JP: Ahem. Well, I'm back, and… errr… Michelle would, uh, like to continue:
When Candice was coming out, with her new music (which by the way I love now.. the old one was sooo old and dry).. did you notice how she timed her entrance along to the music almost perfectly? When she came out on to the top of the ramp, the beat was beginning to pick up and is it did, she raised her hand with the title up until the beat actually kicked in properly and then began with her 'dancing', although I'm 99% sure she was having a seizure. When she got to the ring, and the song started slowing down for the "all eyes on me" bit, she readied herself to pull off the coat at that exact time, so all the eyes WOULD be on her.. and then when the person singing the song was having breathing difficulties or something, so did Candice! I know it's not much of a hidden highlight, but I found it coolies that she timed it all so well, obviously for my satisfaction. And then she walked like a man.. hmm..
JP: No, I noticed her timing to the song, too, which is always a nice touch. Maybe she could give Batista some lessons on that one. What do you think?
But I should stop writing in now, cuz I only did it last week and this week to get JP to talk to meh. =]
JP: Talking is fun, but I now a lot more fun activities.
Meehan: Like laser tag!!
JP: EXACTLY! Why don't you go play a game while your new enemy and creator of my logos Dan Hamilton chimes in:
OK so I was on the Smackdown Vs. Raw message boards on GameFAQS today, and there was a topic that was called "Something Small That Would Be Cool" anyways here is what was posted in the topic and in keeping with the "Small but Cool" I had to post my response (I'm dead_man_talking)
cchitman23: What if during Kane's entrance, when he does the pyro thing in the ring, if any wrestlers are standing outside the ring, they flinch. It's not incredibly important, but it would make it a little bit more realistic.
Andrewscorfield: and at wrestlemania when the Undertaker comes out the crowd roar more than usual
cmbrock2: agree. It's small but it's something called attention to detail. I would like to add on to that if I may. It would be even better if you could, in create an entrance mode, make specific reactions to other wrestlers when they come out. (i.e. stay in the ring, stay out the ring, act scared, act brave, etc.)
dead man talking: I believe that would be called a "HIDDEN HIGHLIGHT"
JP: I love advertising. What else do you got?
1. King Bookah, seems to keep it all in the kingdom. He referred to SummerSlam as the SummerSlam Games, and calling his match with Triple H a "Joust". I suppose it's only right seeing as he is going against another King.
JP: What are you talking about? Triple H is a pretender! There is only one true king.
2. I noticed this last week, but didn't think anything about it. The "World's Greatest Tag Team" is now self proclaimed. It's a shame really when you think about it, because they have the skills to be one of the WWE's top tag teams but just like LonDrick, are completely misused.
JP: They actually used to be before. See my comments above.
3. Sorry Vince it doesn't really "Narrow it down a bit." This one's about the fact that when Vince came out and told the world the his bastard child was a male and that it "Certainly narrows it down a bit", I found kind of odd seeing as most of the roster are males, it really doesn't narrow it down all that much.
JP: Actually, it takes off nearly 20% of the roster, so that is a big help! Of course, if he had done that DNA test in the first place, it would be done by now. Ah well. Keeping in the multiple write-in theme is the returning Neeraj Angal:
- During the battle royale on Raw, I loved Carlito's performance. He showed some great ring awareness, rolling over and grabbing the ropes anytime anyone knocked him on his ass. That was some great stuff.
JP: More Carlito love! Maybe we'll get the IWC to turn around him on yet!
- When Umaga got knocked out, he got pissed and Spiked Brian Kendrick on the ramp. The shot then cut back to the ring and action continued for another minute or so. When the shot panned out, you could catch Brian Kendrick getting up and staggering on the ramp. This was brilliant, selling the move for a long time despite knowing that there was very little chance that it'd be caught by the camera.
JP: That is pretty nice, one that I did not pick up on at all. Way better that those Jackass guys would have been.
