Shimmer Volume 21
Breyrn, IL

　 Serena Deeb opens up the show by coming to the ring for an interview. Deeb explains that she’s grooming herself in Shimmer to become the very best. Deeb brings up the woman who won the first Shimmer championship, the very same woman who beat her at the last Shimmer taping, Sara Del Rey. Serena wants the rematch right now. Del Rey comes out to tell Deeb she doesn’t deserve a rematch. Deeb questions Del Rey’s womanhood, causing Sara to rush her, kicking Deeb in the chest to give us…

　 Sara Del Rey vs. Serena Deeb
Sara used her ring coat to whip Deeb across the ring. Deeb fought back with a few forearms, but was quickly head-butted down. Deeb was pinned against the corner, getting chopped, punched, and stomped on. Deeb paid her back with a few chops, but ran into another big boot. Deeb recovered, going for a cross body block. Del Rey showed some amazing strength, catching her before backbreaking Serena. Del Rey was focused on that hurting back, stomping and kicking it before tying her up in a bow & arrow. Deeb got free, but Del Rey refused to let her get anything started. Big senton across Deeb’s back from gives Sara a two count. Sara followed up with a running big boot to Deeb’s back while she was out on her feet. Sara wanted to senton bomb her from the middle rope, but Deeb was ready, moving in time. Deeb got up with those stinging right jabs. Serena used the running knee/neck breaker combo to get a two count. Deeb wanted to unleash the Spear. Sara sidestepped it, kneeing Serena in the chest. Dragging her across the middle rope, Del Rey rattled Serena’s head with the hip attack. Deeb kicked out, causing Del Rey to kick her in the face for another pin attempt. Deeb also kicked out of that one. Deeb blocked the Royal Butterfly, going for a series of pinning combinations. Del Rey rolled through the sunset flip, turning it into the Royal Butterfly to pin Deeb here in our opening contest.

　 Miss Natural vs. Lorelei Lee
I don’t know why, but Natural reminds me of a female version of Adam Pearce. Or maybe I do know. Natural can’t use the hammerlock in great fashion, but Lee can with the arm drag. Lee slapped Natural into a belly to back suplex for a two count. Lee wanted to take down Natural with the handspring cross body block, but Natural caught her. Natural used that to fall away slam Lee. Natural was all over Lee until Natural went for a back drop. Lee rolled her up, putting Natural in an arm bar. Natural got free, tying up Lee’s legs, working over her back. Natural whipped her into the corner, but Lee gained some momentum for a cross body block. Lee used the ropes to arm drag Natural from a springboard position. Lee’s kick got caught, allowing Natural to hit the Natural Disaster to win her Shimmer debut match.

　 Daffney comes out to cut a promo about her match with Cat Power, and how Power went after her knee. Somehow, she confuses herself with Shark Girl. Daffney wants a rematch right meow! Yes, she says, “MEOW!”

Daffney vs. Cat Power
Power’s entrance theme is “The Pot” by Tool, which just adds cool points to anyone, no matter the gimmick. Daffney hails from Bad Street U.S.A., so she also has cool points that would help anyone. This is more a cool point battle than anything for me. Oh, the match. Well, Daffney meowed her way out of the head scissors before distracting Power with a ball of yarn. I kid you not; Power was crawling around the ring after that ball of yarn. This left Cat Power open for a couple of arm drags, then a sitting neck snapper. Power used the claws to blind Daffney, then rake her back. Daffney was meowing in pain as Power slammed her to the mat for a near fall. Hung in the tree of woe, Daffney had no choice but to meow. Power tried to rush the hung Daffney, but Daffney flipped out of the corner, over Power before hooking Power’s head, reverse DDT’ing her. Daffney was meowing her way through clotheslines and dropkicks, but couldn’t get a pin off of them. Once again, Daffney distracted Power with the yarn again before executing Daffknees. Daffney made the cover, getting her first win in Shimmer.

