Well, this was SUPPOSED to be a blog, but I haven’t done much of that.  Like I said I’m not really an expert in wrestling, so my value as a critic are limited.  I know what I like and what I don’t like.  And that’s really all I can give you.  So if that interests you read on. 

Here, just some quick reflections on July’s SHIMMER tapings, starting with

Vol. 19

I generally don’t care much for Battle Royals and this one was no exception.  It was OK.  It seemed to set things up for the matches to come.  The main purpose seemed to have been giving a reason for Jetta having a title shot.  Why Sara would want to prevent Ariel from getting the shot is a mystery to me.  The high point was clearly getting a foretaste of the LuFisto/Melissa action in the next taping.

Overall I enjoyed this taping a lot because the midcard really got to shine.  Serena and Danyah had an awesome match, where each got to highlight her strengths.  The tag match between Cat Power/debuting Veronica Vice and Ashley Lane/Nevaeh was well put together and helped establish Ashley and Nevaeh as a very credible tag team.  They get better at those combo moves every time I see them.  The Battle of the “Nikki’s” was very enjoyable.  It was great to see Nikki Roxx back and Nicole got to show off a bit.  Her banter is quite clever, like when she has a boot on Nikki’s throat and the ref starts to count … 1 – 2 – 3 …  I WIN! she shouts!

Also not a big fan of squashes … and there were two on this show.  Lorelei Lee and Kong and then Sara del Rey and Ariel.  The first one was pretty much  formulaic, although it stinks that Lorelei got her jaw rattled by Kong’s backfist.  The second one was disappointing.  SHIMMER is clearly giving Ariel a push, but she just seemed to give too little offense to consider this anything other than a squash.  Ariel may have given Kong more offense in their match from April.  If the goal was to establish Sara as a monster heel, it would have been better to use someone other than Ariel; and if one wanted to push Ariel, have her go against Melissa and really give her a match. 

But all of that was quickly forgotten as we had the Match of the Taping [?] next … Mercedes Martinez vs Cheerleader Melissa.  This had some great mat work, which I am a big fan of, and a great series of finishing holds/reversals at the end that really had me on the edge of my seat [OK, I was standing].  Mercedes is so smooth, her moves are almost cat-like as she transitions from one to the next, no hesitation at all.  And Melissa has this aura of power but without being plodding or slow.  A great contrast and mix of styles and a really great match.

Jetta vs MsChif was a very good match, don’t get me wrong.  But not a main event.

Vol. 20

This taping had quite a different flow from the last.  It started a little slow, but quickly built to an incredible climax with the last two matches.  Veronica made a very nice singles debut against Shark Girl.  I admit it.  i LOVE the Shark Girl gimmick!  Nuff said.  And I liked Veronica from the start because she wore a ring jacket/robe … really a leather coat.  Nice touch!  The tag match was a lot of fun, as Portia and Nicole were working the crowd very well.  We got to see Jennifer Blake and her primal scream and her machine gun chops.  Good stuff!  Kong vs Danyah was what you would expect, although Danyah got off some good offensive dropkicks [one of her specialties!].  Cat Power finally wins one against the rugged Daffney [SUPER Kudos to Daffney for working 4 matches and for taking the role of putting other girls over ... THAT'S what it's all about folks!  A trouper extraordinaire!].  I hope Cat is pushed because she has the size that the heels have lacked so far  [yeah, I know Kong, but she is kind of an uber - heel] and actually reminds me of Sara in terms of her expressions and gestures.  It’s OK, I’ve already been laughed at for saying, but I think it’s true!

The next tag match was also great, with Rain and Jetta showing that the Wrecking Crew can continue even without *snif* Lacey.  And Ashley and Nevaeh are … can I say it?  … almost ANNOYINGLY peppy!  Yeah, they’re faces, you root for them.  But sometimes … you just wanna see the bad girls beat the snot out of them.   And that’s the way it should be!   lol  Seriously, Ashley and Neveah work so well together, I can see tag team title glory on the horizon for them!

Ariel and Nikki in a very good match.  Sara and Serena in an excellent match – this is what Sara’s match with Ariel should have been like.  Serena did an outstanding job.  And although I didn’t think i would say this, I think Sara is a great heel.

The last two matches were the real crowns of the show:  LuFisto vs Melissa and Mercedes vs MsChif.  Outstanding is all I can say.  If I had to pick a match of the Taping it would be LuFisto/Melissa and it would also be Match of the Night.  But we’re talkin smidgens here.  As Mercedes and MsChif put together a fast paced, edge of your seat match that could have gone either way literally until the last seconds.  And both women had the wounds to prove they’d been in a battle!  But I was glad to read LuFisto’s comments about her match with Melissa.  She said she knew she was in something special precisely at the 6th chop she exchanged with Melissa.  I doubt I could  point that out with such precision, but that was certainly a WOW moment in their match, one of several. 

Like I said, I’m no critic.  And like I’ve also said, I’ve never seen a bad match at SHIMMER.