Hidden Highlights 05.04.09: Issue #192

Posted by JP Prag on 05.04.2009

Santina Marella tries to have a little modesty at Backlash, the Miz makes reference to John Cena’s unfortunate issues with spotlights, Finlay makes certain that Tyson Kidd isn’t looking, CM Punk tries to counter Edge’s escape, and more!

Hidden Highlights
By JP Prag

Issue #192

Commentator: Previously, on Hidden Highlights…

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Commentator: A new request came to the world of Hidden Highlights…

Guest#7146: I demand an actual HH HoF page!

EddieGibson: What he said.

Seth: I completely agree.

Stenographer: Well, since there are only two people in the Hidden Highlights Hall of Fame (Chris Jericho and Trish Stratus), it wouldn't be much of a page right now. Maybe a little later?

Commentator: That was not the only positivity to come out of the column last week as the good kids brought up their game.

Guest#0257: Just started getting into this column the last few weeks, I'm liking it, I enjoy the smaller finer details as well, so its nice to know other people are catching them too.

Pretend I'm Dead: Screw the negativity. This column is great, one of the best on 411.

If all you care about is guys smashing themselves on the mat, then that's fine; just don't criticize other fans for looking a little deeper. Wrestling may just be entertainment, but I think it's utterly fascinating to see how these performers add a little bit of nuance to their show.

Commentator: Of course, not all people will really everything.

Curtis: Maybe its just me but executing a smart pin (pull away from ropes, use your legs to hook their, etc) is basic wrestling and not a Hidden Highlight.

Now Listen: I'm the one who pointed that out. Pulling a wrestler away from the ropes and hooking the leg aren't a HH. I wouldn't have pointed it out if those were all he did. But how often do you see a wrestler use his own legs to wrap around the unhooked leg? That's what's hidden. It's selling that you're doing that little bit extra to make it look more realistic that you're trying to win the match.

The Freight Train: Orton's pin of HHH was incredible. In addition to all the well-presented reasons listed above, note that Orton took the time to toss the ring steps back outside after hitting HHH. Thus, he made sure that if HHH somehow knocked him down the steps would be tough to retrieve. I really appreciate that level of thought. It makes the whole show more fun to watch.

JP: And that is what it is all about!

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





JP: Hello everyone who got to go to their first live professional baseball game of the season (despite the potential for rain), 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!


RAW – Retro 1 Week

JP: We'll kick if off just a little bit in the past, but only for a short while.

Alfred Franklin: After the ten count by Edge, Cena was shaking his head like he was having a nightmare as Edge said he was the "new world champ".

JP: See? Wasn't that a short one? That is pretty funny of Cena to be moving around like he was having a nightmare. And look: it came true!


WWE Backlash

JP: Moving ahead to this week, it's another show I was at live. Amazing how these PPVs follow me around. But before some of my observations, how about some of yours?

MrBZac: After Christian got the pin on Swagger, as the ref went to get the belt, Christian tried to put the turnbuckle cover back in place. The cover kept falling off though so instead he put his arm around the ref's shoulders and led him away from the corner so he wouldn't notice.

JP: I was watching Christian messing with the cover and he seemed to even be having some trouble taking it off. I think someone tied a knot too well. Damn you Boy Scouts of America!!!


WWE Backlash… LIVE

JP: What you didn't see is what happened after the pin and arena lights were turned down. Jack Swagger continued to lay in the ring for a bit as Christian walked away with the title. Once Swagger saw that Christian had the title, he just started reaching out, looking for his title. He continued to reach out for a long time, falling down several times, and reaching out again until a referee came to drag him away and explain what happened. I really enjoyed that Swagger put on the whole act for the live crowd, a crowd that wasn't even looking at him (save me).


WWE Backlash

JP: Still sticking to the PPV, MrBZac brought together quite a bit of history.

MrBZac: I remember an interview with Chris Jericho where he said Steamboat vs. Savage at Wrestlemania 3 was the first match that blew him away, and he would re-watch it, and memorize it, and perform it with a friend. I bring this up because just before the end of the match Jericho went for a bodyslam but Steamboat turned it into a roll up. It was that exact move that ended the Steamboat/Savage match. It was a nice tribute to one of Jericho's favorites while in the ring with The Dragon and it also gave the feeling that Jericho was able to escape because he knew the move so well.

JP: A little bit of kayfabe mixed with a little bit of history: that is Chris Jericho for you, ladies and gentlemen!


WWE Backlash… LIVE

JP: After a match like that, what else could follow up other than Santina Marella and the Great Khali! Despite Small texting me with his extreme sadness at not being in the ring with Khali, there was something else to catch. As Santina was making her way into the ring, Rhanjin Singh was holding open the ropes for her. As he was doing so, Singh was checking out Santina's backside. Santina then caught wind of this, pulled her skirt further down and waggled her finger at Singh. Singh then threw his hands up in apologies, but still tried to catch a second glance!

The whole sequence was wonderful and hilarious, and happened in just a few seconds. Great work by those two putting together that hilarious set of back-and-forths.


