hitting a couple quick rollups to turn the tide back. Del Ray counters into a butterfly lock of her own, but her arm gives out before she can get the submission. A tired and hurt Mercedes hits a fisherman's buster, but sadly, time has run out.
This match had smart work, hard hitting action and a great story, and got the crowd, who was fairly quiet for the early matches into a standing ovation by the end. If you're not looking forward to the 4 Corner match involving these two on Volume 2, or the inevitable re-match by the end, it's tough to imagine how you call yourself a wrestling fan.
Other highlights:
* Allison Danger has improved 100x since her early ROH work. I hadn't seen much of Beth Phoenix, so I was kind of looking past their match, but both girls showed up and had a much better match than I anticipated. On commentary, Allison is REALLY quiet in the beginning, but by the end seems comfortable.
* Lacey is a fantastic heel. Say what you want about her corner work in ROH, but she's great here. Amazingly cocky when she's in control and a really annoying chickensh*t stooge when she's on the defensive. Her tag partner Rain (of the fantastically named "Minnesota Homewrecking Crew") is good as well, and Team Blondage are great talking about how cute their outfits are while everyone is trying to be taken seriously as athletes.
* Daizee Haze can take a serious beating. She's great at selling (her fighting off the ringpost bow & arrow was great) and really got the crowd behind her.
* These women are definitely athletes. Some really fun spots I have never even seen guys do. Notable are Shantelle Taylor's counters to Tiana Ringer's waistlock and Cheerleader Melissa's inverted Cloverleaf on MsChif where she repeatedly makes MsChif kick herself in the head.
* There's a great attention to detail. EVERY match has the time elapsed announced every 5 minutes, so when they do it during Martinez/Del Ray it isn't blatantly obvious to the fans in attendance that there will be a draw. That's something most companies miss. The heels and faces escorting Lacey and Del Ray in color coded ROH shirts on the bonus match is great too.
* Look for the easter egg off the main menu. Hillarious "dark match" to give some guys a few minutes to show what they can do before the real show starts. Involves lots of ROH stars, blankets, toilet paper, the greatest ripped off RVD/Sabu spot ever, and the toughest match of Jimmy Jacobs' life.
Bottom line is: the DVD is only $15. With all the sales ROH runs you can almost CERTAINLY get it for cheaper than that. If you're on the fence at all, make it an impulse purchase. If you're really skeptical about women's wrestling skip straight to Del Ray Vs. Martinez. Then check out Lacey/Daizee, Melissa/MsChif, Danger/Phoenix and Lacey/Del Ray. If you're not impressed, oh well, you didn't spend a fortune. But I'd be willing to bet you'll set aside $15 bucks for Volume 2. I know I will.
When most US wrestling fans think of women's wrestling, they think of WWE's version of "women's wrestling" and write it off as poorly trained models playing wrestling for the sake of T&A. When ROH started running occasional women's matches last year even a good portion of their fans responded, sight-unseen, that they hated the idea because "women's wrestling stinks". Sure, if your range of experience was Candice Michelle, Ashley Massaro and Lita you'd come to that opinion. But if all WWE showed you was Gene Snitsky, Nathan Jones and Heidenriech, you'd quickly form the opinion that "men's wrestling stinks." Just as there's both good and bad men's wrestling, there IS good women's wrestling out there to counteract what most of us have been exposed to.
And SHIMMER: Volume 1 has plenty of good women's wrestling. Lacey Vs. Sara Del Ray is a good women's match that shows that the women can get a reaction out of an ROH crowd just as much as the men. Cheerleader Melissa Vs. MsChif is a good women's match that proves the girls can take some NASTY shots and some painful submissions. Daizee Haze Vs. Lacey is a really good women's match that proves that women CAN make a crowd get into a match, and want to see one girl kick the other's ass. And Mercedes Martinez Vs. Sara Del Ray is a GREAT women's match that proves something else entirely.
These aren't just good women's wrestling matches. They're good pro wrestling matches.
