Hidden Highlights 10.01.07: Issue #109
Posted by JP Prag on 10.01.2007
Triple H buys the tag team division new tights as a make up gift, Elijah Burke is always ready to give 4-up, the TNA Knockouts remember who the hate the most, Save_us.222 1998_06:46:25, Brooke Hogan gets paint covered overalls, and more. Plus you get to decide which of our four three guest co-hosts will go on to co-write this article for the next month!
Hidden Highlights
By JP Prag
Issue #109
Hello everyone spending a rare week at home but still having to travel because your office is fifty miles away so it doesn't really matter that you are home, and welcome back to Hidden Highlights!!
Hidden Highlights, they 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. William Regal may bend his opponent's hand backwards just a little bit harder to dish out the pain. Christian Cage may reference a piece of obscure history. Tazz may bring realism to the product by describing an abdominal stretch in detail. The camera operator may take a low shot looking up at the Great Khali to make him look like a true monster. These are all examples of what Hidden Highlights is about.
Every week this article spotlights Hidden Highlights from the biggest shows on television (RAW, ECW of SciFi, iMPACT, SmackDown!, and a PPV or television special if there is one), delves into the past to find the ones never recorded before, and goes beyond to small shows, live events, tapes, and the indy scene to see what no one else sees. This article may have an author, but it is just as much written by the readers and true fans of professional wrestling—those who love what they watch and want to tell the world what they have found.
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.
JP: Hey, did you check out The Hamilton Ave Journal over the weekend? That's right, I'm the new Saturday news reporter, and I'm giving you a dose of something different. We have enough guys out there giving you their view, thinks, experiences, days, customs, and alls; I'm giving you something completely different. The Hamilton Ave Journal is the only wrestling news report to be solely focused on the business of wrestling. But more than the news, there is ratings tracking, top selling merchandise, upcoming wrestling events all over the world, and editorials. So check it out each and every Saturday and change the way you look at the business of wrestling.
All right, now that that is out of the way, today is the finals of Reader Write-in contest. Two weeks ago, you voted on nine contestants to see what four would be here today. Well, one had to drop out, so we are left with three. This week, you will vote on their Hidden Highlights for each show they do, and pick your favorite overall. In the end, 50% of their final score comes from the Hidden Highlights score, 25% from the overall vote, and 25% from my individual judge of their Hidden Highlights. And now a little introduction:
First up in the contest is Trevor Alexander, covering RAW this week.
Trevor: When I first read about the Hidden Highlights contest I was excited, I thought "Man, I can finally show the world my talent at finding the little things in a sport where the little things are usually the result of steroids." So just like the other participants I sent my highlights and I made it to the next round. After I sent my Raw highlights in something hit me, JP and the guys were trying to pull a swerve on us all. This is nothing more than their sick and twisted little way at getting their own version of Diva Search and Tough enough! I've been waiting all week for JP to come by and tell me I have to earn respect before trying to kick the crap out of me while asking me if my ass was hungry (bonus points for those sad souls who can write in and tell us who had the hungry ass and no it was Big Daddy V or Pat Patterson).
JP: I have been known to rough up the rookies for a while. Then that one bastard dropped me on my head!
Our next contestant is Brandon Metheny who is tasked with ECW.
Brandon: Hey everyone I'm Brandon Metheny, coming to you from the lovely state of Maryland where I'm finishing up college and trying to figure out what to do with my life. I've always been a big fan of the Hidden Highlights, and try to send in as many write-ins as possible, because I really just think there isn't enough positivity out there, especially with regards to our beloved sport of kings. For whatever reason, my HH seem to often have some sort of production aspect, I think owing to my experience on the technical side of news. Finally, as you will see below, I firmly believe that no one is a "lost cause" as people try to make them out to be, and am often pleased to find the best Hidden Highlights from the "worst" wrestlers. And last, but not least because it can't hurt to play to the boss, thanks to the glorious and magnanamous JP for giving me this chance. When do I get my first paycheck? Because I know you 411 guys make the big bucks.
JP: Kid, this is just an unpaid internship. Be sure to put it on your resume, it builds character.
And last but not least in the contest is Nikolai Nygard with the main competition TNA iMPACT.
