Friday, April 11, 2014

Any Shows This Weekend? SHIMMER Weekend's Here Again!

Expect more shenanigans between these two this weekend
Photo Credit: Gregory Davis/Dirty Dirty Sheets
The weekend has arrived, and with it, wrestling shows out the wazoo are on the calendars of arenas and halls around the country. If you love wrestling, then going to one of the myriad of shows is almost imperative for you. Shows are going on all around the world. The following are the best ones across North America.

FRIDAY

The Berwyn Eagles Club in Berwyn, IL has a jam-packed weekend of wrestling, and it begins with AAW's Point of No Return. Doors open at 7 PM local time, and the club will be serving beers for $1.25. When you're good and liquored up, you'll be treated to a main event featuring Shane Hollister defending the AAW Championship against Jimmy Jacobs. Alex Shelley takes a sojourn from splitting time in Japan to tour the US, and his AAW stop is against Kyle O'Reilly. Heidi Lovelace and Athena team up to kick off SHIMMER weekend against Neveah and Jessicka Havok. Saraya Knight, the Irish Airborne, Matt Cage, Silas Young, Eddie Kingston, Lince Dorado, Rich Swann, Arik Cannon, Louis Lyndon, Juntai Miller, Gregory Iron, Marion Fontaine, and of course, ACH will also be making the trip out to Chicagoland.

Empire Pro Wrestling branches out to the Sale Creek Middle/High School in Sale Creek, TN, for rare Friday night action. Doors open at 7 PM, and any school student who also brings a paying customer with them gets in for free. On the show, Shaun Tempers teams with Matt Fortune to take on Andrew Alexander and Ace Rockwell. Kyle Matthews is also scheduled to appear.

NWA Southern All-Star Wrestling hits up the SAWMill Arena once again as is tradition on Friday nights. Head to the venue in Millsville, TN to see "Prime Time" Brian Lee, Jason Kincaid, and current Indy Power Poll Tag Team powerhouse Team IOU in action.

SATURDAY

The first SHIMMER weekend of 2014 starts at the Berwyn Eagles Club in Berwyn, IL. The Saturday bell time for the first show will be 2 PM. As is custom, no matches have been announced in advance, but the list of superstars appearing is impressive. LuFisto and Mercedes Martinez will both be there, which could explode due to the latter costing the former her chance at capturing the SHIMMER World Championship. Speaking of which, Champ Cheerleader Melissa will be there, as will the Tag Team Champions Kellie Skater and Tomoka Nakagawa. The Canadian Ninjas, Hikaru Shida, Kana, Veda Scott, Madison Eagles, Mia Yim, Athena, Yumi Ohka, Courtney Rush, Jessicka Havok, Evie, Saraya Knight, and Nikki Storm are among the other wrestlers slated to appear.

Combat Zone Wrestling's annual Best of the Best Tournament happens Saturday at the Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, NJ at 7:30 PM. You can order the show on CZW Internet pay-per-view. The titular tournament features 12 of the brightest stars on the indies. The first round matches are as follows: Caleb Konley vs. Azrieal vs. Biff Busick, "Dirty" Buxx Belmar vs. Chuck Taylor vs. Lucky tHURTeen, AR Fox vs. Andrew Everett vs. "Speedball" Mike Bailey, and Drake Younger vs. Timothy Thatcher vs. Papadon. The semifinals and finals will also take place at this show. Additionally, Devon Moore looks to take the Wired Television Championship from Shane Strickland in a ladder match, the Irish Airborne takes on the Juicy Product with a shot at the Tag Team Championships on the line, and Tommy Dreamer will team with BLK Jeez against DJ Hyde and a mystery partner.

Excellence Pro Wrestling hits up the Forest Lodge VFW in Sellersville, PA with doors opening at 6:30 PM local time. assailANT, the Estonian Thunder Frog, and Eric Corvis collide in three-way action. Mark Angelosetti will look to dump the nerd known as Missile Assault Ant. Also appearing on the show will be Juan Francisco de Coronado, Icarus, Hallowicked, Blaster McMassive, Oleg the Usurper, Kobald, and the Proletariat Boar of Moldova.