　 Nikki Roxx vs. Danyah
Both women were looking to work over the left arm of their opponent, but neither could get a solid advantage. Danyah switched up the game plan, going for some pinning combinations before dropping Roxx across the middle rope, leaving Roxx open for a pair of knees to her back. Danyah was surprisingly in control of the veteran as she forearmed her in the mouth before whipping her across the ring. Danyah followed up with a dropkick, then some stomps on the grounded Nikki. Danyah was getting a little frustrated when Roxx refused to stay down for the three count. Nikki fought back after kicking Danyah backwards. Nikki used a few high impact moves like the overhead power slam and the spine buster to wear out Danyah for a failed pin attempt. Danyah fought Nikki when Roxx put her on the top rope, coming off with another dropkick when Nikki stumbled away from the corner. Danyah hit the final cut, but still couldn’t pin Roxx. Roxx turned an Irish whip into the Barbie Crusher for the 1, 2, 3.

　 Amber O’Neal vs. Wesna Busic
Amber gave the fans a lashing about clapping for her, especially since she doesn’t like them anyway. Amber wasn’t too happy about being in the ring with Busic. I guess I wouldn’t either. Busic German suplexed Awesome Kong. Most men can’t do that. Amber chopped Wesna down with some kicks to her legs, but it didn’t keep Wesna down for long. Wesna yakuza kicked Amber to the floor. Amber was stalling to her heart’s content to avoid reentering the ring. Wesna dragged her in by her hair. Stuck on Wesna’s shoulders, Amber raked Busic’s eyes before clipping her left leg again. Amber knew about Wesna’s kick, and was trying to prevent those to the best of her ability by weakening that leg. Wesna kicked her away when she tried to tie her legs up again. Wesna kicked Amber in the ribs, then the side of her head. A huge Samoan drop by Wesna nearly got her the pin. Wesna went for another big kick, only to hang herself in the ropes, leaving her left leg open for a beating. Busic reversed a whip into the corner, forearming Amber when she hit the turnbuckles. A few kicks to the back of Amber had O’Neal down for a couple of seconds. All of sudden, Amber unleashed some forearms, going toe to toe with the bigger brawler. Amber didn’t win the exchange, but did catch the incoming Wesna, driving her to the mat with a STO. Amber tried to follow up by sunset flipping Wesna, but Busic caught her in mid-flip, using the CB4 Driver to pick up her first victory in Shimmer competition.

　 Shimmer Tag Team Championship Gauntlet: Canadian Ninjas (Portia Perez & Nicole Matthews) vs. The Pink Ladies (Madison Eagles & Jessie McKay)
Of course the Ninjas have their 7-11 Super Gulps for hydration purposes. Eagles is a big woman. I mean tall big. Eagles used that to frustrate the Ninjas in attempting to set up for the test of strength. Eagles showed some great agility, running up the ropes before arm dragging Matthews across the ring. When Nicole tried to roll through the arm bar, Eagles just pinned her to the mat for a one count. Nicole tagged out as Madison did the same. Portia tried to nip out of an arm bar, but ended up having to use the referee for help. It didn’t help much. A double team double clothesline from The Ladies left Portia wide open for a sliding dropkick to the face by Eagles. Eagles followed up by back breaking Perez in position for McKay’s falling clothesline. Perez had only one choice of going to the eyes to end the suffering, tagging out to Nicole, who put Jessie in a backbreaker of her own. The Ninjas used the referee to their advantage to distract and choke Jessie. Some big forearms and elbows from little Portia had Jessie down for a two count. Portia stomped Jessie in the face a couple of times after slamming McKay to the mat by her hair. McKay tried to use the momentum of being whipped off the ropes by rolling Nicole up, but each time it was unsuccessful. The Ninjas were doing everything in their power to prevent McKay from tagging in. McKay used an enzuguri to finally knock Nicole down long enough to tag out.
Madison came in, forearming both Ninjas down before using the Hell Bound (a death valley driver across her knee) on Portia. Nicole broke up the sure pin, getting caught by McKay. Portia super kicked McKay into Nicole’s German suplex to eliminate The Ladies.

