SHINE Wrestling is hosting their SHINE 55 event in Queens, N.Y. on Dec. 15. This promotion is based out of Ybor City, Fla. Since March of this year, SHINE is currently alternating their events in N.Y. This will be the fourth event featured outside of their home venue.
Featured at this event are two women who WWE fans have seen recently. Mercedes Martinez will take on Kimber Lee. Kimber Lee was known as Abbey Laith in NXT, and Martinez was featured in both Mae Young Classic tournaments.
Both women competed against each other in the first Mae Young Classic last year in the quarterfinals, with Martinez coming out on top. With their popularity on the indie scene, either one of them could pull out a win here.
A second match that will make headlines for SHINE 55, is for the mid-card title, the NOVA Championship. This title is relatively new to the promotion, as it debuted in July of 2017, when Priscilla Kelly won a two-night event tournament; SHINE 43 and SHINE 44.
Kelly held the title for 237 days before dropping it to her adversary, Candy Cartwright. These two women battled each other in the finals for the title at SHINE 44. This time, Cartwright came out with the victory.
Cartwright is the leader of the stable “Cutie Pie Club”. This team also includes Aria Blake, Kiera Hogan, and most recently, Dementia D’Rose. Ironically, Cartwright held the title for 237 days, as well, before losing it at the last SHINE event to Aja Perera.
SHINE promotes their Nova Championship match between Perera and D’Rose via Twitter. The self-proclaimed “Main Event Alien” declares that she will be successful in her first title defense. She has a long history with D’Rose, including her own debut match for SHINE. This rivalry is steeped in history for both women. With so much on the line in this match, it will be interesting to see if Perera can retain. If D’Rose wins, then she will take back the Nova title for the Cutie Pie Club.
After a record-breaking 529-day reign, Lufisto had to vacate the SHINE Championship, due to personal reasons. This vacancy led to a tournament final that saw Allysin Kay defeat Mercedes Martinez to become the new champion, in September. After Lufisto fell short to Kay at SHINE 54, Kay’s next opponent is someone Impact Wrestling fans are familiar with; Su Yung.
Although Kay and Yung did not cross paths in Impact Wrestling, the two have had matches together throughout various indie promotions, including SHINE. Whether you have your “pinkies up” for Kay, or are a fan of the Undead Bride, this is a must-see match.
Kay took to twitter in anticipation to her upcoming match.
Other matches on the card include Shotzi Blackheart vs. Allie Recks, and Impact Wrestling’s Kiera Hogan vs. Aerial Monroe. To see a complete list of matches, as well how to order SHINE 55, check out SHINE Wrestling’s Facebook page.