- William Regal did the conventional "v-for-victory" gesture and not the obscene gesture (as described by someone last week) - his fingers were prints-side-out and not the other way around. Plus you could lip-read him saying "thank you" to the crowd, so it wouldn't make any sense for him to be flipping off the crowd at the same time.
JP: Ok, I've had enough with this discussion. It is officially closed from these pages!
- Queen Sharmell's reactions are continually awesome whenever Jerome Lawler's name is mentioned. I know someone caught this earlier, but I'm just giving props for continuity.
JP: She is just awesome in general and has added so much to the King Booker character in general.
- The Sandman has a tattoo of what looks like his own face on his arm. What's up with that?
JP: It's an old ECW thing that I do not have time to go into today. Steve Cook can help you out with that one! Meanwhile, Dean from Pittsburgh (good wings at Red Star Tavern) has more on the Queen:
One, in King Booka's interview segment, the crowd was giving it to him, and even though she didn't have a mic... Sharmell could be seen telling the crowd "Silence." This is more "regal" than "shut up!" and fits the character perfectly, even though she wasn't on the mic.
JP: Like I said, just awesome.
Carlito's Cabana, the interview with Umaga: Umaga played the part of not understanding Carlito perfectly, wandering around, confused by the set... But if you noticed, Umaga looked up sharply at Carlito/Kennedy twice... both times when they said "Umaga," which of course, he -would- understand. Nice touch by Umaga.
JP: I like that he got tired of their talking and just beat them up. Umaga is like Flair in that he is only a face because he's beating up heels. In character, he has not changed, which is a good thing. Finally wrapping us this week so I can get back to Michelle is CJ Smooth:
I had to send this one. Not sure if HHs can be in interviews, but Kevin Steen and El Generico (Ole!) were cutting a promo on the Briscoes. Steen had beaten Mark Briscoe earlier in the evening, and asked if he enjoyed getting dropped on his head, because he (Steen) enjoyed dropping him on his head. Then he goes "I enjoyed it so much, I can't wait for the DVD to come out, so I can steal it from the merch table, and watch it again and again and again...I'm going to treat it like pornography." Of course Steen would not BUY the DVD, he's a heel!
JP: Why wouldn't we include interviews, especially good ones like that!
Wow, another huge batch is done, and all in the nick of time. It certainly was an interesting mix, and I can't wait to see what you bring next week!
Meehan: You guys' columns are making *mine* look short by comparison…
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 lookforme@mikefine.com 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… readers just like to know!
JP: Being this the week before our two year anniversary, it felt only fitting to bring back the Hidden Highlights Hall of fame. Last time, we inducted Chris Jericho, a man well deserving of his place in history. This time, well, I turn it over to our guest John Meehan to be this evening's MC, and even more special guest to do the honors. Take it away, fellas…
Meehan (as an Announcer): Our next inductee into the Hidden Highlights Hall of Fame is a woman who needs no introduction. Let's take a look (if you have the time to watch the whole thing, she thanks all of you which I'm sure most of you remember).
Announcer: Here to induct Trish Stratus into the Hidden Highlights Hall of Fame is Hidden Highlights veteran, JT.
JT: Thank you, Meehan announcer. Now then, ladies and gentleman:
Very rarely do we see a female enter the wrestling world a virtual novice, and then watch her evolve and grow to the top of her field, attaining an iconic status that leaves us wondering where she ranks on the list of all time performers. Equally as rare is seeing such a talented woman who can do it all with a unique balance of both in-ring work, on-screen charisma, and speaking ability.
As many of you know though, we were fortunate enough to see just that during the last generation of wrestlers; I am referring of course to Trish Stratus. For the better part of seven years, we watched her become what is, in this writer's humble opinion (you know you love me J.R.) is the best female wrestler the WWE has ever produced.
Trish Stratus was born in Canada in 1975, and as most of you are aware, she began her career as a fitness model. What some of you may not know is that she was not as green to the business as we may think. When the interest was sparked between herself and the WWE, it actually came from someone in the company hearing her co-hosting a show on a Canadian radio station by the name of Live Audio Wrestling. So at this point, she at the very least had more of an idea about this business then we sometimes give her credit for.
