Hidden Highlights 06.01.09: Issue #196

Posted by JP Prag on 06.01.2009

Everyone (especially MVP) wears the proper numbers on their Jerseys, Tommy Dreamer tells Christian what moves to do, Todd Grisham remembers when Carlito beat John Cena, Victoria is recollected as everyone’s favorite “ho”, John Morrison realized Umaga can talk, and more!

Hidden Highlights
By JP Prag

Issue #196

Commentator: Previously, on Hidden Highlights…

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Commentator: Classic rock and proper English were seemingly at odds.

irishpaddy: "Mojo Rising" is an anagram of Jim Morrison??? Try again.

KC: "Mojo Risin(g)" can't be an anagram of "Jim Morrison" for a multitude of reasons beginning with the different amount of letters in each of the two sets of words.

Kyle: Its because the anagram is Mr Mojo Rising.

Gentleman Jim: There's no G in Jim Morrison, anagram can't work. Unless it is Mr Mojo Risin.'

grant: Ahh… 2am fuck up on my part. Mr. Mojo Risin' is the anagram.

Stenographer: Now that that is settled, I'm sure everyone noticed that JR used it again this week on SmackDown!

Commentator: Outside of this clarity, other questions were asked.

Jake C: Being the guys that write all these columns, you look at wrestling, I think, through a different lens than we as fans do. You have to. You're looking for that stuff that people miss. So my question... while you're doing all that, do you feel that it takes away from your "fandom" of wrestling? That it's more of a job and harder to make you really get over on something, because you're always looking for that slight of hand, or that hidden something, that may or may not be there? Just curious.

JP: As far as looking for Hidden Highlights, for me it's just how I watch everything. And not just watch things, but go through life. People will tell you if you just walk around the streets with me the type of things I point out and look for. For other like JT, yes, it was a bit more work to switch his brains at the beginning, but once you start it is hard to turn off.

Now on the other hand, watching a show to "catch" Hidden Highlights and not just appreciate them makes it more "work" than pure pleasure. I have to schedule time to watch the shows so I can pay complete attention to them. I can't just put the shows on in the background and sort of watch and sort of do something else. I have to have undivided attention on just watching all 8 to 11 hours of wrestling a week, which means I am basically spending a whole working day just watching shows.

So yes, it is a job that makes it harder to just be a fan. On the same end, do not think for a second that we are not fans, too. If I was not a fan at heart with my favorites and whatnot, then I would not be here. That said, over the years I've gotten to "pull back the curtain" by meeting wrestlers, talking to them as people, and being behind the scenes. A lot of the magic is ruined for me because of it, but I try to get as much enjoyment as I can while the ride lasts.

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





JP: Hello everyone getting to write their article out on their roof top patio for the first time this year due to an unseasonable cold snap, 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: We'll kick it off this week with a show I missed because Jeff Small wanted to spend the whole night complaining about clubs he couldn't get into even though I was the only one who actually brought slacks and shoes with him to Texas.

DJ Big Sexy: I was watching the 2009 Hall Of Fame Ceremony on DVD. I noticed that Chris Jericho was laughing and joking when all the other inductees were announced but when the camera cut to him during Ricky Steamboat's speech there was that look of disdain on his face. It was keeping in line the storyline where he was facing the legends at Wrestlemania.

JP: Jericho did something very similar at the press conference before WrestleMania. This guys is always on top of his game and one of the last old school guys who plays his character even in public.


Classic Hidden Highlight

JP: We'll stick in the past and go even further back in time.

Jake C: Over the past few months, I've become addicted to 411 Wrestling, and I've learned so much about the little "secret" things that I'm amazed I never picked up on before. One I discovered several months ago, was the fact that when wrestlers do moves on someone's leg or arm, it's always the left side. Reading Jake's column earlier today that referened the Mr. Perfect vs. Doink KOTR Matches, I saw something that I found interesting.