Nikolai: Sure whatever put any of these in any order:
Was it wroth the writer's cramp? I really hope so.
Wow I sure seem to want this job even though it doesn't pay.
(Sarcastic Remark #7)
Any idea why Matt Striker hasn't switched his music to "Hot for Teacher" yet?
JP: I don't recall giving you banter rights! Ah well.
I'll be covering SmackDown! and Hogan Knows Best, but you don't get to vote for me.
All right gents, best of luck to you. Without further ado, let's get on with the Hidden Highlights!
Monday, September 24, 2007 by Trevor Alexander
Trevor: Ladies, gentlemen, esteemed members of the 411 crew, welcome. My name is Trevor Alexander… that's right, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you, THE Trevor Alexander here to bring you all some RAW hidden highlights.
(3) Green is my favorite:
When the lovely Melina came to the ring for the Hornswaggle skit I thought of two things; why the hell didn't Melina do her normal entrance and most importantly is the fact that she was in all green. From the choker on her neck to the skirt on her butt she was in all green and I thought it was a great addition to show her "admiration" for Hornswaggle.
(2) Great teams dress alike:
Cade and Murdoch and London and Kendrick both had on new tights, and for the first time Cade and Murdoch wore matching trunks. Maybe HHH bought them for the teams last week after burying them and further burying them this week by taking so much time after his match that neither team made their entrances on T.V.
(1) By Gawd! Two "Undefeated" Streaks end in one night!:
Now those of you who didn't catch RAW this week for whatever reason *cough Monday Night Football and Heroes* might be wondering who the heck was undefeated on Raw. Well you silly people it was the Game HHH and… Cody Rhodes. Now some of you may be saying that Cody Rhodes lost in his first match to Orton and you would be right but that's not important. You see, according to J.R. Cody, has been undefeated for two months now and lost to the returning Hardcore Holly. Now with Cody out of the way you may be wondering how the heck HHH can call himself undefeated, well calm down everyone. HHH did not do Stephanie "Angle Style" until she convinced her dad to erase Hunter's losses from his record. Instead HHH has been undefeated since his return from Summer Slam according to J.R. J.R. and The King made such a big deal over the fact that HHH was undefeated but I never heard it mentioned at all until tonight and then again after Mr. McMahon defeated HHH (oh yeah Carlito was there too but does that really matter. I mean it was THE GAME and Mr. McMahon in the same ring). I guess when we get the HHH biography years from now we'll have a good ten chapters on the undefeated streak of 2007 and a passage by Steph stating HHH being beaten was more devastating than Hurricane Kat Williams. Steph still wonders to this day why all of those people didn't just get in their private Yacht's when they saw the storm coming.
Well everyone that's it. My first shot at the Big Time and I get it on an edition of Raw that looked like it was put together by the same team who did WCW Thunder back in 2000. At least we saw that Hornswaggle is just like his old man, it doesn't matter if a woman is screaming and running from you, you're a McMahon damn it and that's all the permission you need to rip her towel off and see her naked… I'm out!
JP: Hey, I happen to have always liked Thunder, even in 2000. I think that was the year that they had the one night without referees and the wrestlers had to make the counts themselves. It was like my backyard wrestling league, which thus made it cool.
All right folks, what is your vote for the quality of Trevor's Hidden Highlights:
Tuesday, September 25, 2007 by Brandon Metheny
Brandon: First and foremost, thanks to everyone who voted for me and got me this far. I've been a loyal follower of the Hidden Highlights for as long as it's been around, and entered the contest in hopes of expressing my own bit of positivity. I've always had a very sharp eye for small details, to the point where I sometimes don't mention small things because to me they seem very obvious, a trait which I think comes from my journalistic training to always keep an eye out for the news. Hope you enjoy, and on with the show!
(3) Just because they're Extreme Expose doesn't mean they can't have Hidden Highlights:
There are two minor Hidden Highlights with these ladies which combine to make one bigger one. First, we've all seen Kelly Kelly becoming less and less thrilled with the Miz as each week passes, but this week she took things to a whole new level. After Miz did his (admittedly cool) corner clothesline, the camera quickly cut away to the ladies and not only was Kelly not happy, but she yawned at the Miz, as if to show that he's just not as extreme as she wants (unlike Balls). Second, while the ladies were walking out to the ring with Miz, Layla was all smiles while looking at Miz, but then she glanced over at Brooke and very quickly rolled her eyes in disgust at this other woman with her man. Perhaps all is not well in Miz-land, and we now have a possible set-up for a breakup angle with all three ladies.
