Hidden Highlights 04.20.09: Issue #190

Posted by JP Prag on 04.20.2009

Rey Mysterio licks his lips like the Joker and then helps Jeff Hardy get back in the ring, Gail Kim braces for an extra kick, Beth Phoenix no longer wears the Italian flag, MVP continues to act like himself, Jonathan Coachman remembers his wrestling days, and more!

Hidden Highlights
By JP Prag

Issue #190

Commentator: Previously, on Hidden Highlights…

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Commentator: It appeared that there was a little bit of full circle continuity going on.

Eric Foster: "JP: And I respect your opinion enough to agree that it could very well have been an homage. Now what does it say that they wiped out Sim Snuka?"

Well how about a throw back to Taker's first opponent and who he has win number one over: Sim Snuka's dad the "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka at WM 7 eighteen years earlier?

Hal Jordan: Undertaker wiped out Jimmy Snuka to begin the streak.

D-Day: Wait, so if Taker starts the streak by wiping out Jimmy Snuka, and then wiped out Sim Snuka this year, does this mean that his streak has come full circle and will now end?

Wrestlemania 2010, the year the streak dies, BOOK IT

JP: I'll be there like, so make it happen! Of course, I'm on my way from Phoenix now, so maybe I should just rent an apartment and wait the year intead.

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Commentator: And now, 411mania.com proudly presents…





JP: Hello everyone who hasn't even made it though ECW yet and is currently on an airplane so will not have a chance to watching anything until midnight, and welcome back to Hidden Highlights! If you've never been here before, let me tell you what we are doing in these pages.

Hidden Highlights are about the little things that make the product great. They are about showing the positive motions all those involved in wrestling do to make a better show. The Miz may hold his opponents hands down to make a pin attempt better. Charles Robinson may let a little tear shed from his eye every time someone mentions Ric Flair. Mike Tenay may tell you about the 17 year history of a visiting wrestler and make them sound huge in one sentence. These are all examples of little things that make the product far better.

Every week this article spotlights up to the Top 15 Hidden Highlights of the week, whether the be from television (RAW, ECW of SciFi, iMPACT, SmackDown!, and a PPV or television special if there is one), the past, small shows, tapes, or the indy scene.

This article may have an author, but it is also dependent upon the readers and true fans of professional wrestling—those who love what they watch and want to tell the world what they have found. The Top 15 are chosen from what I see and what readers write-in. Whatever is the best is what you'll see!

And who am I? Well, I am JP Prag, and I bring you Hidden Highlights with one goal in mind: to appreciate all those little things that make a huge difference.

Now let's get on with the Hidden Highlights!


Classic Hidden Highlight

JP: Before you start yelling at me, in case you couldn't tell from the intro I have barely got anywhere in watching wrestling this week. Actually, I've barely gotten anywhere in anything in life this week. The words "endless travel", "tons of work", and "totally jammed up" would suffice the point. But considering there was 10 hours of wrestling related content this week I thought you guys and gals would have gotten a little further than RAW! Ah well, I guess that was a bit too much to watch even for all of you.

Unless, of course, that wasn't and you started watching shows from 8 years ago.

Rob: I was re-watching No Mercy 2001 tonight when I found a Hidden Highlight I'd never caught before.

During the Angle vs. Shane match, just after Kurt smashed him through the glass for a second time he went for a cover there under the Titan-Tron. When the ref reminded Kurt that he had to bring him back to the ring you could see Kurt saying, "You gotta be kidding!" But the real Hidden Highlight was when Kurt looked at the ref dejected and said, "Help me!"

When the ref refused to assist, Angle's expression was priceless. "You son of a bitch!"

Great stuff indeed. Nearly died laughing.

JP: I just liked that Angle asked the ref to help him if he wanted him back in the ring so much. That is classic egotistical Angle!


WWE WrestleMania 25 – Retro 1 Week

JP: Getting a few years closer the present, we go to an event that I was live at but one I missed.

Michael: Rey Mysertio had one at Wrestlemania with his Joker outfit. As he made his way down to the ring he was licking his lips (which was a common thing The Joker did in The Dark Knight due to his scars). Rey made sure he was portraying his character right down to the littlest detail and giving kids Joker cards.

