Hidden Highlights 04.14.08: Issue #137

Posted by JP Prag on 04.14.2008

Maria learns her wrestling lessons, the Miz is spitting up chick-lets, Slick Johnson completely misses the action, John Morrison’s look attracts a different type of star, and more!

Hidden Highlights
By JP Prag

Issue #137

Hello everyone who decided it would be a good idea to go to a PPV an hour and half away from your house when you have to be up at 4am the next day, 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: Hope you all enjoyed that brief trip down memory lane last week. As fun as a nostalgia pop is once in a while, you can't live in the past. Because of that, we push ahead and check in with this week's guest co-host! He used to be your Viral Dose of Reality, but now he is Scripted Through Sin: Jarrod Westerfeld. Jarrod?

Jarrod: I am the cancer that turns day into night - well not really, but that would sound pretty kick ass if announced by Keifer Sutherland. Much like "I will devour your soul" would sound fucking killer if Keifer belted that out with that soothing and inviting voice of his. It probably wouldn't have as killer a sound if sung by the melodic tone of David Caruso's voice, but one can only dream of such possibilities. But I digress as I should probably take this time to plug my poorly written column, Scripted Through Sin - every Tuesday on this lovely site, 411mania.com.

JP: I did not understand one word you said until that last sentence. And I only understood that because I am very much into gratuitous self-plugs. That's why, while watching RAW, another Hidden Highlights sign made TV. Check out the sign in green:



Although the correct terminology is "My Sign is a Hidden Highlight", I'll let it slide and give the reader props. Thanks to 411mania's own newbie Brian Cramer for capturing this one and sending it in.

Jarrod: Hey, speaking of plugs, didn't someone ask you on the comments section of your preview of the upcoming TNA iMPACT Video Game why you didn't have a "My Sign is a Hidden Highlight" sign when you were captured on TV?

JP: OK, fair enough, fair enough. Well, for iMPACT I didn't even know I was going to the show that day so was wholly unprepared. Also, I was there on business, so no marking out that much! As for RAW… let's just say it is like a rock star wearing his own t-shirt while playing. But that doesn't mean I don't encourage fans of Hidden Highlights to keep bringing out the sign!

Jarrod: So basically you want the readers to do all the work while you sit back and collect the benefits?

JP: Do all the work? You want to see some work? Let's get on with the Hidden Highlights!



Monday, April 7, 2008 by Jarrod Westerfield

Jarrod: Are you serious? I only get to highlight three things from Raw? I'm certain there was about a million things I'd like to point out as a high and lowlight, success or blunder of the show, hidden or fairly obvious to Ray Charles from his grave site (pun partially intended). But this is your show and if you insist I have to limit this to only 3 highlights…

JP: Oh I insist. And one "lowlight" and you hit the showers early! It's one thing to point out a goof and say how it made you laugh. It's another thing to belittle the performers and staff involved. Here, we are about putting over the good, hard work that goes unnoticed, so get cracking and I'll stop yacking.

(3) Santino Salutes!:

Weeks of building into a confrontation between Santino and Steve Austin paid off with a rather unusual selling of the Stone Cold Stunner, as Santino began to flop on his back, but not without saluting. Since then, Santino has managed to miss every single one of his "salute" drops until this very evening when, in tag action with tag team member Carlito, finished off one half of the World Tag Team Champions, Cody Rhodes, with a salute diving headbutt off the second rope. I don't care what anyone else says, this is the most brilliant character on the show, and Santino makes the best of it, even bringing back the trumpet dance, as he and Carlito celebrated their victory half-way up the rampway.

(2) New Found Fire:

After beating Santino the week prior to her big battle with WWE Women's Champion, Beth Phoenix, Maria showed a new attitude. Something that looks to have been in the works since Ashley talked her into doing the Playboy shoot. A new found confidence that allowed Maria to walk into this match looking strong and up to the challenge of taking on the Glamazon – something that was never there the last time these two clashed back on the February 18th, 2008 edition of Monday Night Raw. It was also cool to see that at least one of the divas, besides Candice, was paying attention to their lessons with Finlay, leading into a very good bout between these two ladies.

