DVD Reviews
Worth Your Money? Shimmer Volume 15 Featuring Sara Del Rey vs. Amazing "Awesome" Kong For The Shimmer Title, Daizee Haze vs. Sarah Stock, Cheerleader Melissa vs. Alexa Thatcher, And More
By James Bullock
Nov 15, 2008 - 11:57 AM

I like women. I like women’s wrestling. I like Shimmer. That’s why today I have for you a special DVD review involving the best all women promotion in the world (hey, Japan hasn’t done anything for years). This show held a match that every fan of women’s wrestling was anticipating to see, Sara Del Rey vs. Amazing Kong. A clash of the titans, if you will. Will this match live up to the hype, or will it be a disappointment of a dream match? But more importantly, will this Volume of Shimmer be Worth Your Money?

Shimmer Volume 15

Breyrn, IL

Amber O’Neal vs. “The Jezebel” Eden Black

Amber, as usual, goes uber-blonde in the early going, nearly breaking Black’s hip with a messed up bodyslam. Black paid her back by going after the hair, only for it to lead into Black getting caught, and choked, on the ropes. Amber kept Black grounded with a series of stomps, punches, and a couple of chokeholds. She even got in a Curt Henning style neck breaker for good measure. Black avoided a back drop, jaw breaking Amber before hitting a double clothesline that leveled both women. Amber was able to turn a European uppercut attempt into a backslide for a two count. A face buster couldn’t keep Black down for the three count either. Amber began taunting Black as Eden laid on the mat, only to get pulled into the Garden of Eden arm bar. Amber got free and got up swinging, falling into the hold again. O’Neal quickly tapped out.

The Canadian Ninjas (Portia Perez & Nicole Matthews) vs. Lorelei Lee & Ashley Lane

Lee is a cowgirl. I guessed this because she’s wearing chaps. Lee, with her brand new gear, just outworked both women before tagging out to Lane, who is making her Shimmer debut here. Portia used her loud mouth to distract Lane long enough for Matthews to recover and drop Lane with a clothesline. The fans felt Perez needed a time out due to her cheating ways, and because she looks like a tall twelve year old. Lane used a small package as a momentum changer to tag out to Lee. Lee powered both women around the ring. Lane tagged back in, only to get northern lights suplexed by Matthews as Perez slammed Lee’s face into the steel ring post. Lane dropped Mathews face first into the mat, only for her follow up pin to be stopped by Perez. Lane wanted to hit Perez, but Perez got in the first blow, tripping Lane up. Perez forced Lane’s shoulders to the mat while hooking the tights, picking up the win for her team.  

Jetta vs. Serena Deeb

The female Ricky Steamboat, Deeb got an early advantage with some serious arm work before wearing out Jetta’s chest with a series of chops. Jetta was able to use Deeb’s confidence and speed against her, pulling her down with an arm breaker before using her body to work it over. Deeb fought back, nearly getting the pin with a cradle. Jetta regained the advantage again, but when she lost it due to that lighting speed of Serena, she bailed out of the ring, luring Deeb into a rake in the eyes. Deeb recovered, rushing Jetta chest first into every corner before using the face…um…penetration. Jetta didn’t take too kindly to it, locking Deeb in the strangle hold before dropping back, hitting the stranglehold back cracker. Still holding on, Jetta rolled Serena over, choking Deeb into submission with her own arms.

Rebecca Bayless, looking all studious, is in the ring to introduce her guest for the evening, Allison Danger. During Danger’s entrance, we see highlights of her Two Out of Three Falls match with Cindy Rogers from the last volume. Allison felt it was time to move on from the feud with Cindy Rogers, and go after the Shimmer title. Cindy didn’t feel that way, coming out to beat Danger down for…

Allison Danger vs. Cindy Rogers

After being beaten down, Allison came back with a Lou Thesz press, putting Rogers in position for the Curb Kick. Cindy avoided it, but got dropkicked into the guardrails. Danger had a little fun with Cindy’s head by using a Cindy Roger’s sign on her. Rogers reversed a whip into the steel, sending Danger into the rails.   Rogers tried to keep the momentum, using a side Russian leg sweep when Danger tried to fight back. After a failed forearm exchange, Danger was in position for another clothesline. Danger used the incoming arm to spin Rogers into a running knee strike to the side of her head. Danger tried to go for the Shimmering Warlock, but Cindy avoided the move, suplexing Danger into a near fall. Danger was able to reverse a whip of her own, catching the legs of Rogers to hang her in the ropes for an over the knee neck breaker. Danger followed up with Old School Expulsion to pick up the victory.

During the entrances of the next match, Bayless caught up with Alexa Thatcher, who brought up how Alicia hasn’t been seen since she put Thatcher out of action. Thatcher had her mind on her opposition for the evening, Cheerleader Melissa.