International Wrestling Cartel's Night of the Superstars 3 takes place live at the Meadville Area High School in Meadville, PA at 7 PM local time. The main event pits Super Indy Champion RJ City against Davey Boy Smith, Jr., who'll have uncle Bret Hart in his corner. AJ Styles will invade IWC to battle former Super Indy Champion Anthony Nese. The IWC Championship is on the line as Dalton Castle defends against Matt Taven, fellow ROH roster member Bobby Fish battles Matt Striker. Also appearing on the show will be John McChesney, Zema Ion, Facade, Gregory Iron, Asylum, and the goddamn STEINER BROS.

Dreamwave Wrestling's Anniversary Show comes at you live from the Knights of Columbus Hall in LaSalle, IL, bell time of 7 PM. Jim Cornette and the Jarretts - Jeff and Karen - will be guest stars at the show. Michael Elgin will challenge Christian Rose for the DWW Championship, while Reed Bentley looks to fend off the challenges of Lince Dorado and Rich Swann for his Alternative Championship. Two high-flying matches will look to steal the show. Matt Cage duels with Prince Mustafa Ali in one match, while Marshe Rockett does battle with Shane Hollister in another. Also booked for this show are Johnny Gargano, Darin Corbin, Arik Cannon, and Arya Daivari.

Elite Canadian Championship Wrestling's Seek and Destroy is emanating live from the Russian Community Center in Vancouver, BC at 8 PM local time. Among the talent appearing on the show will be the Bollywood Boyz and the King of the Yukon.

River City Wrestling's 12th Anniversary Show takes place at the Turner Club in Kirby, TX. Doors open at 7:30 PM. The main event will pit RCW Legend Champion Homicide against International Champion Masada against Sammy Guevara in the main event. Also, Hell has frozen over, as Darin Childs will lead his team of ACW stalwarts Matthew Palmer, Thomas Shire, and Bad Blood against D-Von Dudley, Hernandez, Joey Spector, and Christian Valenz.

West Coast Wrestling Connection invades the Houck Middle School in Salem, OR, with bell time at 6 PM. Adam Pearce and Jeremy Blanchard will appear.

NWA Smoky Mountain is on its last stop before the Smoky Mountain Cup. The show at the National Guard Armory in Rogersville, TN starts at 8 PM, and the featured superstars include Sigmon.

Empire Pro Wrestling returns to 22 Austin Avenue in Rossville, GA on Saturday at 8:05 PM in its final tune-up show for Tooth 'n Nail 3. The participants in the double main event at the big event next week will coalesce in a tag match this week. Shaun Tempers teams with Bobby Hayes to take on Andrew Alexander and Tank.

Anarchy Wrestling tapes for television again from the Anarchy Arena in Cornelia, GA. Bell time is 8 PM. Wrestlers scheduled to appear are Mike Posey, the Washington Bullets, "Hit for Hire" Bobby Moore, Corey Hollis, and Stryknyn.

SUNDAY

SHIMMER's weekend rolls on at the same venue with the same slate of wrestlers. The Sunday bell time is at 1 PM.

Beyond Wrestling will be holding a secret show somewhere near Voorhees, NJ. Seats are still available, so if you are interested, e-mail Denver Colorado (the man, not the place!) at beyondwrestling AT gmail DOT com.

IWA Mid-South's Thunder after Thunder takes place at the Jammerz Rollerdome in Clarksville, IN. Doors open at 6 PM. The main event will pit Reed Bentley against Jeff Jarrett. In Drake Younger's final IWA-MS match, he will go up against BJ Whitmer. In what will be a barnburner, Danny Cannon faces his stiffest challenge yet in Jonathan Gresham. Also appearing on the show will be Hurricane Helms and Mickie Knuckles.

On Point Wrestling will be raising awareness for cerebral palsy with its Pennsylvania debut in Springfield at the Cardinal Krol Center. Doors open at 1 PM local time. Gregory Iron will be there, as will Matt Tremont, Colony Xtreme Force, assailANT, the Estonian Thunder Frog, and Qefka the Quiet.

As you can see, this weekend is loaded. Shows are happening everywhere, but none of them will matter if you don't go to see one. Wrestling needs support to grow, and besides, your favorite wrestler or promotion may be out there. You just might not know it yet.