(2) Just a quick reminder:
Near the end of the show, well after their match, Elijah Burke confronted Tommy Dreamer in the locker room. Though he had plenty of time to take off his wrist tape, I noticed that while his left wrist was undone, his right was still taped. Why would he do that? Because his right tape is where the 4-UP (4 knuckles upside your head) is written. A very nice, very subtle sign to Dreamer of just what Burke can do with those hands.
(1) Vampires hurt too!:
I know a lot of people dog Kevin Thorn for having no in-ring psychology, but tonight he showed me that he does in spades. After he had Burke up for that over the shoulder rack/back-breaker and then crashed down to the mat, he briefly grabbed his left shoulder (where Burke had been sitting), because that much weight bouncing then up and down, then crashing onto your shoulder is gonna hurt. But wait, there's more! After composing himself, Thorn went over to pin Burke and instead of pinning him from where he was standing, Thorn turned a 180 so that he would be pinning Burke with his right shoulder on Burke's chest, so just in case Burke kicked out he'd push off Thorn's good arm, not the injured one. But wait, there's even more still! At the very end of the match, Thorn hoisted Burke up for a normal, Lex Luger style, torture rack, but when he lifted him he was very careful to put the majority of Burke's body weight on his right shoulder, which had been more or less untouched throughout the match and hadn't yet been worn out in any way. Just two very small things that showed to me that the big man does know what he's doing in that squared circle.
JP: Every once in a while, these wrestlers are allowed to shine through with what they really know. I often comment on the WWE holding back the creative style of the wrestlers, and that many of these people (especially guys like John Cena and the Big Show) know tons of moves that they never pull off. Still, I can't believe you didn't include the two girls during the ECW intro pan-shot of the crowd, where one was grabbing the other girl's breast and sticking her tongue out like she was going to lick it. Yes, totally pervy, but I caught it nonetheless.
All right folks, what is your vote for the quality of Brandon's Hidden Highlights:
Thursday, September 27, 2007 by Nikolai Nygard
Nikolai: I'm Nik, I was the last person to write in for the contest and the person with the longest write in. So now I go from something around 100 to 3, WOOHOO~! So far I've been writing in since I think it was April with my Highlights so... here it goes.
(3) Hemme Hurts:
This HH goes to Christy Hemme for her valeting in the Hoyt and Rave vs. MCMG!!! During the early part of the match where Shelley and Sabin had the offensive, every time the camera was on Hemme she was grabbing the same part that was hit. So when Rave was smashed in the face with a bunch of kicks she grabbed her face. This happened for most of the moves as far as I could see, including a brief hard to see bit where she touched her back after Rave got kicked there. Good work Christy! See there really is room for women in wrestling.
(2) Knockout Love Continuity:
During the 5 Knockout match there was a nice continuation of feuds going on. Jackie Moore and Ms. Brooks immediately went for Gail Kim, feeding off feuds with her and their respective "friends". Meanwhile Roxxi and Hemme were fighting which is pretty much following Hemme and VKM's whole no women in wrestling feud. It's nice to see that in a match (the continuity).
(1) MCMG & Sharky Supersell~!:
As my final Highlight of TNA iMPACT I decided MCMG needed some love. After Team 3D's assault those guys hardly moved at all. Plus Sharky's been on his crusade to attempt (and fail) to stop heels in the act. He's gone after Black Reign, Judas Messias, and Team 3D. But back on the HH point. I'm just impressed at how dead these guys looked so, props for looking knocked out or dead. Ouch...
JP: I was so impressed that the Motor City Machine Guns got the win. There have been rumors that Alex Shelley was planning on leaving (even though he just signed a two-year contract extension), so it looks like TNA management is ready to get behind this tag team. Hopefully, they'll get the win over VKM, Team 3D, and finally the Steiner Bros (Detroit connection) before winning the championship. Also, are they trying to push AMW back together as a love-hate tag team? That actually might be interesting. I'd like AMW together, but it has to follow the continuity.
