Women of the Independents
By Ludevig
DVD Review
“Damnation”
Mschif DVD
If you have watched professional wrestling for a number of years you will know that feeling when you see a performer who you just have to tell your friends about. Mschif is one of those wrestlers.
If you have never seen Mschif in action then you are in for a treat today. Straight from Mschif’s own website’s merchandise section (see link below) comes Mschif’s Damnation DVD.
When this DVD arrived I was immediately impressed with the quality of the cover, sharp detail, rich color and a glossy finish. Mschif has made sure that this was a quality release for sure. (On a side note Mschif signs the DVD covers as well.
Onto the DVD itself. As soon as you put the disc in you are propelled into the world of Mschif as a short highlight video plays with some Black metal playing to get you immediately hooked and excited (and that’s just the video that takes you to the menu screen)
By staying simple on the menu screen it actually is a refreshing change as you can select simply “Play” or “Matches” and that’s it.
The DVD is all regions so will play on ANY DVD player, which is nice.
So below are the match listings as they appear on the back cover (Mschif works for several Independent promotions all over the world and this is a collection of some of those appearances)
Mschif vs Jetta (Chickfight)
Mschif vs Daizee Haze (CSW)
Mschif vs Daizee Haze vs Lacey vs Ashley Lane (ROH)
Mschif vs Amazing Kong (SHIMMER)
Mschif vs Yoshiko Tamura (APW)
Mschif vs Amazing Kong – Falls Count Anywhere (NWA No Limits)
Mschif vs Cheerleader Melissa – Falls Count Anywhere (Pro Wrestling Revolution)
Beginning the DVD is the match from Chickfight between Mschif and Jetta from England. If you haven’t experienced Chickfight then I recommend you look into the company. Stellar stuff.
Anyway, onto the match. The UK’s own Jetta versus Mschif and immediately you see the contrast. Jetta in pink and black while Mschif roars (her character is like a Dark Banshee) while wearing emerald green. Some very smooth back and forth chain wrestling before Mschif unleashes some stiff forearms (beginning with Forearm shots using the arm Jetta is holding in a wristlock)
Jetta works a headlock and during that point of the match you realize the venue they are in has a video wall that literally goes around the walls above the crowd showing the action in the ring. It sounds bizarre but really looks amazing onscreen as well as if you were at the show.
Mschif stretches Jetta into a painful standing headlock while pulling Jetta’s leg behind her and locking her hands.
Jetta works hard in this match as a Heel to Mschif’s Dark Banshee style Face. Excellent back and forth work in this one as both try to advance in the Chickfight tournament. (This match was from Chickfight’s 8th event in the Liquid Nightclub in Gloucester England.)
Mschif wins with a surfboard submission move while sitting on Jetta’s back.
Up next is a battle between Mschif and Daizee haze (the interesting thing is Mschif and Daizee Haze trained together and are really close outside the squared circle)
This is for the NWA Midwest Women’s Title (held by Daizee Haze)
Mschif makes her way to the ring wearing a spiked vest but no chains for this event. (Another interesting side note is that Mschif makes all of her own wrestling gear and it looks very impressive)
Daizee Haze comes out with her signature giant Daisy. The stark contrast between Haze’s “feel good” character and Mschif’s “Your Soul’s Tormentor” is startling but they work so well together. Even though Mschif gets a strong reaction from the crowd, is very popular and is usually a Face she always tells the Referee to “Back off!” when they go to check her at the beginning of matches.
That’s all part of the enigma that is Mschif. It works so well for her, never have I seen such a strong character whom you would think would be the villain in every match get such support.
Some very smooth chain wrestling in this one with some very inventive takeovers and moves. An excellent array of counter moves follows before Daizee grounds Mschif with a headlock. The crowd applauds both combatants on their moves and reversals until Mschif begins pounding on Daizee while she is in a headlock. Mschif in this one is playing the Heel.
A very vicious moment comes when Mschif drops Daizee with a drop toehold to clothesline her on the bottom rope before wrapping Haze in the ropes and applying a Camel Clutch. Haze keeps fighting back but Mschif overpowers her offense before landing a picture perfect standing Moonsault for 2.
Mschif then applies her Japanese Stranglehold/Hammerlock combo submission move. Haze comes back with a Wheelbarrow DDT into a pin combo. Mschif lands a 2 handed Throat Powerbomb for a close 2 count.
A Top Rope Missile dropkick garners Haze a 2 count. Some great reversals follow as Haze tries to hit her Heart Punch / Yakuza Kick combo before Haze finally hits it sending Mschif out of the ring. A missed Clothesline by Haze has her turning around into a face full of mist by Mschif (a la Great Muta) for the Disqualification win for Daizee Haze.