At the 3:40 mark Mr. Perfect is working on Doink's left leg... he grabs the right, seemingly going to start working on that... holds it, then drops down on him without doing anything to that leg. I don't know if this was something to toy with people who were "in the know" like "Hey, I'm going to go after the right one and screw with everyone" or if it was just setup for his next move and the way he was holding his leg just caught my eye.

JP: It's like when referees use the "X" symbol to show a legit injury, except they do it for the planned ones. Yes, despite what wrestlers, announcers, and promoters claim, they very often play to the internet or dirtsheet crowd. It's not an everyday occurrence, but it does happen from time to time, so it would not surprise me if Curt Hennig was doing something similar here.


The Wrestler

JP: The favorite movie of 411mania "The Wrestler" is also chocked full of Hidden Highlights. But there are more ones around this movie as first timer Dean Lundren points out.

Dean Lundren: I was just in the local Blockbuster the other night when I noticed the poster for the Wrestler (great movie). What caught my eye was the tattoo on Randy the Ram's right finger. If you look closely its JOB. Thought it was a nice Hidden Highlight... perhaps signifying his plight in the move.

JP: I think what is more amazing is that you were at a Blockbuster! Those things have been dropping off like flies.


Ongoing Hidden Highlight

JP: Sort of getting in to the present, this one requires you to do a lot of watching.

raistlinmajere: Since WM25, I've noticed a particular person in the audience who is very visible in the crowd. He was present also at both Backlash and Judgment Day, and I expect he will be at Extreme Rules.

He's a balding guy with glasses and has a camera always present. He is always sitting in the front row so he is easy to spot.

At WM25, he was the one who was wearing a colorful long sleeve shirt. I started to notice him during HBK/Taker's match because he was pretty animated, especially when Taker won. =)

At Backlash he was wearing a blue polo shirt and at Judgment Day he was in a red and white shirt. A wealthy WWE mark if I may say so.

Mark: Was that guy also the one who wears that AWFUL pink shirt in the front row at WM24?

JP: Since I was live at WrestleMania 24, 25, and Backlash, I can honestly say I have not been able to see anyone in the front row recently. I'll have to take your word for it. Keep an eye out for us at Extreme Rules and let us know what he is up to. When Rosa Mendez was at all events, they actually stood out quite conspicuously, so I doubt that he's another one like her (but you never know).


RAW

JP: Moving on to this week's RAW, Matt Hardy, William Regal, and Kofi Kingston fought in a triple threat match to determine the number one contender to the United States Championship. The United States Champion MVP was on commentary during the match, giving his thoughts on his various potential opponents. After Matt Hardy did some nefarious deed against Kofi Kingston, MVP told JR and Michael Cole, "I've been trying to tell people for a long time that Matt Hardy is no good, but everyone thought it was me!"

This was excellent continuity by MVP who has now changed the entire feud he had with Hardy and made it look like Hardy was the bad guy all along and only MVP was smart enough to see it. It also reminded me of a classic moment following Bash at the Beach '96 when Hogan turned on his teammates to form the nWo. The next night on Nitro, Bobby Hennan went on a wonderful rant that he'd been telling people for decades that Hogan was no good and that now Hogan had proved him right. Shiavone and Tenay were forced to agree and turned Hennan into a super face in short order.


RAW

JP: Also on RAW, there was a mixed tag match featuring Santino Marella teaming up with Mickie James to take on Chavo Guerrero and Beth Phoenix.

Trevor Alexander: When Santino greeted Mickie James in the ring he tried to kiss her head and bite her hair as she walked away.

JP: Oh that rascal! Have you noticed that when Santina now pets the referee across the face he just sighs and accepts it?


RAW

JP: Because Santino and Mickie James won their match, they got to pick the stipulation for Santina's match with Vickie Guerrero at Extreme Rules. Vickie Guerrero then came out to confront her opponent's brother and Chavo was quick to join her. As Vickie was doing her "Excuse me!" routine, you could just make out Chavo go, "She's talking!" It was a great little add-in that he's done before, but one that I still love. Chavo always keeps himself involved as the perfect brownnoser.