Granted, that doesn't make what she accomplished any less amazing; knowing about this business and rising to the top in this business are two entirely different things. When the Women's Division was at its heights, she sat alone atop the mountain. I think that really says something, as anyone can be a champion when you have three other wrestlers and a bunch of Divas on the roster. It's something else entirely to do it when the roster was bursting at the seams with talented women wrestlers.
During her time in WWE, she both portrayed everything from a valet to a slut, a bitchy heel to a heroic babyface superstar. All of the roles given to her, she played perfectly. She was the epitome of what a woman wrestler should be in terms of a complete package… and oh yeah…
…she was pretty easy on the eyes too. It's no wonder she was named WWE Baby of the Year three consecutive times (2001 – 2003), and in terms of posters and Diva videos, became the Steve Austin of WWE Women's merchandise.
However, as you and I both know, she was so much more than a piece of eye candy. She could wrestle, she could talk, and she brought a certain level of legitimacy to women's wrestling in the WWE. One of my all time favorite matches period – not just women's – is when she and Lita main-evented RAW back 2004. She (along with Lita) showed me that night that with hard enough work, they really did belong with the big boys.
But most of what I'm telling you is beyond obvious, and you saw it all for yourself. This column isn't called "Obvious Stuff", it's called Hidden Highlights; so with that in mind I decided to take a look back at some of the Hidden Highlights she delivered for us over the last couple of years before retiring. As I went back to do so, I found that Trish Stratus had in fact cracked our very first issue of Hidden Highlights. How fitting is that? She was just that good. So let us take a look back at some of her Hidden Highlight achievements (in no particular order, they are simply numbered because that's what we do):
(5) Never forget the crowd, or how to improvise
Monday Night RAW – April 18th, 2005. Trish Stratus and Lita were in the ring… Madison Square Garden. The crowd is chanting (among other things) "Slut! Slut! Slut! Slut!", and as applicable as it is to Lita, they're actually talking to Trish, because she's on the mic. What does Trish say? "Come on guys, you don't have to call her that". How BEAUTIFUL…. she included the crowd, and also strayed from whatever she planned to say. I know the goal of this article is the small things that make watching the show on TV better, but we have no boundaries, and that included crowd participation. Everyone in that building marked like she was the biggest face on the planet. People give Trish a BUNCH of shit. I hear "she's a slut" more than I do "Cena is the man"… yeah, think about that and be sure to include your general / average wrestling fan. If I had to draft today, and my first pick had to be a woman, Trish is it without a doubt. She is the complete package. Not only that, she was NOTHING when she started. Couldn't wrestle, couldn't talk, stood around and acted whore-ish… now look at her. She put forth the effort to improve, and she's now 7 time Women's Champion. Watching her that Monday night when she said that reminded me of exactly why.
(4) We have a Women's Division?:
Okay, this Hidden Highlight is a little different than the norm, because it doesn't apply specific to ONE show, but to the product in general, and being we're the only 100% positive column on the net, we can't forget that! We are all well aware that the Women's Division is hurting bad. He'll, it isn't hurting, it died. Then, after it was dead, somebody shot it. HOWEVER! There have been quite a few women's matches / storylines lately, and there was something (okay, a few things) missing. Trish Stratus. She INSTANTLY gives credibility to the WD. Not saying she can single handedly save it, but just the fact she is out there wrestling helps more than people realize. It will take time to get the Women's Division back where it was (assuming the E is serious about it), and Trish returning was the first step. That's a Hidden Highlight because you were all too busy ogling over half naked women to realize the implications!
(3) And that's why he has your job now:
Jumping to other women, can we agree that Victoria is now officially the best WRESTLER on RAW? She was really trying to bust out everything she could in her short match with Trish, and that's where our next Hidden Highlight comes from. But sadly, it was not any of the women who gets this award. No, it is the Coach who takes the cake! When Trish pulled off her backwards duck, the King went, "Whoa, there's the Matrix move!" And without missing a beat the Coach said, "It's called the Ma-TRISH! Ma-Trish is what she calls it, get it right!" Thank you Coach for calling a move by what the wrestler wants it to be called, putting over Trish, and being your wonderful heel self all at the same time.
