Shimmer and Former WWE/TNA talents

[Dat Dude]

One thing I've noticed about Shimmer is that they claim to book the biggest female names in wrestling, but with the exception of Madison or Serena (both of whom were alumni) they never seem to book former WWE/TNA wrestlers. I've always wondered the reason for that.

People like Gail Kim, Mickie James, Melina, Tara etc (when asked) have expressed interest in working there. Their booking fees can't be too high, cause they're a lot less smaller promotions that book them. Is it that they just want to feature upcoming incomers and foreign talent only? Is it political? Is it that they feel they don't measure up to the women they already have?

[YiHammer]

Prazak has said Shimmer has a tight budget and he can't fit everyone he wants in.

But I can't help but suspect politics also play a role considering how catty girls can be.

Also I'm sure a lot of Shimmer purist fans would whine their fav girl got bumped for a WWE or tna girl

[notasmark]

I think fan base mostly. SHIMMER's budget wouldn't be that tight and they do fly international talent out plus give them booking fee/hotel.

I think it's more of a case of smarks having that feel that anything mainstream is the devil. If Prazak wanted to really cash in he could start booking girls like Jazz, Ivory, Molly Holly and even as OP mentioned Gail Kim, Mickie James etc to draw in the casual fans.

[01010010 01101001 01100011]

First, if they are in TNA forget about it because TNA charges outrageous booking fees and doesn't always deliver. Then there are the former WWE gals who can wrestle like Molly (out of the business) and Melina (charges ridiculous amounts to appear let alone wrestle). Then you have gals like Serena who they were using until she suffered a possible career ending concussion and Jazz who is in Shine so a possible Shimmer match isn't out of the realm of possibility.

However the fact is, despite what people think, Shimmer doesn't have a blow away budget (that is why they tape 4-6 shows over two days) and the people who come to the Shimmer shows expect certain people and they take priority over any special attraction. Once they bring in the Joshi ladies, Rate Tank and whomever else comes from overseas their budget for the tapings is most likely about maxed out.

[Crusty Ruffles]

It kind of goes hand in hand:

Prazak has talked about this before to some extent. It's mainly budget related. For what a former TNA/WWE talent would want, they can get a few wrestlers for the price of one and not sacrifice the quality of the show. Any current TNA wrestler is a waste and automatically ruled out because of the cost and how anal TNA is about things. As far as a former WWE talent, it's probably Jazz or bust. The did have Molly in once upon a time, but that was just for autographs.

That being said, there's really just not a big demand for that talent pool amongst the SHIMMER fanbase. So why book them? Most would rather see Melissa, The Ninjas, MsChif, etc or an up and coming name come to Berwyn and establish themselves.

[Andrew is Good]

I guess I would look at bringing in so many international talent and wonder if it's always a good idea unless there is a sponsor involved. Someone like Mickie James is incredibly over and talented, so I would look at booking her and getting the most out of the investment. Have her as either the Champion or top talent and use her to also build people up. Top money makers make that money due to their talent.

[Deleted]

Ruffles about covered it. Former WWE names are more expensive, and would either have matches of equal or lesser quality than the regular roster members that the SHIMMER fan base are used to seeing, and who already sell out their small venue. There's really no reason for them to bring in someone just because they used to be on TV.

["I'm Batman..."]

I wonder what will happen with Sara Del Rey?

[Steveweiser]

As mentioned, SHIMMER is mainly for young wrestlers on the rise, established indy wrestlers and overseas talent. They had a policy with TNA, but TNA are being anal with their outside booking fees, so no more Ashley Lane for example, and therefore booking Mickie James would be a no-no, although if SHIMMER was around five years earlier, she'd have been booked for sure.

Former WWE names, other than ones SHIMMER featured in the past, like Serena Deeb and probably Amazing Kong, are right out for the fees they'd charge. If things didn't go well with Death Rey and Paige, I'm sure they'll come back through loyalty.

[Steveweiser]

Something else I just thought about - other groups who just book amongst local talent, like a 2CW who'll bring in Mickie on occasion, or groups like Pro Wrestling Elite in Scotland who are flying in Mickie, are dedicating most of their budget for the show to book her, so it's OK to do that. SHIMMER are also spending the money flying in Saraya Knight, the Joshi and the Australian girls, so there's little else left to spend on hiring the building and the ring and the cameras, for example.

[Deleted]

It's just not necessary. That venue sells out already with the current indy & international roster. Why spend several thousand dollars more on someone like Melina who is going to have, at best, a match that is only as good wrestling wise as the opening match of the show? Mickie is okay, but I don't think I've ever seen her have a better match than any SHIMMER main event with indy wrestlers who were never TV stars. Realistically speaking, more than half of the names on the roster are better actual workers than she is. She's just famous because she had years of TV exposure behind her.

[HR]

I remember when Mickie wrestled Mercedes fairly soon after she was fired by WWE, and she looked every bit the overweight, out of shape, slow and boring wrestler that she's become. Why anyone would be interested in her taking the spots of anyone on the SHIMMER roster (the majority of who absolutely slay her in the ring) is beyond me.

It made sense for a promotion like WSU to bring in Melina, she paid for herself through all the iPPV buys she attracted (and would have had a great match if she hadn't got stuck with a very poor opponent in replacement for Serena) but it simply wouldn't make sense for Shimmer, given the financial factors that posters like Steveweiser have pointed out.