RAW

JP: Of course, RAW was all about the 5-on-5 Lakers vs. Nuggets match to finish off the WWE's troubles with the Pepsi Center and KSE. The good news is, the long intros and extra long opening segment allowed me to fast forward so much of RAW I watched the whole thing in 45 minutes. The more good news? It still brought on plenty of Hidden Highlights.

Joey from Delaware: I thought it was ironic that M.V.P. was wearing the #24 Lakers jersey, since that is the number of Kobe Bryant, and Bryant is a top candidate to win the Most Valuable Player award in the NBA. It could be a weak hidden highlight, but it shows that i pay attention. LOL

JP: Don't put yourself down; there were plenty of people who thought exactly like you did.

Steve: So on that 5 on 5 matchup on Raw this week, they all came out with their own numbers and all. You'd have figured that the marquee players for each team would have aligned with the marquee players on the respective NBA teams in terms of numbers.

However, MVP was the one that donned Kobe's number, at least staying consistent with his character.

JP: And then there are people like me who know next to nothing about basketball and need everything explained to them. Heck, Hasan Bahar went about 15 steps further than either of you did.

Hasan Bahar: On the 5 on 5 match on Raw, I actually loved that they all wore their own jerseys instead of an actual player from the Lakers or Nuggets because it allowed me to analyze the number everyone wore.

On the Lakers John Cena always wears 54 since back in his rapper days so that was no surprise. MVP was 24 like Kobe, who is the MVP of the NBA. Batista and Kennedy had 7 and 4 respectively, which may just be personal favorites of theirs but after researching, I found that Batista debuted in 2002, 7 years ago while Kennedy debuted in 2005, 4 years ago. Coincidence? The King had 48 which I can't figure out besides maybe the year he was born (except Wikipedia says 1949). Any ideas?

In the Nuggets we had the Miz who claims to be the best at number 1, makes sense. Big Show largest athlete with 99, largest number possible. And then Legacy's numbers were a but more tricky Orton 15, Rhodes 6, and Dibiase 4. Any thoughts on their meanings? Perhaps just personal favorites and maybe I'm looking too much into this but I like analyzing these things similar to analyzing colors.

JP: While I don't have answers to any of your questions, Shamboozled (who I believe is someone else we haven't heard from in a while) has his own ideas.

Shamboozled: - Name: Ken Kennedy
- From: Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Jersey Number: 4

- Name: Brett Favre
- Played for: Green Bay Packers (16 years)
- Jersey Number: 4

Makes sense for Kennedy to wear the number of one of the most Iconic Packer players in the past 20 years. Even if he did go to the Jets, Kennedy like most of the stubborn cheeseheads (of which I am one) still like Brett Favre.

JP: People in New England think I'm crazy for still liking Manny Ramirez. Heck, they thought I was crazy when I liked him when he was on the Red Sox! It's ok to have your favorites long after they are gone and useful and possibly on female hormones.


RAW

JP: During the match itself, Ted Dibiase had control of Mr. Kennedy and brought him to his corner. When he reached out for a tag he asked his partners, "Who wants him?" I thought this was a wonderful little question that made the match look far less planned. The five on their team were not a cohesive unit (except Legacy itself) and it would make a lot of sense that he would not know who wanted in. It also showed a great bit of arrogance for the heel team, even if most did not pick up on it.

Still, the ironic part is nobody wanted him as he was released just a couple of days later. Poor, poor Mr. Kennedy.


RAW

JP: That was not the only action in that match, as Josh Huff points out.

Josh Huff: The Big Show pulled a Hidden Highlight I loved during the big tag match on RAW. Dibiase had just knocked MVP out of the ring near Show. The referee was looking at MVP, so Show couldn't go after him, but we all knew he would. With the referee still looking in his direction, Show began to slowly edge himself off the apron, then finally dropped the rest of the way and nailed a cheap shot when the ref turned away. I just loved Show's gradual movement through the short sequence to get ready to inflict some hurt.

JP: What's amazing is that a guy that size can work in subtlety and slight movements. It is a true testament to how good the Big Show really is.