Up next is a 4 way match from Ring of Honor. Mschif vs Haze vs Lacey vs Lane. Ashley Lane (Better known as Madison Rayne from TNA’s The Beautiful people faction) you feel is the sacrifical lamb in this one as Lacey is super over with the ROH crowd as is Haze and Mschif. Not to state or say Lane is not an accomplished wrestler in her own right but in a match featuring the other three she is the least over with the crowd (simply because ROH have used Mschif, Haze and Lacey a lot more)
Now instead of having all 4 in the ring at one time they do the 2 Women in the ring and tag out style 4 way match which makes for a better mix of styles and for some great moments of Heat in regards to Lacey. Lane, Mschif and Haze all shake hands before the bell while Lacey stays on the apron. And the crowd is INTO this match right from the start. It is very interesting to watch 4 Women wrestle so well and you realize where the WWE and TNA’s Women’s Division are truly not in the league of the Women on the Independent scene. Give them the time to wrestle and gender becomes a non issue. (Bull Nakano was over in the States when she was in WWE, not because she was a Woman but because of the strength of her matches with Madusa (Alundra Blayze) and they had the opportunity to showcase their talents.)
Back to the match. The action in this one comes at a fast and furious pace. Daizee Haze is the first victim of the number’s game (Mike Tenay tm) as Lacey nails her in the back when coming off the ropes then Lacey tags in. The history between Lacey and Haze is prevalent in this one. Haze manages to hit a chinbreaker to Lane before getting a desperation tag out to Mschif. Mschif does her headlock/pull opponents leg up behind them before dropping lane into a gutbster for a close count.
Lacey attacks Haze at every opportunity even when Haze is not legal in the ring. An incredible series of moves sees Mschif DDT Lacey on Mschif’s own knee making Lacey bounce into a Stunner by Haze only to turn into a clothesline by Mschif which drops her only for Haze to hit a running elbow drop then that is followed by a standing Moonsault by Mschif resulting in a CLOSE 2 count.
Moments later Mschif executes a stunning crossbody from the top rope to the floor onto all 3 of her opponents, which brings the crowd to their feet. A blind tag from Lacey to Lane makes Mschif results in Lane being reversed into a desecrator by mschif for the victory in front of an appreciative crowd.
If you have never seen a SHIMMER event then I recommend you get ANY of their shows. Up next is a promo from Mschif to promote their April 7th shows for the 9th and 10th tapings. From the promo Mschif says she is not afraid of Kong and you know what? You believe her when she says it. What makes it an even cooler promo is Mschif is dressed in Clockwork Orange clothes complete with bowler hat and eye makeup.
You want a hard-hitting, dramatic valiant smaller wrestler versus MONSTER opponent match? Look no further than this incredible match up. This was before Kong had wars in TNA with Gail Kim. Mschif was coming off a HEATED feud with Cheerleader Melissa and had just formed a team with her.
This is what wrestling matches are all about. Big moves with meaning behind them, two performers at the top of their game showing what they are made of. This match was not for a title or to end a feud, this was the first meeting between the 2 in SHIMMER and they deliver on every level in this one. It is truly one of those matches you wish you were in the crowd to see it live (see Kenta Kobashi vs Samoa Joe as reference) just to experience it in person.
What stands out in this match is Mschif’s character. Unlike Undertaker who stalks and uses mind games on his opponent Mschif (as another dark themed character) goes right in with no fear of ANY opponent. No hesitation or second guessing on the part of Mschif. But unlike many other performers she does what she does with purpose as well as selling well for an opponent and not just making herself look good but she makes every opponent look good in the ring as well.
They work round each other’s offence very well and put together an amazing match that is intense in it’s brutality and awe inspiring in what Mschif is able to absorb. This I believe was the first time (in the US) that Kong did the Human Torture rack where she makes her opponent bend unnaturally on her shoulders. Well in this one she makes Mschif’s feet hit the back of her own head.
This match is so good that it gets to the poit where almost every single move gets a reaction or ovation from the crowd and the crowd is audible during the entire match. It even elicits a “This is awesome!” chant at one point. (Ever hear a WWE Diva’s match get one of them?)
An Awesome Bomb by Kong brings this one to a close but both participants get a rousing reception from the crowd for their efforts. An amazing match.