(1) Historical Loving Placed on Orton:

Early on in the show, if you were paying very close attention to Jim Ross's commentary about the WWE Champion and the WWE Title, itself, you may have heard JR say "I can tell you this Randy Orton is holding the most coveted championship in the entire WWE." The WWE Championship is, of course, the title that holds the lineage that dates back to the days of Bruno Sammartino and Pedro Morales, but this secures one thought and should bury any thoughts about the World Heavyweight Championship holding the same title lineage of the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, despite what Batista blurted out all those years back when relinquishing it due to his injury at the time (2006). This pretty much secures, also, the thought of why John Cena, along with the WWE Championship, was drafted from SmackDown! to Raw, as the main company's title should be focused on the company's main show. It also secured that the company is really putting a lot of love behind Randy Orton with a win over former WWE Champions John Cena and Triple H on the biggest stage of all as he's the owner of histories past.

JP: The thing is, he says that all the time no matter what championship is in place. So does Michael Cole talk about the World Heavyweight Championship and Mike Tenay for the TNA Championship. I like that these guys put over their titles and brands as the best. Remember when JBL used to call RAW the B-show? Of course we know RAW is the WWE's darling, but JBL saying that with such conviction made you, at least for a moment, consider the possibility that SmackDown really is the best show on television.



Tuesday, April 8, 2008 by JP

JP: Over in ECW, both Colin Delaney and Tommy Dreamer were in the main event! Not only were in the main event, but one of them is also my top Hidden Highlight. What was it? Well, get through the other two and you will see soon enough!

(3) Keeping pace:

The opening contest saw a surprisingly fiercely competitive match between one-half of the WWE Tag Team Champions the Miz and Mr. Money in the Bank CM Punk. These two have met many time before, most notably at Cyber Sunday when the Miz won the vote to meet CM Punk for the ECW Championship. But this Hidden Highlight has nothing to do with that! In the announce booth, John Morrison had joined Taz and Joey Styles and was telling a story about how he and the Miz work as partners. In the middle of this speech, Joey went into play-by-play of the match. Morrison then quickly retorted, "Don't interrupt me!" and then immediately went back to his story, picking up in the middle of the sentence he was interrupted at! Nice work by John Morrison to show he does not care about anything except himself.

(2) Redemption:

Even though he interrupted the Guru of Greatness, Joey Styles found a way to redeem himself in the very same match. A short while later, CM Punk hit the Miz with a spinning heel kick that sent the Miz reeling. To that, Joey Styles said, "Miz may be spitting out Chiclets!" Chiclets? Get it? Chick-lets? He's a "Chick Magnet"? See?! Ah, maybe not. I want to buy that t-shirt.

(1) Show ‘em what you are made of:

As I mentioned last week, Colin Delaney had come to the ring with no video and no music. This week, for some reason, Colin Delaney has seemed to have amassed an entrance video of his own (but thankfully no music). But did you happen to catch what was on his highlight reel? It was all video of Colin getting beaten up in a variety of ways by all of his opponents! Now normally, an entrance video shows a wrester at their best, but Colin's shows him at his worst! It was pretty funny seeing an entrance video being all about losing, but that is just what Colin has done!

Jarrod: Colin didn't amass that video himself as he obviously had help from some nefarious video editing master over at Chikara. Personally, I think it might have been Eddie Kingstong, but what would I know? I work with a video editing puffin, apparently.



Thursday, April 10, 2008 by JP

JP: TNA put on their last show before Lockdown on Thursday night. And if all has gone according to plan, Jeff Small and myself attended the show at the behest of TNA management. Yes, Matt Morgan invited us before he was removed from his position. He invited us while I was hanging on the forth wall of Jim Cornette's office. You see, Cornette's office faces outward into the TNA merchandise stand. I don't know how a guy can get any work done there! At least he put something on the white board ("Lockdown" "Very important"  Circled).

(3) The "Truth" about "Consequences":

Consequences Creed made an appearance on iMPACT, taking on Jimmy Rave to get a spot inside the X-Scape match at Lockdown. While making his way to the ring, Mike Tenay said two very distinct things:

"Making his iMPACT debut…"

"… his first singles match for TNA…"

As many will remember, Creed actually wrestled for TNA before teaming up with Ron "The Truth" Killings as a backup partner on PPV. So Tenay, not wanting to lie but still make this moment momentous, brought up the two things that would make his statement true. Creed had not been on iMPACT before and had not fought in a singles match for TNA (at least not on TV). Therefore, the truth is saved for another day!