　 Canadian Ninjas vs. Suicide Blondes (LuFisto & Jennifer Blake)
The action immediately went to the floor before LuFisto pitched Matthews into the ring. A kick to Matthews’ back and a northern lights suplex from LuFisto almost eliminated that Canucks. Blake tagged in, big splashing Nicole, with LuFisto following up by senton splashing her. LuFisto wasn’t done, hoisting Blake onto her shoulders, DVD’ing Blake on top of Nicole for a near fall. Blake almost broke her neck with a head scissors, but it didn’t stop her from clotheslining Matthews into a bulldog. Nicole used a drop toe hold to send Blake face first into the middle turnbuckle. The Ninjas used this opportunity to double choke Blake before Portia used Allison Danger’s Lovelace Choker, who she put out on the shelf a Shimmer show ago. A knee to the abdomen by Perez stopped anything Blake had in mind. Nicole impressed herself with a perfect dropkick before nipping to her feet. Like they did in the last match, The Ninjas used the referee to their advantage, getting in some double team chokes. Blake fought out of the rear chin lock, turning it into an airplane spin. Blake got the tag right after the balance-debilitating move. Nicole slipped in, kicking LuFisto in the back of her head before posing over her. Blake caught the happy Nicole with Danger’s Shimmering Warlock. Is this “Steal all of Danger’s moves” night? Multiple head-butts by LuFisto, then a pair of double knees. Portia tripped LuFisto when she went for the face wash. Blake pitched Portia in, doubling kneeing her so LuFisto could face wash Perez out of the ring. Super assisted lung blower by The Blondes allowed LuFisto to pin Matthews, eliminating The Ninjas.

　 International Home Wrecking Crew (Rain & Jetta) vs. The Suicide Blondes
The Crew immediately jumped The Blondes, but it didn’t help much. The Crew’s dancing skills ended with a double clothesline, then a few arm drags on Rain by Blake. Rain reversed an Irish whip, sending Blake’s back into Jetta’s knee. Jetta tagged in, choking Jennifer. Double kicks to the Jennifer’s back had her down for two seconds, angering Jetta. Blake popped off the mat, forearming Jetta in the face when Jetta started to break out those dance moves. Jetta easily recovered, clotheslining Blake before tagging in Rain. Rain had this match under control, beating Blake around the ring for Jetta to chop her when she legally returned. Blake took the chop, paying her back with some chops of her own. Jetta had to tag Rain back in to avoid losing the advantage. Rain used the rear chin lock to claw Blake’s face. Rain whipped Blake into the ropes, ending up getting clotheslined herself. LuFisto tagged in, taking down the fresh Jetta. Jetta got stunned, allowing Blake to cross body block her. LuFisto tried to hit the ropes, but Rain pulled them open, sending LuFisto to the floor. Blake was still hurting from the beating from the last two matches, leaving her open for the double knees from Rain, then the stranglehold from Jetta. Before Blake could tap out, LuFisto was there to save her. Rain ran in, knocking LuFisto out of the ring. While doing this, Rain tossed Jetta a pair of brass knuckles, distracting the referee so Jetta could knock Blake out to pin her.

　 International Home Wrecking Crew vs. Ashley Lane & Nevaeh
The newest team in tried to get a quick pin with a series of pinning combinations. Nevaeh snapped Rain into a clothesline for a two count. Jawbreaker by Rain left Nevaeh open for the clothesline. Jetta came in, neck breaking Nevaeh before dusting the dirt off of her shoulder. It’s the roc! Holla! J-to-the-etta used a drop toe hold so Rain could elbow drop her back. Nevaeh fought through the rear chin lock, but not the hair snap. Jetta stood on Nevaeh’s throat until the four count from the referee. After getting a two count after a senton splash, Jetta and Rain kept the tags frequent. Nevaeh’s back was killing her after a kick to it from both women. Nevaeh rolled free of the submission hold Jetta had her in, making the tag out to Lane. Lane was a house of fire, elbowing and dropkicking Jetta. Lane blocked the Stranglehold Lung Blower, but got whipped into Rain’s boots. Rain followed up by pulling Lane out of the corner with the Lung Blower for a shocking near fall. Lane whipped Rain into Jetta, bulldogging Rain on the rebound. Nevaeh yakuza kicked Rain into Lane’s STO to get the victory over Rain & Jetta.

