SHIMMER's Aussie Invasion

Madison Eagles, Leader of the Invasion
Photo Credit: SHIMMER Website

Wrestling is a big deal in the Land Down Under. The WWE is huge down there, and they draw pretty well when they tour. The short-lived Hulkamania tour that took place before Hogan went to TNA was exclusively Australian. For as big as it is though, there are scant few Aussie wrestlers who've made it in the big time up here. I mean, the only one I really remember is Nathan Jones, and he blew. Contrast that with the current SHIMMER roster, and you'd think that they go down to Oz to recruit every three months.

Their current Champion, Madison Eagles, is Aussie. No fewer than three other roster members - Kellie Skater, Jessie McKay and Tenille - also hail from the Land Down Under. While four women on the roster may not constitute a majority, well, the fact that there are as many female wrestlers for SHIMMER now as there have been male pro wrestlers who've appeared for (W)WWF/E in its history is just mind-blowing. What's the reasoning for this? Well, I'm not entirely sure, but there are a few things that spring to mind.

One is that women's wrestling is still very much a niche market in America. In the WWE, it's treated as a joke. In TNA, it's gotten some exposure in the past, but with the new regime (Which thinks alot like the WWE), it's slowly becoming more a joke despite it being the highest rated thing on the show. ROH has all of two regular women who appear for the company. With American women not really put in the forefront anywhere major, perhaps the demand for women wrestlers is more global than local. That presents a better opportunity for Aussie gals to make it up here.

Secondly, while the WWE and possibly TNA are huge in Australia, they don't have too much of a fully-formed local or national scene to latch onto for the men, and if the men have trouble finding work, it must be damn near impossible for the women to do so as well. Yes, Japan is closer and joshi feds are more prestigious, but hey, the allure of making it in America, where there's always the chance you get picked up by one of the two feds that get big play on TV at home, might be a little greater than going to Japan to get your head bashed in by women who have to be stiffer than usual in order to get a market share with the much more acclaimed puroresu men. Since SHIMMER does send people to the big companies - Beth Phoenix, Nattie Neidhart, Katie Lea, Madison Rayne, Serena Deeb, Sarita, Amazing Kong and Cheerleader Melissa are all women with WWE/TNA experience who are SHIMMER alumnae - it's definitely a place to get a start.

It's not like SHIMMER isn't grateful for having them though. Eagles is the Champion. Skater not only is getting a decent push in the ring right now, but she's also getting the added exposure of taking over for Portia Perez in the announce position when Perez goes to wrestle. McKay is one of the most over wrestlers on the roster. It's a beneficial relationship for all parties involved. For SHIMMER, it's an extra added bonus of getting exposure in a new market in the global game. For the women, it's not only getting themselves exposure, but bringing more of a spotlight to their home country to get more women and maybe even some men over here.

Whether it's a sign of things to come or just a happy aberration, I can say I'm glad that SHIMMER has dipped into Australia for talent. It's a long-underutilized breeding ground for wrestlers, and maybe this will be the beginning of a long and beautiful partnership between feds Stateside and the wonderful land of Oz.

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