All right folks, what is your vote for the quality of Nikolai's Hidden Highlights:
Friday, September 28, 2007 by JP
JP: Hey look, I'm doing work in my own issue! That wasn't part of plan. Oh well, that just means I get to make lots and lots of comments about MVP's VIP Lounge. For me, SmackDown! is absolutely MVP's show. I just hope they don't realize how good he is and move him to RAW where he can disappear with the rest of the incredibly talented performers. Oh, and rumor is the New Hart Foundation is going to be a SmackDown! stable. Thank goodness, because they would get no respect and no room to grow on RAW. But if they are going to do that, some people need to go to ECW. That brand is in need of people, stat!
(3) VIP, baby:
This is going to be a double Hidden Highlight, both coming from the aforementioned MVP VIP Lounge. As MVP made his way to the lounge, his hands were quite full with his championship belts. He got to the ropes, looked like he was considering walking over them, then decided the better of it. He turned to the security guard and gave him the head nod to let him in. Nice one by MVP to show that he was in charge and had prestige.
And then MVP's tag team partner, some guy name Matt Hardy or something, did one of this own. After being rather rude to half-man, half-amazing MVP, MVP called his security guard over to throw that rapscallion out. Instead, the tag team partner said, "Before you ASK your security guard to ATTEMPT to throw me out…" I was rather amused by the "attempt" part, since he was implying that the security guard would not be able to do it. That shows a lot of belief and cockiness in his ability. Maybe he is learning something from MVP?
What would this week have been if I didn't comment on Save_us.222? After reading so many people break things down frame by frame, I thought I would give it a try with the MUCH longer package that aired on SmackDown!. Now, I know people have looked into lots of meanings, so I thought I'd see if I could find something that no one has mentioned. But then I found someone who mentioned it, so I stole their picture:
What does "1998_06:46:25" mean? I have no freaking clue! A lot of things happened in 1998. If this does end up being Jericho, a lot happened to him, too! Heck, he won a cruiserweight championship in that year. Maybe that was the time his agent called the WWE for the first time to see about the thoughts of Jericho jumping ship. I really have no clue.
(1) Champion:
As Vickie Gurerro was convincing Hornswaggle to give up the Cruiserweight Championship (poor Jamie Noble will never get that win back), I took a good gander at the faceplate on the belt. To my surprise, it had a new name on there. In small print on the top line it still said "Hornswaggle", but in VERY LARGE print on the second line is said "MCMAHON". Excellent work by the production people to put that little detail on the belt and keep it going as part of the angle. And hopefully this will squash the rumor of the WWE cutting costs by not using face plates anymore. It was probably just a suggestion in some staff meeting where people were tossing out random ideas. That's what you do in a brain storming session! You toss out all ideas, good or bad, just to get them on the table!
Ghost of JT: And you would know all about having bad ideas, wouldn't you?
JP: What's that supposed to mean?
Ghost of JT: I don't know. I'm only a figment of your imagination, so only you'd be able to tell me what you were thinking when you had me say those things to you.
JP: Wha… never mind.
Ok, now that we've got through all the regular Hidden Highlights, it's time for you to vote for your favorite guest co-host this week and the person you want to read from Issue #111 to 114.
So, who do you want to read?
Sunday, September 23, 2007 by JP
JP: The Hogans learn what its like to be regular folks for the first time ever. Hulk has to pay for beer, Linda has to sweat, Nick can't buy chicks, and Brooke has to stand in a line. Oh no!!!
(3) Raising the bull horn:
As the reason for going to Orlando Studios, Brooke was performing at some stuck up kids graduation deal. Yay, rich people giving stuff to other rich people. Anyway, did you catch the three second cameo of who was in the crowd? Why it was none other than "The Mouth of the South" Jimmy Hart! Of course, it makes sense that Jimmy was there because he is the Hogan's connection to Universal Studios. Heck, the XWF filmed in Universal Studios because of Jimmy Hart, and I'm pretty sure TNA is there today because of him. The man runs that place!