The Minnesota Home Wrecking Crew (Lacey & Rain) vs. Portuguese Princess Ariel & Josie

Ariel and Rain kick it off, which saw a quick agility exchange of kip ups. Well, actually, Ariel was the only one able to nip, allowing the Princess to dropkick Rain in the face after a snap mare. Rain scurried to her corner, tagging out to Lacey as hometown girl Josie did the same. Some quick double teams allowed Ariel & Josie to ground Lacey. Josie, showing her power, put Lacey in a modified Gory Special. Rain ran in, dropkicking Lacey free, using this as a distraction to get some illegal chokes in. If you’ve seen the Crew in action, you know what happens next: double teams, chokes, referee distractions, and a whole lot of “Yeaaaaahhhhhh’s” from Rain. That doesn’t mean the match wasn’t hitting all cylinders as Josie made the tag to Ariel, who ran wild both of her opponents. Ariel nearly got the pin after a spine buster on Lacey, but couldn’t follow up after Lacey turned a slam attempt into the Back Cracker. Ariel recovered, getting Josie to help her execute the Hart Attack. Rain ran in to save her partner, hitting the Double Kamikaze on Ariel to pick up the win. After the match, Lacey carried her partner to the back in her arms because she was hurting. That’s love.

In the back, Daffney and MsChif made fun of The Experience by calling them dinosaurs.

Cheerleader Melissa vs. Alexa Thatcher

The fans were thoroughly behind Melissa. It helped as Melissa quickly out powered Alexa. Alexa, seeing she didn’t have the power advantage, tried to out maneuver and out wrestle Melissa. It worked for a short period of time, until she went for a hurricarana. Melissa blocked it, putting Alexa in a single leg Boston crab. During the hold, Melissa began stepping on her head. Alexa made it to the ropes, but was still on her stomach. Melissa used this to her advantage, curb stomping the poor girl. Alexa rolled to the floor, with Melissa in hot pursuit. Melissa whipped her into the steel guardrails before sending her back first into the steel ring steps. Melissa tried for the Kudo Driver, but Alexa turned it into a cradle. Melissa broke the pin, clotheslining Alexa to the mat. Alexa tried to get a surprise victory with a small package, but Melissa broke free, powering Alexa over with a suplex before trying for the Driver again. Alexa blocked the move again, driving Melissa face first into the mat. We get the infamous forearm exchange, with Melissa winning. Alexa took it all, turning an Irish whip into a German suplex. When Thatcher went for another German, Melissa floated over into a Kudo Driver that folded Alexa. Melissa jumped on top of Thatcher’s compressed body, pinning her to the mat for those precious three seconds. Poor Thatcher had to be helped out of the ring. We get a replay of the sick ending of the match.

The Scream Queens (Daffney & MsChif) vs. The Experience (Lexie Fyfe & Malia Hosaka)

We get highlights of the beat down on Daffney from the last Volume by The Experience.

Daffney decided to start the match with a dinosaur pose down with Hosaka. Daffney’s antics didn’t work as Hosaka honed in on the left leg of Daffney, causing Daffney to fight her way out of the corner to tag out to MsChif. MsChif screamed Hosaka out of the ring, forcing Fyfe to take her partner’s place. MsChif tied up the larger Lexie before dropping her face first into the mat. Like her partner, Fyfe saw a weak point in MsChif’s left leg, getting in enough shots to send MsChif scurrying to Daffney. Daffney came in as Hosaka did, with Daffney trying to out maneuver Hosaka. Instead, Daffney tweaked her leg, giving Hosaka the chance to power Daffney down long enough to get a couple of shots to that left knee. Fyfe did the same when she tagged in. A mixture of quick tags and attacks to the leg allowed The Experience to hold onto the pace of the match. Even with the beating, Daffney kept fighting back, crawling to her corner at every opportunity. It wasn’t until a mistimed double team by The Experience did Daffney get the chance to tag in the fresh MsChif. MsChif had both women reeling, even blocking a double suplex with a double DDT. Daffney came back in, helping level Hosaka as Lexie put MsChif in the pendulum. The referee got in MsChif’s face, telling her to leave the ring. The Experience used this chance to execute the double gord buster on Daffney to pick up the 1, 2, 3.

#1 Contender Match: Daizee Haze vs. “Dark Angel” Sarah Stock

The early moments of this fan favorite match saw both women attempting pinning combinations to get a quick victory. You can probably guess that none of those combos worked. The action stayed on the mat, with both women jockeying for a decisive advantage. The action quickly picked up speed as both women started hitting the ropes, using arm drags and roll ups to get the fans further into this match. Stock showed a little bit of heel tendencies, pulling Daizee to the mat to get her kudos from the crowd. Stock couldn’t keep “The Haze” down, with Haze sending Sarah to the floor after a series of head scissors. Stock took some time on the floor to get her game plan in order. This distracted Daizee as Haze went to climb the ropes. Before Haze could do anything, Stock jumped up, pushing Haze off the top. Haze hit the mat, allowing Stock to power Daizee off the mat before rushing her back first into the turnbuckles. Stock had her sights on the back of Daizee, back breaking Daizee before putting her in a modified torture rack. Haze fought her way out of it, but couldn’t stop Stock. Anytime Haze could get Stock to the mat, she’d try to pin Stock. None of it worked as “Dark Angel” would just kick out and go after that hurting back. Stock got a little frustrated with Haze’s refusal to give up or stay down. This allowed Haze to get behind Stock, German suplexing her for a near fall. Daizee kept the momentum going with a slew of forearms before knocking Stock to the floor with a running boot. Haze ran up to the top, diving on top of Stock to a great ovation. Stock fought Haze when she tried to push her back in, flipping into a belly to back suplex that nearly got Sarah the pin. Haze blocked the Tiger Driver, only to get dropped face first into the top turnbuckle. Daizee was able to avoid Stock’s running attack, face busting Stock for another two count. Daizee saw her opportunity, Indian death locking Stock. Stock barely made it to the ropes before tapping out, but her legs were hurting. After the Heart Punch, Daizee went for the Mind Trip. Stock rolled out of the move, rolling Haze up for the #1 Contendership.