(not really a Trish highlight, I just always thought that move was impressive)
(2) Watch the eyes!:
After Todd interviewed Trish on the stairs, Trish let everyone know that she needed to go take a shower (on a side note, how come Trish wasn't wet at all when she got out the shower?), the whole audience went "whoooooo"! But that's not the Hidden Highlight, oh no! When Trish was walking off, watch Todd. He just slowly moves his eyes down to Trish's caboose as she walked away. Oh Todd, you horn dog you!
(they can't ALL being about wrestling! *innocent look*)
(1) Those googly eyes:
Watching people's eyes can tell the story much better then even words can. Some wrestler can say they hate another wrestler a million times over, but unless they say it with fire in their eyes then the crowd is not going to believe it. Mickey James and Trish Stratus are both masters of telling a story with their eyes and facial expressions. I think the best one has to go to Trish Stratus as she was walking off with her date. She turned back ever so slightly and gave a minute squint of "damn straight I threw this guy in your face" for just a second. That led perfectly into Mickey's quickly changing reactions that took the story even further. So I'm sorry Mickey, but Trish is definitely taking the eye award this week.
JT: Even the readers got in on the action over the course of the last two years, as we choose Shi C. for his contributions in Hidden Highlights #55, which happened to be posted on the same day as Trish's last match:
Shi C. shows some love to one on the way out, and one on the way up:
At the end of the Trish/Mickie match, Trish, apparently forgetting the months of misery Mickie had caused her earlier in the year, went for the handshake and hug, which Mickie reciprocated. I was pleased to note that Mickie moved in for a kiss and Trish DENIED her, to which Mickie sort of gestured "Oh yeah, I remember." Nice of Mickie (and definitely Trish) to remember her storyline Stratus lust.
JT: Trish really was one of the great ones. She seems to have rubbed off a lot on Mickie, and hopefully we can one day talk about James in the same luck. My best of luck to both Trish in her future plans, and Mickie on her goals of greatness.
JT: Trist not only sparked attention from myself, JP, and the readers, but she even garnered mentions at the biggest times of the year, as evidenced by what I said about the Trish vs. Melina match prior to WrestleMania 22:
Some have called it the best storyline in the Women's Division in a really long time, and quite frankly – thinking back over the last couple of years of Women's Division storylines – I'd have to agree. While they are NO WHERE near where they were a few years ago, this storyline and the addition of some actual female wrestlers (Melina, etc.) shows that they are trying, even if on a very small scale. Also, Trish may very well go down as the greatest female wrestler in history, and thus, getting her in a match is never a bad thing; especially when it involves an actual feud.
JT: We aren't telling you anything you don't already know. Let me tell you a couple of things you may not know. In the five years OWW has run it's year end awards, Trish Stratus was named Best Female twice, and also came in as the runner up twice. In the two years that 411 has done the same, Trish is 2 for 2. I will obviously openly admit to you that in the long run, busting out her OWW and 411 stats don't mean that much, but the point here is that she was just as over and recognized for her greatness within the IWC as she was in the professional wrestling world. We'll get to that recognition soon, but first, I would like to share a few of the writer's words about her from this years 411 Year End Awards:
Matthew Sforcina: There is a feeling, a general body of opinion in Pro Wrestling that women don't draw. Nope, women are not money makers outside of soft-soft-soft-core porn. They're only good for running around in little clothing and acting like sluts. And certainly, if the influx of models the WWE is looking to get in the new year, that may well be true someday. But today, the opinion still stands. Nope, women don't draw. Of course, you have to make exceptions for Wendi Richter, (possibly the Jumping Bomb Angels), Elizabeth, Lita and Chyna. But nope, women don't draw. Enter Trish Stratus. Or rather, Exit Trish Stratus. 2006 marks the end, at least for the short term, of Trish's saga as Undisputed Queen of Wrestling. No Woman has ever done more for the company, the division, and indeed the industry than she has. Trish began as a model, then became the Perfect Model Employee. Hardworking, talented, friendly, charismatic, productive, the works. And thus, it's with a heavy heart that we wave farewell to Trish. Yes, she's still around, anyone who passes her up is a fool, but the fact that Trish won't be around to make Raw that large bit better brings a tear to me, and many people's eyes. Goodbye and Good Luck Trish Stratus.