Next we have Mschif’s match against Yoshiko Tamura for ONE of Tamura’s titles (she is wearing 2 different belts during the introductions)
This really has a BIG match feel to it as both take their time in the early going. Tamura takes the advantage after a couple of minutes and works over Mschif with submission moves. How do you make an Abdominal Stretch more painful? Throw in a crossface at the same time. Follow that up with a surfboard then a Camel Clutch and you know Mschif was in some serious pain in this one. Your Soul’s Tormentor holds her own though and delivers as well as receives punishment. This match does not rely on rest holds as they set a pace for themselves that leaves no room for wear down holds. They just unleash move after move but not in the sense that it is a meaningless spotfest rather they take the time to make the moves mean something as well as sell them appropriately. A Full Nelson Slam ends this one as Mschif comes up short against Tamura. They do show each other respect after the match and hug before raising each other’s hands for the crowd.
Another match up against Amazing Kong is next, this time for the NWA No Limits. Really any time you put these two into a match you are onto a sure-fire winner. NWA Midwest Women’s Champ Mschif vs NWA World Women’s Champ Amazing Kong.
Like their previous encounter (and not a carbon copy of it) this one also does not disappoint. This does have a chop exchange that makes you feel sorry for Mschif as Kong is just brutal in her delivery of chops and …..well basically anything else in this one. Kong plays the immovable object in this one while Mschif throws everything she has at Kong.
Seeing as this is Falls Count Anywhere they go to the floor where Kong seems to play janitor for a while as she sweeps the chairs out of the way using Mschif. Mschif fights back though with some chairs and forearm shots to kong’s face. Kong though stops Mschif’s intended chair shot with a block then punches the chair into Mschif’s face. Then she drags Mschif around by the leg before they return to the ring. Then comes thew aforementioned chop battle. Mschif’s sound like they would sting as she does deliver them with force but Kong’s sound like “thuds” in comparison. A beautiful top rope to the outside dive by Mschif elicits a “Mschif” chant from the crowd.
How does Kong react to this you ask? A chokeslam on the concrete that garners it’s own “Please don’t kill her” chant. This is followed by a “Please don’t die” chant.
Kong brings a table into the ring while Mschif has a lie down outside the ring, moreso from the action than from wanting to relax. Kong blocks Mschif’s green mist with a chair then bounces the chair off of Mschif’s head.
Mschif stays in the match but Kong was incredibly dominant in this match. Mschif does kick out of the Awesome bomb surprisingly but Kong has other plans. Like an evil genius sitting in a Volcano super lair she realizes that by executing an Awesome bomb THROUGH A TABLE she will get a 3 count and that’s what Kong does.
Another great match this was between them.
To round out this DVD (quick note to self a DVD is round anyway so how does one round it out?) We have Cheerleader Melissa vs Mschif from Pro Wrestling Revolution.
If you have seen SHIMMER volumes 1, 4 and 6 then you will know what occurs when these two go at it regardless of stipulation or promotion. When Melissa and Mschif go head to head it is like Flair vs Sting or Hogan vs Savage. There is just that natural chemistry with each other and everything just clicks between them. The moves seem crisp, the interaction is impressive while they captivate the crowd.
This begins as a clinic in the ring before becoming an arena/venue wide brawl. At one point Melissa has Mschif in a Wheelbarrow position and decides to swing her side to side, doesn’t sound impressive does it? Well when you are in the crowd and Melissa is using Mschif to clear the way of chairs it becomes that much more of an impressive part of the match.
No matter the efforts of both wrestlers it is the referee in this one that leaves a bad mark on it. He refuses to count any falls out of the ring or ask if a wrestler wants to submit even though the match was advertised as a FALLS COUNT ANYWHERE. He constantly tells them to return to the ring much to both participant’s annoyance.
Melissa gets so frustrated that after about 20 minutes of incredible action she nails the referee with a Kudo Driver (and a really brutal one too) and ends up being disqualified for it.
So there you have it folks. Mschif’s Damnation DVD. You can buy this (and an excellent array of Mschif Merchandise by clicking on the following link) for the low cost of only $16. You can order the whole array of her DVDs (minus the Dangerous Divas one) for the incredible price of only $50 which is absolutely worth it.
So take the time to enjoy this DVD and you will not be disappointed.
http://www.mschif.net/merchandise/
This will take you directly to Mschif’s own website and merchandise page. Costs INCLUDE shipping so there are no hidden extra costs when buying from there. Also Mschif herself signs the DVDs and gets them shipped out to you.
Also check out her Forum, register and post as Mschif does answer questions and interact on her Forum.
A stellar performer in the ring and a great person toward her fans out of it. What else can you want?