Del Ray Vs. Martinez is probably getting the most hype from this show, and for good reason. For people who are a fan of women's wrestling, it's a match that stands as validation that this is a legitimate part of wrestling. For people who have their doubts, it's a match that will make people forget that they're watching women's wrestling, and remind them why they enjoy watching wrestling.
It's hyped as a first-time-dream-match, with the East Coast's Martinez taking on the West Coast's Del Ray. And they start the match in that spirit, shaking hands and working a slow feeling out process, including clean breaks in the corner. As the match heats up, they engage in a strike exchange, that while stiff, is clean and obviously feuled by respect.
Del Ray gets the advantage from there, and frustration sets in as she decides she's going to hit a powerbomb for the win, but Mercedes keeps countering and reversing. When Del Ray finally does hit the move, it only gets 2, and Sara looks shocked that the move she spent 10 minutes trying to hit didn't work. As Del Ray looks to regroup, Martinez hits a nasty German Suplex right on the shoulder and then ties her opponent up, taking a moment to get back her strength. A second strike exchange follows, and this time there's more slaps and considerably less patience.
Martinez works the arm and shoulder, including a really pretty butterfly lock, but Del Ray gets a couple of flash pin attempts to swing the momentum. That's short-lived, as Martinez uses the same strategy, hitting a couple quick rollups to turn the tide back. Del Ray counters into a butterfly lock of her own, but her arm gives out before she can get the submission. A tired and hurt Mercedes hits a fisherman's buster, but sadly, time has run out.
This match had smart work, hard hitting action and a great story, and got the crowd, who was fairly quiet for the early matches into a standing ovation by the end. If you're not looking forward to the 4 Corner match involving these two on Volume 2, or the inevitable re-match by the end, it's tough to imagine how you call yourself a wrestling fan.
Other highlights:
* Allison Danger has improved 100x since her early ROH work. I hadn't seen much of Beth Phoenix, so I was kind of looking past their match, but both girls showed up and had a much better match than I anticipated. On commentary, Allison is REALLY quiet in the beginning, but by the end seems comfortable.
* Lacey is a fantastic heel. Say what you want about her corner work in ROH, but she's great here. Amazingly cocky when she's in control and a really annoying chickensh*t stooge when she's on the defensive. Her tag partner Rain (of the fantastically named "Minnesota Homewrecking Crew") is good as well, and Team Blondage are great talking about how cute their outfits are while everyone is trying to be taken seriously as athletes.
* Daizee Haze can take a serious beating. She's great at selling (her fighting off the ringpost bow & arrow was great) and really got the crowd behind her.
* These women are definitely athletes. Some really fun spots I have never even seen guys do. Notable are Shantelle Taylor's counters to Tiana Ringer's waistlock and Cheerleader Melissa's inverted Cloverleaf on MsChif where she repeatedly makes MsChif kick herself in the head.
* There's a great attention to detail. EVERY match has the time elapsed announced every 5 minutes, so when they do it during Martinez/Del Ray it isn't blatantly obvious to the fans in attendance that there will be a draw. That's something most companies miss. The heels and faces escorting Lacey and Del Ray in color coded ROH shirts on the bonus match is great too.
* Look for the easter egg off the main menu. Hillarious "dark match" to give some guys a few minutes to show what they can do before the real show starts. Involves lots of ROH stars, blankets, toilet paper, the greatest ripped off RVD/Sabu spot ever, and the toughest match of Jimmy Jacobs' life.
Bottom line is: the DVD is only $15. With all the sales ROH runs you can almost CERTAINLY get it for cheaper than that. If you're on the fence at all, make it an impulse purchase. If you're really skeptical about women's wrestling skip straight to Del Ray Vs. Martinez. Then check out Lacey/Daizee, Melissa/MsChif, Danger/Phoenix and Lacey/Del Ray. If you're not impressed, oh well, you didn't spend a fortune. But I'd be willing to bet you'll set aside $15 bucks for Volume 2. I know I will.