WWE Backlash

JP: Still at Backlash, that little moment eventually led to a match between Beth Phoenix and Santina Marella.

Dave W: After beating Beth Phoenix (and possibly before, but this is the first time I've seen it) I noticed that as part of her celebration Santina started playing the air flute and the air violin. This, to me, seemed to be a clear tribute to her brother Santino, who is famous for his "air trombone" celebration when he wins matches (or steals delicious sandwiches). Of course, being a lady, Santina would play more ladylike instruments.

The dedication to the character really tickled me.

JP: It's a little on the nose, but the dedication to the character is what makes this one worth noting.


RAW

JP: Moving ahead to RAW, there was a bit of wrestling action.

neverAcquiesce: During the Kendrick/Kingston match Brian was on the apron as Kofi went for him. Kendrick ducked low, seemingly for an attempt at driving his shoulder through the ropes into Kingston's midsection. Kofi saw it coming and extended his torso away to avoid the shot. However, THE Brian Kendrick instead sprung up and delivered a clubbing blow to the back of Kofi's head which, because he was moving his stomach away, was very close to the ropes and prime for the taking. The feint and subsequent attempted counter to lead into the intended attack was a nice bit of realism thrown into a criminally short match.

JP: I believe this type of action now belongs on the SmackDown brand since it seems like that is the "wrestling" show again. Hopefully these guys can go out there and put on shows even on RAW!


RAW

JP: Also on RAW, Beth Phoenix was again in action teaming with Rosa Mendez and Jillian Hall to take on Santina Marella, Kelly Kelly, and Mickie James. As the heels made their entrance, Lillian began to announce the partners one by one. It was not until Lillian specifically said Beth's name did she start to do her pose. I thought this was a great way for Beth to bring attention to herself at the exact right moment, something that only timing and listening could pout into place.


RAW

JP: Also on RAW, the Miz made his debut as a RAW superstar.

faythe: When the Miz called out Cena out on Raw he said "the spotlight's on you", a wonderfully backhanded comment considering it was Cena's being on, or rather through the spotlight that cost him the title at Backlash the night before.

JP: Oh, that was so punny!


ECW

JP: Back in the land of extreme, Finlay was taking on Tyson Kidd. During the match, Finlay called for a test of strength with Kidd and Kidd was quick to respond. The two hooked up with one set of hands and Finlay was twinkling his fingers out for the other set. As soon as Kidd took his eyes off of Finlay directly, Finlay then went for the kick to the stomach. It was not an immediate thing, but Finlay waited until the exact moment when Kidd stopped looking to make the attack. What a great little thing form the veteran to show you how timing can absolutely change even the oldest trick I the book.


ECW

JP: Also during the same match, Kidd had Finlay in a submission maneuver that included bending him in an ankle lock like position. During the same move, Kidd also stepped on top of Finlay's other foot so that Finlay could not kick out of it. This would have been a Hidden Highlight unto itself, if not for my other favorite announcer Josh Matthew pointing out this exact same thing. To make it even better, Matthews asked Striker about it, forcing Striker to further explain beyond what Striker even normally does. It was a great way to show how when announcers really describe the product that they can add to overall experience.


SuperStars

JP: And because I enjoy Josh Matthew's commentary so much, I had to throw in one more from SuperStars. During the show, Evan Bourne was once again taking on Paul Burchill. When they came back from the commercial break during the match (how I loath those), Matthews said, "Someone how Bourne survived during the commercial break." I like that this added some reality to the commercial breaks. Too often they act like a match cannot end during a break and that everything will be continuing when they get back. It should more often be like this one where anything can happen during a break, and Josh Matthews made that moment for me.


SmackDown

JP: Josh Matthews was not the only announcer who caught my attention this week. Over on SmackDown, Todd Grisham said something quite interesting. He and JR were going over some of the recent draft picks and they got to Candice Michelle. When they did so, Grisham described Candice Michelle as a "former magazine cover girl". Of course, he neglected to mention which magazine she was on the cover of, but in this TV-PG world it is like that never happened!


SmackDown

JP: Also on SmackDown, MVP was in town for a visit to defend his United States Championship.

hbahar8: When MVP and Sherri Sheperd were backstage, MVP said Sherri was looking "sensational". This was a thowback to the Sensational Sherri (who Miss Sheperd was seeming to have borrowed from to a certain extent with her wardrobe).

JP: Luckily for you I already had this one written down and was going to include it. Otherwise, I would never accept a submission that was missing so many capital letters! People, I know e-mail is easy, but have SOME respect for the English language.


SmackDown

JP: During the main event on SmackDown, Edge and CM Punk fought in a back and forth contest. Part way through the match, Punk was trying to put Edge up on his shoulders for what may have been a Go To Sleep attempt. Edge was quick to realize what was happening and literally started slithering around the back of Punk to escape. As he was making this escape, Punk actually tried to grab on to Edge's legs and ankle as he made a final run away. This was a great little extra move by Punk. Often guys just get out of moves with any attempt to stop the counter, but this time Punk really tried to make the counter to the counter.


Well everyone, that wraps up this week's show. Thank you for reading the 192nd 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!