(2) Paint covered overalls:
This is more of a comment than a Hidden Highlight. After the Hogans had their makeup and prosthetics put on, Brooke went over to the mirror and declared how ugly she now was. And why was that? Because she had glasses, and braces, and a pony tail, and paint covered overalls (you better be getting this reference by now). Oh Brooke, you weren't even TV-ugly, not by a long shot. And that's not a complement, it just made you look so shallow(er).
(1) Those shorts sure are nice:
Earlier before the show, Brooke was showing off outfits to her dad in her room. Hogan was sitting there shirtless watching the show, when I looked down and noticed the shorts he was wearing. It was the white pair from a few episodes back that he hated! Remember, Linda, Brooke, and Nick tried to change Hulk's style and gave him all sorts of clothes to wear, those workout shorts among them. Guess he didn't hate them too much!
Ghost of JT: Only you would look down to see what type of shorts Hulk was wearing.
JP: I really have got to stop writing you into this issue; you do not help my ego.
Hidden Highlights are not just about what was written above, but about what you have seen as well. This article strives to not only spotlight the best Hidden Highlights, but to engage you, the viewers, and make you the best audience in the world.
JP: As if having readers write the column wasn't enough, there are more of them! So, *GENERAL WARNING*:: some parts of the following Reader Write-in Hidden Highlights may be edited for grammar, spelling, and English translation…
We have a lot of stuff in the past to get to, especially the wedding, so let's kick it off with Pedro Rodriguez:
Hidden Highlights for RAW:
- In Cena's opening promo, he referred to himself feeling 'fabulous'. Now, where's hiddenness in that? Well, it's a hidden highlight because John Cena's father goes by Johnny Fabulous in the indy scene. Nice throwback by Cena.
JP: I also liked this week where Randy Orton said, "I don't know what you do for a living Mr. Cena, probably living off your sons coattails…" since he knows Cena's dad works in the independent scene.
- After all the promotion Lucky Charms is getting on RAW, they could probably see a jump in sales. One thing that was noticeable, but interesting, was in Mr. McMahon's office. There are the ever-so popular Lucky Charms pyramid. But the promoting doesn't end there. On the back of one of the walls was the picture of the Leprechaun on the Lucky Charms box. Hmm, I want some Lucky Charms.
JP: It was a very detailed setup in Mr. McMahon's office; I was impressed with all the work that went into that.
- A big commend to the ref in the Divas tag match. He was really on the ball on a lot of things. Tag-ins, hair pulls, etc. I can see why he did.
JP: But he didn't get rolled over. What fun is that?
Hidden Highlights for ECW:
- Simple touches for simple things. Normally, the camera is on the right side. This week, it's on the left. That's not the highlight. It was the location of the steps. Normally, they're on the left side of the ring, but this week, it was on the, you guessed it, the right. This change is great because the camera is trying the best shot of the wrestler when entering and can't do it when he's close to the camera.
JP: I think we'll get more to that later. I mentioned it with Deuce and Dominos car last week, and another reader covers why that is.
- Notice Armando when he first walks out. Notice his pocket. See anything? 4 cigars. This could represent each wrestler in the chase for the title.
JP: Nah, he always has 3-5 cigars in there. The man is just a Cuban. On a side note, I wonder how the WWE managed to get a working visa for a Cuban?
Hidden Highlights for Smackdown!:
- JBL's is amazingly great on commentary. When every member of the roster making their way out for the wedding, JBL made the comment: "Gerald Brisco's here. It's his birthday this week. Gerry's 81 this week."
JP: JBL is always great with the little digs and random comments.
- Also, I notice that many of the wrestlers still had their trademarks with them. Everyone noticed I.R.S. and Slaughter in their suit. But there was also Jim Duggan with his 2x4 wearing a bowtie and Highlanders in their kilts. Great touches by these guys.
JP: And Balls Mahoney with a tie!
- Before got all the guys out on the Ho Train, I notice Stevie Richards and Val Venis high-fiving each other. As many of us remember, Stevie Richards led a brigade against such a thing with the Right To Censor and guess who were members? Venis and Godfather. I found this interesting because for some reason, Stevie always gets a 'ho' by his side (look up Victoria to get the reference too).