JP: You know, form my distance I could not even tell he had a Joker mask on. All I saw was bright green overalls and the girl in front of me and I both said at practically the same time, "What the hell is he wearing?" We also talked about Matt Hardy wearing wrestling tights, agreeing it was the first time either of us had ever seen him do such a thing.

And to me Aussie readers, she was one of yours. I assume she is back there now, so go enjoy her!


RAW – Retro 1 Week

JP: RAW the night after WrestleMania also provided a bit of its own starring Rey Mysterio.

Terry Matthews: I noticed after the big 8 man tag match, before they all celebrated in the ring, Rey rolled out to check on Jeff Hardy, and get him back into the ring to celebrate with the rest of his team.

JP: Rey Mysterio sure is a nice guy! Except when he is playing one of the most evil villains in all of comic land.


RAW – Retro 1 Week

JP: Sticking to RAW from last week, and the same match, there was plenty more to catch.

Kyle: On RAW, at the end of the match Ricky Steamboat rolled to the outside of the ring to make sure that the pin was legal since only one man of each team can be in the ring at one time.

JP: The man hasn't wrestled in 10 years but is completely on top of his game. That is the type of things he needs to passing on to the next generation.


SmackDown – Retro 1 Week

JP: Further down the pike, we move on to last week's SmackDown.

Kyle: Cody Rhodes also had another one on Smackdown. When he was making the pin and he hooked the leg and the arm nearest the rope to make sure that Carlito could not make the ropes.

JP: Now Cody has definitely picked up on the prior generation (given his father). Since the heel turn and Legacy, especially, Cody has been getting better and better in there on all fronts. Well, except for his constant red-faced-ness, but there is nothing he can do about that.


SmackDown – Retro 1 Week

JP: Still in last week's SmackDown, my favorite gal Gail was in action.

guest: During Gail Kim vs. Michelle McCool, Michelle was kicking the hell out of Gail's stomach in the corner. Gail moved like she was going to get kicked one more time, only Michelle changed her attack at the last moment.

JP: That is a great living in the moment bit form Gail Kim. Even though the kicks were coming to and end, she still acted like she was about to get hit by one. I hope they continue to let her be Gail Kim in the now Women's division on SmackDown.


ROH on HDNet

JP: We move in to this week with the little seen but seeming well known on the internet ROH.

ausjimmy: On ROH on HDNet, Daizee Haze was on her way to the ring with her partner Neveah. Mike Hogewood told us that "Neveah is heaven backwards", and Dave Prazak immediately added "Neveah is heaven backwards!" To me, this seemed like a throwback to the days of TNA when Don West & Mike Tenay would mention several times per minute that "Rellik is killer backwards."

JP: Boy do I miss Rellik just for that! Guess I should check out ROH on HDNet to get my fix. Of course, I don't have time for RAW, so that might prove difficult.


RAW

JP: Finally we move in to the three-hour draft special of RAW. And boy did y'all have plenty to say about that show!

Travis Miller: Following the Jericho/Dreamer match, Todd Grisham said 'Thank you Chris Jericho, may WE please have another!', which could very well be a reference to the Singapore Cane Match between Dreamer and the Sandman from ECW that put Tommy Dreamer over huge with the fans.

JP: That would be quite a reference for Todd Grisham! Since he rarely ever gets any love, we'll let it slide and give it to Mr. Grisham. I mean, everyone does deserve a little positivity here and there.


RAW

JP: Of course, what would an issue of Hidden Highlights be without talk of someone's costume?!

Steve: Before the Santino/Khali match, they recapped some of the dissension between Santino and Beth. When Beth came out, she was no longer wearing the red, white and green as she had done the last month or so.

JP: Awwww… dissention in the ranks of my favorite power couple!

By the way, did you know Jeff Small is going to need to take tomorrow off after the Great Khali makes out with Santina tonight on RAW? He is so overcome with jealousy that he won't be able to make it into the 411mania.com offices for the rest of the week, no doubt!


RAW

JP: Later on during RAW, the Miz took on Kofi Kingston in a match that was destined to end the bromance between the Miz and John Morrison.