ECW

JP: Over in the land of extreme, odd tag team partners also created great moments.

Jeremiah Baker: Tommy Dreamer calling out moves ("Drop toe hold!") to Christian was brilliant. The two aren't a natural team and wouldn't have tag-transition moves (did I just coin a phrase?) planned out so Dreamer calling stuff out makes perfect sense. Digging even deeper, let's say Dreamer, Christian, and Finlay had a gameplan set up that was nixed once Fit was taken out. Or the animosity between Christian and Dreamer is so great they wouldn't meet beforehand to strategize. All of this from a few audible words. Well done, Tommy.

JP: I thought it was great, too. And even though Christian performed the drop toe hold, in the end he got up and stared at Dreamer. You could see him seething being told what to do. It worked so well in all aspects of the match.


SuperStars

JP: Moving on to SuperStars, the Unified Tag Team Champions the Colons were in the ring taking on the Worlds Greatest Tag Team of Charlie Haas and "The Gold Standard" Shelton Benjamin in a non-title contest. Now, I knew the Colons could go to any brand to defend their titles, but I had no idea they could compete just because on any show. Who knew?

Anyway, during the match Todd Grisham started to talk about Carlito's single's career and how he was a force to be reckoned with. That is when he said, "In one of Carlito's first matches in the WWE he defeated John Cena for the United States Championship." Excellent continuity there by Mr. Grisham! While most WWE announcers would be afraid to make John Cena look bad by talking about his earlier WWE career, Grisham was perfectly fine bringing up the far ago past and using it to put Carlito over.


iMPACT

JP: Outside of the WWE shows, TNA had their one show a week. During iMPACT, Team 3D awarded Beer Money their trophies, check, and tag team title shot during a ceremony in the middle of the show. At the end, the two teams had a mini-beer bash to finish off the party. At the end of it, Robert Roode picked up the TNA Tag Title off the mat and was staring at it longingly. Brother Ray caught wind of this, ripped the title out of his hand and said, "Not yet!"

This was one of those great "in the moment" bits. Both saw a chance to adlib something that was not being focused on by the camera and decided to go for it. Kudos to both for making a great little moment out of nothing.


iMPACT

JP: Not to be outdone by the tag team division, the Knockouts put on their own show.

Ricky Young: Angelina Love was running down the Knockout roster, saying that she needed more Ho's to face her for her title.

Why was this important? Well, none other than Victoria came out to beat up the Beautiful People. If you remember, early in her career, Victoria was one of the Godfather's Ho's ("the Head Ho", in fact, according to Wikipedia).

An interesting homage to the career of the woman who was about to destroy her by Angelina.

JP: It must be the week of repeat thinkers because you weren't alone out there.

Anthony Burris: On this weeks Impact, Angelina Love was asking for more talent to take on and she called them Hos, well Victoria started out as a Ho for the Godfather.

JP: Anyone else want in on this?

Dubhagan: Just before Victoria debuted, Angelina Love said that she needed "some new hos to throw around here." This prompted Victoria to come out. The Hidden Highlight here is that when Victoria first debuted in the WWE, she was one of Godfather's hos. So in her TNA debut, TNA references her WWE debut.

JP: I'm not sure how many people outside the IWC remember that about Victoria, so it was more of a subtle dig than a direct reference. It's not like she said, "I even challenge one of those WWE hos to come down here." If she did that, then it would be a negative. But for what it was, it was so small it was easy to miss, thus a great Hidden Highlight.


SmackDown

JP: Finishing us off this week is the Shaman of Sexy, John Morrison. Morrison was in the ring with Umaga when Umaga started to talk some smack. John Morrison then said to Umaga, "I forgot you learned how to talk now!" This was absolute pure brilliance and hilarity from the Palace of Wisdom. Umaga has only been talking for a couple of weeks, and this little dig was a great one by Morrison, especially since it was almost impossible to pick up. Extra kudos to you this week, sir!


Well everyone, that wraps up this week's show. Thank you for reading the 196th 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!