JT: Anyone notice how he ended this? For the most part sans a few like Jericho and Big Show to think of recent ones, everyone is always all boo-and-fucking-hiss about wrestlers wanting to leave the game early. Not Trish. She only spent seven years with us, but in those seven years she did more than enough for us to say "you know what, you've done your part for this business, best of luck".
Matthew Bauer: For the better part of the past decade, we have seen Trish Stratus go from the hot piece of T and A of T and A to the greatest Women's wrestler of the past decade, if not of all time. In the year 2006, Trish Stratus was nothing but brilliant, even staying involved in her feud with Mickie James while injured. She entered the year as champ and lost the title at Wrestlemania in what was one of the greatest women's matches I have ever seen. While she did step into the background for a little while and make Carlito look like a player, she ended her career the way very few do, by winning the Women's Title in her hometown. Trish, the wrestling world misses you.
JT: I agree on pretty much all counts here. We definitely miss her. And I absolutely love the way the WWE let her go out, which we'll discuss later. Like you said, she did what she needed to do in order to stay relevant in THE women's feud of the year, even while injured.
Daniel Wilcox: Trish Stratus, arguably the greatest Women's wrestler of all time, had a fantastic final year in the WWE. In the early part of the year, she was involved in of the best women's storylines ever, when she was stalked by her "biggest fan" and newcomer Mickie James. Trish's reactions to Mickie's craziness certainly helped put over that rivalry, and to cap it off, they put on great match at WrestleMania 22. However, when Trish injured her arm in April, that rivalry was ended abruptly as Trish took time off to heel up. When she did return in the summer, long-time rival Lita was Women's Champion. In her final match at Unforgiven, Trish broke her own record and became a 7 time Women's Champion in her own town! Not many superstars get to go out on top of their careers, so it was just a sign of how great Trish was that she went out on top.
JT: As you can all see by my associates' words, the IWC went above and beyond in embracing, recognizing, and respecting Trish Stratus. I would also mention that the 3rd place winner last year was 75 points behind her. In an even more telling fact, Mickey James came in second only 14 points behind her, which is possibly one of the biggest testaments to her contribution to the business because Mickey's placement was largely due to the fact she was working with and learning from Trish (hopefully, the torch has been intelligently passed). But attention she garnishes by us is hardly comparable to the attention she garnished in the world of the professional wrestling business. Trish Stratus is one of the few women to hold the Hardcore Championship (albeit it for maybe 30 seconds, but it still goes in the books). I've already told you that she was named WWE Diva of the Year three years straight. In her six applicable years, PWI named her Woman of the Year four times, coming in as the runner up in one of the other two. Aside from the Fabulous Moolah, Trish Stratus holds the longest title reign in history at 14 months-
JP: JT, I'm going to need a clarification there for our readers.
JT: No problem, brother:
Moolah held it for way longer than Trish did (more than once actually), so that is not even an issue.
Rockin Robin won the title in October of 1988. She left the WWE late in 1989 and fell off the face of the planet, so the title was simply "vacated", and didn't re-appear until 1993, and she is not credited with holding it for five years because she was nowhere in sight (she is only given credit for late 88 to early 90. In 1993 a tournament was held to re-establish the Women's Championship, which Alundra Blayze won).
Alundra Blayze won the title again in 1995, and was stripped two months later. As we all know, Blayze (Medusa) proceeded to show up on WCW television and throw the title in the trash.
JT: So while some may point out that there is the possibility of longer reigns sans Moolah, I stand behind the fact that those were "business related" tainted and Trish's – as it pertains to the history of women's wrestling as it pertains to the WWE – is far more important and should be far more recognized.