　 Ashley Lane & Nevaeh vs. The Experience (Malia Hosaka & Lexie Fyfe)
The youngsters actually got the jump on the more mature team, using a couple of slingshots, then a pair of dropkicks on Fyfe. Lexie was taken down by a cross body by Nevaeh before being whipped into her corner. Hosaka tagged in, head scissoring Lane after reversing the arm drag. Lane got free, tagging out while holding onto Hosaka’s arm. Another double team by Lane & Nevaeh had Hosaka down for a two count. Malia reversed a whip, sending Nevaeh to the bad part of town. Fyfe choked Nevaeh before tagging in. A couple of tags from The Experience had Nevaeh on the mat. Also a flying forearm from Malia kept Nevaeh horizontal. The Experience wanted to execute the double team Gourdbuster, but Lane stopped it from happening. Nevaeh rolled to her corner, tagging in Ashley. The Experience didn’t let Lane get much going, knocking her around for the double team Gourdbuster. Like Lane, Nevaeh came in to save her partner. Hosaka kicked Lane down after whipping her off the ropes. A couple of suplexes later had Lane writing. Fyfe propelled Lane off the ropes into a sidewalk slam, then a backbreaker. Hosaka tagged back in after Lane refused to give up, kicking Lane down. Lane tried to head scissors her way to a tag, but it didn’t help her. Fyfe came back in, putting Ashley in the camel clutch. Lane got turned into a pendulum to be cracked in the head by Malia’s boot. Nevaeh stopped another attempt of the double team Gourdbuster. The Experience turned around, clotheslining both women down. Lane rolled to her corner after blocking the Attitude Adjustment (no, not that one), tagging in Nevaeh. Like their opponents, The Experience stopped the kick into the STO, pitching Lane to the floor. Nevaeh reversed the whip, causing Hosaka to super kick Fyfe. Yakuza kick/STO combo, and Nevaeh & Ashley Lane pick up the win to become the first ever Shimmer Tag Team champions.

　 Portuguese Princess Ariel vs. Mercedes Martinez vs. Cheerleader Melissa vs. Amazing Kong
All three women realized that Kong should be their first target. But it didn’t help them much as Kong ran through Ariel, Martinez, and Melissa with ease. Kong tried to crush Ariel in the corner, but she moved in time to avoid it. Kong was stuck against the turnbuckles, being triple forearmed. Instead of sticking with the plan of getting rid of Kong, Mercedes jumped Ariel after her flying forearm. Ariel fought back, head scissoring Mercedes to the floor. Melissa slipped in, knocking Ariel down before stomping her around the ring. Melissa sent Ariel flying across the ring by her hair. When Melissa turned around, Mercedes big booted her down. Mercedes got distracted by Kong, allowing Melissa to hook her for a suplex. Martinez blocked it, using the slingshot neck breaker to get a near fall. Ariel came back in, using a hurricarana to nearly pin Mercedes. Kong ran in, choke slamming Ariel before getting double axe handled by Melissa. A double dropkick by Melissa and Martinez sent Kong to the floor. Ariel got up, firing off clotheslines. Ariel scaled to the top, diving on the rising Kong. Ariel wanted to fly again, but Mercedes caught on. Melissa climbed up with Martinez in her attempt to superplex Ariel. Kong got underneath them, power bombing Martinez and Melissa off the ropes, causing Ariel to get double superplexed in the process! Once again, Kong just plowed through Melissa and Martinez with clotheslines before Implant Busting Melissa. Martinez broke up the sure pin, going for the spinning back fist when they got up. Kong ducked it, hoisting Martinez into the sky. Mercedes countered the Awesome Bomb, face busting Kong on the way down. Mercedes hit the Fisherman Buster on Melissa after a slew of chops. Ariel stopped the three count from happening. Mercedes hit the ropes after peppering Ariel with rights to the face, only to get dragged to the floor by Kong. Melissa stumbled to her feet, right into the Dariel to pin Melissa and earn a shot at the Shimmer title at the next event.

　 It was at Shimmer Volume 14 that MsChif and Daizee Haze squared off last in Shimmer action. In a back and forth contest, Haze picked up the victory. At Volume 19, Haze made an announcement that she had hurt her back, pulled a couple of ribs, and just practically beat herself up over the course of the past week, causing her to miss the event. She proclaimed that at Volume 21, she’d win the Shimmer title in her Shimmer comeback match.