Sarah was ecstatic backstage, stating that on Volume 16, it’s her time to prove she’s the best in Shimmer.

Shimmer title: Sara Del Rey (c) vs. Amazing Kong

Del Rey immediately took the fight to Kong, knocking her to the floor before diving on top of her challenger with the tope. Sara reentered the ring, accidentally letting Kong get a chance to recover. When Kong entered the ring, the wrestling didn’t last long as both women tried to knock the other down with some heavy strikes. Kong was the successful one with the body block that dropped the champion. Kong tried to weaken the legs of Del Rey, but Sara fought back, going after the arms of her challenger. Kong stopped the submission, kicking Sara away before avalanching Del Rey in the corner. Sara wanted some rest by going to the floor, but Kong was on her heels, slamming the champion into the guardrails. Kong went for a chair shot, but missed. Sara took the chance, reversing an Irish whip into the steel guardrails, then the ring steps. This only infuriated Kong, who sent Del Rey into the rails again. With Del Rey loopy, the challenger rushed Sara into the steel ring post. Kong knew she had to win it in the ring, luring Del Rey back in with a test of strength. It took both of Del Rey’s arms to bring down one of Kong’s. Del Rey broke the hold, snap marring Kong before senton splashing her for a two count. Del Rey tried to keep Kong grounded with a front face lock, but Kong powered her way to a vertical base, biting her way out of the hold. Sara somehow got Kong down after avoiding another avalanche. When Kong kicked out of Del Rey’s follow up pin, she clotheslined the champion down. Del Rey tried to roll Kong up, but couldn’t hold her down for those three seconds. Del Rey hit the ropes for a cross body block. Kong caught the champ, slamming her before dropping a big leg across her chest. Kong was in control for sure, knocking Del Rey down with forearms anytime she tried to fight back. Del Rey was able to reverse a whip into the ropes, pulling Kong down before going after that left arm again. Del Rey used a head butt, only for it to have no affect. Kong slapped the taste out of the champ’s mouth, but Del Rey kept fighting, nearly rolling Kong up for a three count. With Kong on her knees, Sara unleashed a slew of hip attacks. Sara tried to get a pin after an impressive moonsault, but couldn’t follow up with the Royal Butterfly. Kong turned the hold into the Implant Buster. After the failed pin, Kong ran up the ropes for the amazing splash. Del Rey moved in time to avoid the body crushing attack, grabbing Kong for a German suplex when Kong got up. Unsuccessful, Sara was taken back with two spinning back fists. Somehow, Sara got behind Kong, German suplexing Kong! Both women were down until the eight count after that amazing sight. Once again, Kong fought her way out of the Royal Butterfly, going for the Awesome Bomb. Sara blocked it, kicking Kong in the head before executing the Royal Butterfly! Is Sara not real? When Sara went for the pin, Kong back fisted her down. The referee started counting the women down. Del Rey made it to her feet at nine. Kong couldn’t make it to hers by the ten count, allowing Del Rey to win. Kong was furious when she realized what happened. Kong is no longer undefeated in Shimmer. We get some replays of the incredible highlights of the greatest Shimmer title match to date.  

Kong was in the back, upset that she wasn’t beaten by a pin or a submission. Kong promised to bring that belt to her waist real soon.     

Is It Worth Your Money: Shimmer has built a reputation of putting on a quality women’s wrestling product. For those who have watched previous shows know that Shimmer shows usually have a solid to mediocre undercard, followed by a final stretch of incredible matches. This show is no different. The main event was incredible, and easily the most unique match in Shimmer history. It was hard hitting, very Japanese, and it paid off incredibly. I would love to see a rematch, but I don’t see it happening anytime soon. Stock and Haze weren’t going to be left out in the cold, having a spectacular technical affair that had me cheering on both women. The only true weak point of the show was the amount of tag matches. It got a little redundant by the third, but they were at least enjoyable. Honestly, the show is stacked perfectly, and I can’t find a true knock against it from an in-ring perspective. Everything else was just as tight. This is easily one of the best Shimmer Volumes to date. Shimmer Volume 15 Is Worth Your Money.