(2) He actually didn't see it:

Later in the evening, the transformation of Petey Williams completed when he teamed up with Scott Steiner against the Motor City Machine Guns. During the match, Petey was in the ring with Sabin, doing a lot of high flying about the ring. Petey threw Sabin towards his own corner where Scott Steiner was, and Steiner took advantage hitting Sabin in the back of the head with a forearm. What I noticed, though, was that Slick Johnsons actually WAS looking the other way! A lot of times when people try to pull off illegal moves the ref is right there to admonish them, but Slick Johnson had already turned away a while ago, presumably to watch Alex Shelley. That was a good bit of movement by Slick to make sure he was not looking and not having to "stop looking" in some ridiculous fashion by already having been looking the other way.

(1) Wolfpack is back:

The main event of the evening saw Sting and Kevin Nash team up to take on Team 3D, the first time such a match has occurred. The beginning of the match saw something that has occurred before, just not in a very long time. Sting and Kevin Nash gave each other the Wolfpack hand kiss! While not totally amazing or hidden, do you know when the last time they did that was? Well let's see, Sting was in the nWo Wolfpack before they turned heel… so I'm thinking 1998? That's right, almost a full decade has passed since the last time that has happen. That's pretty momentous right there.

Jarrod: I clearly missed some of this, though seeing Consequences in TNA brought me to one, and only one thought: what happened to his colorful, "I'm Apollo Creed" tights? Those roxxered so freagin' hard!



Friday, April 11, 2008 by Jarrod Westerfield

Jarrod: I seriously have to thank God for SmackDown this week, because this show certainly put a smile on my face after threatening me with a bout with Festus and Undertaker that I thought would totally kill some momentum for either one of these men. But this show also saw fit to house some other highlights that I'm sure we'll cover here.

(3) Cock-a-doodle-do:

Easily the best hidden highlight is the WWE's attempt to make some noise out of the black rooster handed to Big Show at the start of show, as they literally dubbed in rooster crows. I don't know if this was to sound impressive, or to define what creature Show was holding for some poorly construed humor at the expense of Show's sexual preference. Either way, laughs were had by all.

(2) Smart-Mark Humor Hour:

Before the start of the Morrison and Miz tag match against Moore and Wang-Yang, the WWE aired a portion of the Dirt Sheet between Miz and Morrison mocking the team of Moore and Yang. The only thing here was that the two couldn't agree as to who would dress up as Moore to mock him. Seeing both dressed as Yang lead to a really funny discovery – Morrison with a handlebar mustache looks exactly like the gay male pornstar, Joey Ryan. For those of you who don't know Joey Ryan, odds are you don't watch Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, Wrestling Society X, or the NWA's Wrestling Showcase television show on the Colors Network. That was a nice touch of fun just to see that Joey Ryan has a presence on a WWE television screen through Morrison's attempt to mock Wang-Yang.

(1) Biscuits-and-Gravy:

What kind of highlight recap would this be without making note of the human highlight reel himself, Festus? Although this highlight focuses more on Jesse, who played the emotional outlet for Festus much in the way he tends to do from time to time. Having went from being timid of the Undertaker's legacy and his aura, to being aggressive and ready to fight him off for the sake of defending his downed friend, Jesse showcased all those emotions you'd expect from an Undertaker opponent. Even added to this was the almost look of concern from Taker's face as he seemed to have gained new found respect in the giant gentle monster. If you didn't like Jesse and Festus before, this should have definitely leaned you over to being a fan of these two.

JP: I definitely agree that I had great concern for a Festus/Undertaker match, but you are right. Festus beat down the Undertaker and dominated the match, and he was caught in a surprise submission but he did not tap. I think it was Coach who said, "I don't think Festus understood that he could have tapped, even to save himself."




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: Now we can actually catch up to everything. So, *GENERAL WARNING*:: some parts of the following Reader Write-in Hidden Highlights may be edited for grammar, spelling, and English translation…

We'll kick it off this week with two full week's of Nick Noel:

The man of 1004 Hidden Highlights? I'm stealing that. I went to the gym tonight and used that moniker to introduce myself.