And of course we get to the big one. Trish Stratus is the first and only wrestler to win the Women's Championship a record setting seven times. In today's day of booking that might easily change, but I don't think that any of that will ever touch what she did in her day. It's almost ironic that we would like to induct her into the *Hidden Highlights* Hall of Fame considering how blatantly renowned she is, but I think it is important to remember that it was her persistence, commitment, and consistency with all of the little things that helped her attained such a big, iconic status for a woman's wrestler.
The thing with Trish Stratus is that she will always remain fresh in our minds, as only a select few will. Did anyone honestly reflect on the greatness of Sherri Martel before Hall of Fame talk started? Did anyone honestly reflect on the greatness of Elizabeth before she was found dead? Does anyone now reflect on the greatness of Ted DiBiase unless we see him on RAW? I would guess no. But there are certain people, more specifically our very first and only induction into the Hidden Highlights Hall of Fame, like Chris Jericho that stay fresh in our mind no matter what. Trish Stratus is one of those people. If someone walked up to me tomorrow and said "give me five wrestlers you'd like to see back", Jericho and Stratus are two of them. I honestly feel that she has attained the same status as Chris Jericho (even if on a woman's wrestler level), and that is why we are all here today. What might be the most amazing thing is that she is beyond talented, and of course naturally beautiful, yet still by all accounts is one of the most humble and grounded people, a rarity in this business.
It is with that in mind that I am happy – on the behalf of Hidden Highlights – to induct Trish Stratus into the Hidden Highlights Hall of Fame. What she has done for this business for women's wrestling is in my opinion unparalleled (at least concerning this day and age). She was certainly one of the best, she will be greatly missed, and because of the person that Trish Stratus is, I (and I'm sure JP) wish her the absolute best of luck in all of her future endeavors not named "Armed & Famous".
Congratulations Trish Stratus on your induction into the Hidden Highlights Hall of Fame.
JP: Thanks JT, I think you covered all the points in the world I could ever want to put in there. As you said, her dedication to creating Hidden Highlights and doing the little things that made her character and wrestling great is what got her in here today, but it is also what translated into the bigger picture of what most people appreciate about her. I think this is where we can add a new phrase: the sum of the little things adds up to way more than the whole.
Meehan: How Gestalt of you, JP.
JT: Congratulations again, Trish. You will – as it's been said – be more than missed. And for those of you who would like to see a little more of Trish, yet don't feel like looking it up, let me present this:
It is Trish's last match, which is probably the most perfect end to a career ever. She's in her hometown, she's a face, she's facing the biggest heel (Lita), and she made her tap out in complete Bret Hart fashion via the Sharpshooter to win her seventh Women's Championship. Can't beat that. Man… that crowd was bananas (and Trish/Lita again proved that with proper effort, the ladies can get it done just as good as the men. Just a true testament and reflection of Trish's career). If you can't do it now, make sure you come back later and watch the entire thing people; she deserves it.
JP: And I'll be looking forward to the Classic Hidden Highlights you send in this week about Trish to cover in next week's issue! And thanks again to JT for coming back for this special appearance and pretty much writing every single word you just read.
JP: Well, Meehan, we had quite the anniversary issue this week. It's no coincidence you are here this week, I figured my true mortal enemy (sorry Ogre!) should be here for this. Thanks for all of your hard work this issue, and enjoy the vacation!
Meehan: Thanks, JP. To borrow a line from George Costanza… "up here (points to head), I'm already gone."
JP: And I'm back down in DC — coincidently while Meehan is out of town — ransacking his apartment and possibly his girlfriend. We'll know more when he gets back from Disney World. I hope hugging Dale was worth it for you, buddy!
Thank you for reading the 104th ISSUE of Hidden Highlights! Be sure to drop a line with all the other Hidden Highlights not covered this time around and everything you catch in the week to come.
Until then, you have just experienced the most positive article in all of the IWC: Hidden Highlights!