JP: That is kind of cool, that Stevie and Val sat together. If Ivory were still around we could have had an RTC reunion! Thanks to reader Steve Michaels / Adam S for finding the same.
- While Punk was walking out with one of the girls, he made the motion of wearing a title, telling her he's a world champion and trying to impress even further.
JP: Of course, this goes AGAINST the third X of Straight Edge: no casual encounters! Which is exactly what reader Jay Dat said as well, so no need to repeat here.
- Wow, this wedding was a HH goldmine. While the camera had Extreme Expose on, Kelly Kelly yelled out 'Miz, where you going?'. I don't know if this was intentional or not, but still a great touch by Kelly.
JP: I'm hoping it was intentional, because there were even more great ones. Like these two from Alex Levine:
Just a quick highlight... Godfather referred to Kristal as Cristal (as you would pronounce the Champagne). He's 5 years retired, but he still keeps in character...great performer.
JP: Ah, MVP's favorite!
Patterson held back Brisco and tried to reason why they should stay at the wedding and not join the ho train. I wonder if Patterson convinced him that Ho's ain't the way to go's.
JP: I think that might have more to do with Patterson's alleged homosexuality. He would not be tempted by the hos in that case. Now, to get on to other pressing questions, here's Robert Davis:
This one isn't so much a HH as it is a footnote to one. Last week you mentioned that Deuce and Domino drove out from a different side of the stage than usual. The only reason the side changed was because they were doing Smackdown at the Philips Arena, where they normally flip things. WWE likes to hide the "Gorilla Position" from fan view as much as possible, so they always face the camera at the opposite side of the stage from it. In the Philips Arena (and a few others) the load-in docks and truck parking and things like that are on the audience right side, so they set up the gorilla position near the entry doors to the arena, and the cameras are on that side too. That way, the production area in the gorilla position is not shown on TV, because the main cameras can't see it at all due to positioning. Sort of a way to keep up kayfabe I guess.
JP: See, I told you there was a reason for that craziness. That answers quite a bit, actually. The next two actually just add more questions. Starting off with Stephen Straka:
With regards to 'Taker's tattoo, here's a screenshot from Unforgiven '07 via YouTube. Apparently, his tattoo is not only on the most painful spot of the body to get one but also the worst place to get one if you're a wrestler as the head casts a shadow over the neck due to the overhead lighting. Looks like WWE is shopping their own shots.
JP: That just makes this more weird. Why would the WWE shop their own photos? We all know Taker has the tattoo. Now, to throw another monkey wrench into this one is Justin Rosenbluth:
I cannot reveal my sources but after Wrestlemania very reliable source of mine spotted Undertaker and the most gorgeous WWE Diva getting pretty close by locking lips, that Diva being none other than Michelle McCool. This source was told by even more reliable source that Taker and his wife were on the outs when questioned about the hook up. Apparently nobody in the company really cares about this item. The Deadman can do what ever and who ever he wants!
JP: Well, what we do know is that Michelle McCool recently went through a divorce of her own. Now, not to question you too much, but your source now knows that you gave him/her away. So, I'm just saying. Much like Chris Jacobs:
How many times are you going to point out the yellow ribbon on Benjamin's boot?
JP: It wasn't me! It was Randle! And I yelled at him in the article! What more can I do? I'm not going to reject his work! Look, I print what people say, like this guy, Chris Hynes:
I just want to say one thing. I am suprised that no one has yet to mention the most obvious HH favorite during Vince's illegitimate child angle. What color was his tie?
JP: What color was it?
Chris Hynes: ……….
JP: Uh, I don't get it. Let's do something I can get, with Fixxer315:
Just got done watching most of the 1996 edition of the Royal Rumble, and I found a number of hidden highlights.
During the Intercontinental title match, Vince McMahon reminds the audience that the title can only change hands on a pinfall or submission. Co-announcer Curt Hennig interrupts him, saying "I know!!!" and reminding us that he was an IC champ. This is not only a continuity HH, but also one that reminded us how cocky Hennig could be.
JP: I swear we covered this in like Issue #15 or something, back when JT and I were doing the Classics section.