　 Shimmer title: MsChif (c) vs. Daizee Haze
Haze seemed to be ready for victory tonight as she had MsChif wrestling her way off the mat unsuccessfully throughout the opening minutes of the contest. Haze had her sights set on the left arm of the champ, possibly trying to eliminate the Desecrator. MsChif got her arms free, head locking Daizee before shoulder blocking her down when she pushed Haze into the ropes. Haze floated around MsChif, arm dragging her around the ring until she had her on the mat in a headlock of her own. MsChif put Haze in a head scissors to free herself, leading to an arm drag/pin attempt exchange that ended in a stalemate. Haze forced MsChif into the corner, chopping her before running around the ring for some momentum. Haze had no idea MsChif was right behind her, running into a chop, then a boot to the face. MsChif locked Daizee in a modified bow & arrow, using that to convert into an over the back hammerlock/gangster stretch combo. Haze got free, but was easily knocked into the ropes. MsChif connected with the standing moonsault after a slew of punches. Haze jumped over MsChif, tying her up MsChif’s own Gates of Hell II. MsChif knew how to get free from her own hold. But the champ ended up in another stretch that saw Haze pulling back on MsChif’s arms while driving her boots into her back. MsChif somehow flipped out of it, putting the hold on Haze. When MsChif got tired, she pushed Daizee forward, sending her face first to the mat. MsChif tried to tie Haze up again, but ended up getting caught with an enzuguri. Haze had the power of the Ultimate Warrior going before northern lights suplexing MsChif for a near fall. The challenger wanted to use that springing face buster out of the corner. MsChif blocked it, dropping Haze across the top turnbuckle chest first.
MsChif climbed up with her, executing a super Death Valley Driver to pin Daizee. Thankfully for the challenger, Haze was close enough to the ropes to stop the sure pin. Haze somehow clipped MsChif’s left leg, getting on her back before using the Code Green to nearly win the championship. Daizee wanted the top rope rana, but MsChif held onto the top rope, leaving Haze on the mat, open for the back cracking Shadows Over Hell. MsChif set Haze up for Obliteration, but Daizee tripped her up for a near fall. Haze was looking for the Heart Punch when MsChif slipped between her legs, flipping her into Chemical Imbalance II. Haze turned a whip into the ropes into the Heart Punch/Yakuza Kick combination. Haze was in shock when MsChif kicked out right before the three count. MsChif blocked the Mindtrip, reverse DDT’ing Haze for another two count. Haze got up first through, pulling MsChif down with a backslide. MsChif made it off the mat, spinning Haze into the Desecrator. Haze got spiked on her head! MsChif rolled on top of Haze, successfully defending the Shimmer title.
Honor between the women is shown after the match with a handshake and a hug.

　 Serena Deeb felt tonight was just a set back in her loss to Sara Del Rey. Her goal is to win the Shimmer title, and MsChif overhead that. MsChif stepped in to make to a deal with Deeb. When Deeb beats Del Rey, MsChif will give her a title shot. Serena gladly takes her up on that offer.

　 Is It Worth Your Money: Shimmer always gives you a good bang for your buck. But sometimes you can tell they are holding something back for the next show, or doing too much with this one. Volume 21 is a great case for the latter. The show was jammed pack, but that’s what hurt it in the end. Lets look at the positives first. The main event was more than just a showcase to get MsChif another title defense under her belt. Instead, it was a back and forth battle that made you think that you’d see a replay of Daizee’s win over MsChif from Volume 14. They really pulled me in to think that yes, Haze was going to unseat MsChif right here. Definitely one of the best Shimmer title defenses in history. The four way and the opener showed that MsChif’s title win isn’t the only thing going on in the Shimmer landscape to prove that the main event scene is wide open for anyone to step up and take a hold of that brass ring. Another example of my previous statement happened in the Tag Team title gauntlet. In the Shimmer landscape, well, in the wrestling landscape, Nevaeh and Ashley Lane were nothing more than two fresh face rookies that have a chance of making their names in Shimmer while taking it to some veterans. Instead, they jumped to the top of the tag team division in one night after an impressive showing. As good as all of this is, the problem with this show lies with the massive amount of stuff they tried to put into this show. That led to some shorter than usual matches. Some of the matches could’ve been some of the best in Shimmer history-specifically the four way-but the time constraints really cost it. These shorter matches don’t exemplify the Shimmer experience as seen through other volumes, and somewhat hurt the overall show, especially in the Tag title gauntlet. But I can’t deny the fun of the bookmarkers of the show, the four way, and the Tag title crowning, as some must see moments for Shimmer fans. But for the non-hardcore, this is nowhere near the strongest Volume. Shimmer Volume 21 Is A Bargain Bin Purchase.