Steve: Somewhere in the middle of the match, Miz was pinning Kofi. While he didn't do anything to isolate the free leg, when he had him wrapped up, Miz went to clasp his hands to lock the pin in tighter.

JP: That is really why the Miz was so sad to break up the team. Under Morrison, he has grown tremendously in the ring. I hope he can do well without Morrison. Although, it's not like Morrison hasn't shown up on every shown in existence over the past year anyway.


RAW

JP: In another draft pick match (imagine that), Kane the The Brian Kendrick did battle.

Cathy: In the Kane vs. Kendrick squash, as Kane was going for the finish, Todd
Grisham said, "Looks like Kendrick's being taken for a ride." This made me think immediately of Kendrick's very first appearance in the WWE, delivering a singing telegram from the Big Show to Undertaker, a segment that ended with Kendrick taking a Last Ride. Then following Kane's win, Raw drafts the Big Show, thus locking in the comparison.

...well, I thought that was neat.

JP: So long as you did, honey, I'm all for it!


RAW

JP: The biggest match of the draft night was a 15-man battle royal for two picks.

lilwayne1: During his entrance, MVP was primping and preening. As well, when the bell rang, he folded his arms, shrugged, and flashed a cocky grin before zeroing in on someone. His character is the type that is laid-back and arrogant and won't start a match just because the bell rings.

As we've stated before, just because MVP is now a face doesn't mean he's any less conceited, which is continuity and attention to gimmick detail that I like.

JP: I really like that MVP has continued to be MVP. It's very Ric Flair like to always play the same character despite the turn. When his super heel turn comes in the future, it should just be another day in the park!


RAW

JP: Of course, what would a draft filled edition of RAW be without a plug to our good friends in the production department!

faythe: On the draft edition of RAW the production guys were on the ball again. If you look at the faces in the RAW roster when they show the blinking blocks during the draft pick you can see that they've added a square for "Santina".

JP: How can you not love the production crew for their up to the minute exacting detail?


iMPACT

JP: Ok, we at least got a little something from another show this week. And although I have not seen this show, we'll have to take Joey V's word for it.

Joey V from Delaware: In the Mick Foley/Cactus Jack beatdown of Sting, kudos to Don West for bringing 3 of 4 of Foleys personas to the segment when he said, "......this DUDE is insane, and I'm LOVEing it..." This brought together 3 of Foleys alter egos: Mick Foley, Cactus Jack, and Dude Love. In the end, it came full circle for Foley as he said to Sting, "Have a nice day!" which represented the 4th alter ego, Mankind!

JP: Unfortunately, "Four Faces of Foley" is registered trademark of the WWE. Poor TNA.


ESPN

JP: Wrapping us up this week is a bit of the WWE on ESPN, but not during the E60 segment!

Galaxy Express: Last night I got a Hidden Highlight from ESPN. Jonathan Coachman (now hosting NBA Fastbreak on ESPN) called back to his wrestling past referring to the logjam in the middle of the Western Conference playoff picture a Fatal Four-Way. It might be rather blatant, but likely lost on the majority of the show's target audience.

Also, I'm not sure if the "[insert player/coach here] is lovin' life" line he used a couple of times was referencing those nonsensical Michelle McCool videos that lead to nothing back in the day, but for the love of all that's holy and WrestleCrap, I certainly hope so.

JP: I always said Coachman never got enough credit. I do miss the guy, but fans of Hidden Highlights know that I have next to no knowledge on college basketball. Now if he starts calling Red Sox games, I'll be very happy!


Well everyone, that wraps up this week's show. Thank you for reading the 190th ISSUE of Hidden Highlights!

Do you have a Hidden Highlight from this or any week in history that you would like to share? Please e-mail this article at [e-mail] with your thoughts! Send them by Saturday afternoon to be considered! And remember, they can be from any show, live or taped, or any house show, or anything you saw. The best of the best will be featured among the top 15 next week.

In the meantime, be sure to catch my very own Thursday morning news report The Hamilton Ave Journal: the only wrestling news report focused on the business of wrestling.

And don't forget to bookmark 411mania.com and perhaps even make it your home page. You can do that by clicking here!

Until then, you have just experienced the most positive article in all of the IWC: Hidden Highlights!