During the rumble itself, Jerry Lawler's tights were exactly the same pattern as Jake Roberts' snake. It was probably unintentional, and I can't figure out a link between those two (as they hadn't even feuded yet), but I thought it was pretty amusing. JP: I wonder if they had backstage seamstresses back then? I know that a fairly modern occurrence.
Also Jake related--Roberts is about to deliver a DDT, and he gets clotheslined out of the ring by Vader. However, there is one problem. Usually that spot entails that the person is not that far from the ropes; Jake was in the middle of the ring, and so he had to stumble out over the top, making the whole endeavor look pretty fake. However, McMahon did a pretty nice job of covering up, saying that the force of the clothesline had staggered Jake to the point where he lost his balance, and thus would naturally go tumbling out.
JP: Just like a Flair flop! Or a Todd Tucker write in:
I don't know if anyone has mentioned this Hidden Highlight from the September 10th edition of RAW or not, but here goes. At the beginning of the main event segment, when all of the wrestlers were coming out onto the stage and walking down the ramp to take their places around the ring as Vince McMahon's illegitimate son was about to be revealed, Jamie Noble came out first and walked ahead of everyone else. Why was this a Hidden Highlight? Only because Noble was wearing his Hornswoggle t-shirt, since he had been feuding with Hornswoggle over the Cruiserweight Title on Smackdown. It seems obvious to me that WWE had Noble lead the way wearing his Hornswoggle shirt as a subtle tip-off that Hornswoggle would be revealed as the newest McMahon at the end of the show.
JP: I heart foreshadow like no other. Nice catch there. Not being as nice about it, but still catching good stuff is Brett Sullivan in Sydney, Australia:
During the mixed tag match, Candice was wearing a Jeff Hardy pendant necklace that you can buy on wweshopzone.com. Is WWE just trying to whore out as much of their shi* as they can or are we seeing the start of Jeff & Candice
JP: It seems to me that YOU are the whore for giving a plug to ShopZone! And the answer is product placement. That, and Candice is really good at adjusting her look to meet her partners (see her mixed tag match with Cryme Tyme. Gosh I miss them!). Zack Rizza misses a lot more:
This is kind of an easy hidden highlight, when I went to look at Impact...VKM was coming out with Roxy Lavaeux. That's where I saw BG James hold up his arms in an "X" faction, going back to his old DX days.
JP: He actually does that a lot. I'm just confused over why they'd be supporting Roxy since they don't believe in women's wrestling. Well, at least Kip. Speaking of the ladies, it's time to finish off the week with my favorite Canadian gal pal who is lost in Korea and is apparently getting TV from six weeks ago, Catherine Semerijan:
I wanted to bring up an HH from Morrison's promo a few weeks back where he was dissing all of his challengers. In fact, this Highlight isn't from Morrison, but from the camera man. Right at the start, Morrison said "I know you all want my body more than my words..." and at that moment, the cameraman panned back to reveal Morrison's abs! I thought it was a nice touch to show that Morrison boasts about his looks, but for damn good reason.
JP: Baby, his body is nothing compared to mine.
Ghost of JT: Ha! I've seen you kid, nice thought.
JP: God, do you have anything else you'd like to say?
Ghost of JT: Yeah, as a matter of fact I do. You left out a pretty critical piece of this e-mail:
Man, it's just not the same without JT. Ah well.
Ghost of JT: See, it's all about me!
JP: Ghost of JT, just like I always explained to regular JT, it's all a little teasing game that Cath and I play. You wouldn't get it because (a) you're not real and (b) you don't understand the intimacy of a woman.
Stenographer: Well I thi—
JP: Stenographer? Really? Sforcina, get out here!
Sforcina: How did you know it was me?!
JP: Who else does Stenographer jokes?
Sforcina: You?
JP: Hmmm… point taken…
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: Hey, it's the end of the issue and I have no one to talk to. Hmmm… Well, I just wanted to thank Trevor Alexander, Brandon Metheny, and Nikolai Nygard for their hard work this week and with them the best of luck in the contest. I'll be announcing the winner next week!
Be sure to come back on Saturday and read the next issue of The Hamilton Ave Journal. What news will shatter the business of wrestling this week? Only time will tell.
Thank you for reading the 109th 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!