RAW

JBL's TitanTron Ticker Tape – Apparently PYRO stocks are up. Not what I'd think after the problems they had with it at Wrestlemania.

JP: Don't worry, they were up at the show already! Tragedy just makes people want to see them more.

I Wish I Knew How To Do Screencaps – Because when Cryme Time came out they went to an audience shot and while there were a few people cheering, there was one guy in the very centre of the shot with crossed arms just shrugging with a look of "So what?" Do you think JTG and Umaga use the same grill maker?

JP: Dey best not be dissing my homies Cryme Tyme. Anyone who does that has to go read Issue #75 again!

Divas Almost Work Together – Even though they all ganged up on Santino, after the match, as they were walking away up the ramp, they split back into heels and faces. Kelly Kelly, Michelle McCool, and Ashley hanging with Maria, while in the background there was Victoria, Melina, and Jillian Hall.

JP: I can't believe there has been no follow up to this with Santino wanting to destroy the Women's Division! It practically writes itself!

Flair's Retirement Speech – Just before HHH came out, you could just see King and JR giving Flair a standing ovation.

JP: I was giving a standing ovation, too!

Festus STILL Doesn't Break Character – Even during the Ric Flair farewell. THAT is dedication to one's craft. Although the argument could be made that it might have been a bit too much for this occasion.

JP: No way! As this was pointed out a lot last week, I'd just like to say I like old school guys who do not ever break character. Festus is getting up to the level of Scott Steiner on this one. That's just amazing!

ECW

Tazz's Glasses – Are so reflective, tonight we saw a few glances of the cameraman. Production tries to hide it by keeping the angle of the camera pointed slightly downward, but tonight Tazz just moved his head into the right (or wrong) position to reflect the image of the camera.

JP: Those guys are crawling around the ring staying hidden as much as they can, but sometimes a grip gets caught on film.

TNA

Has it been pointed out yet that "TNA Management" have their own entrance at the side of the iMPACT Zone? Instead of walking out from either the "heel" or "face" ramp, they come straight from the back.

JP: There are four entrances really. There's also another one where the LAX entrance is that leads to where that backstage truck sits. That's the entrance I came through into the iMPACT Zone. But I was sitting next to the one you described.

Talk About Infection – All of the Rock n Rave Infection were wearing some sort of pink, hurrah for clothing Hidden Highlights! Teams!

JP: HUUUUU-RAAAAAAH!

TNA Loves Its Advertising – Anyone else notice the advert for the NASCAR "HotPass" on DirecTV or whatever it is behind James Storm during his interview? I guess they had to pay off Hermie Sadler and the rest of those NASCAR drivers.

JP: It's everywhere now; backstage, on the ring apron, on office doors… it is there.

Cornette's Whiteboard – Drawn on in black marker, in big bold letters "PPV, Lockdown, 4/13/08".

JP: Also, circled underneath it: IMPORTANT! Someone is reading this article and knows I'm reading the white board.

Sticking With Cornette's Office – He has not one, but TWO fedoras, a swank black one and a Sunday best woven one. On top of that he has a printer … BUT NO COMPUTER.

JP: I've pointed out the printer with no computer before, so let's get to your ones form this week:

I'm totally hitting up that mini-golf course you mentioned in last week's column.

JP: It's a blast! If you are in the Herndon, VA area, you must go to Woody's Perils of the Lost Jungle Adventure Mini-golf. If gets the Hidden Highlights gold star of approval.

ECW

Miz Pulls Out The Stops – Even so far to bust out his old HOO-RAH catchphrase in the middle of the match with CM Punk. When's the last time that got featured on TV? It's been dropped for that chick magnet shtick.

JP: I HOO-RAHed earlier in the column…

Jarrod: And I got hot flashes of the Divas search contest where that spawned.

Announcers Need A Good View – After Punk crashed into the announce table, you could see Tazz and Joey Styles standing up to see over the top of the table. That's announcers getting into the match, not just sitting and watching the monitors.

JP: I really wish they didn't watch monitors. I know they need to report what the viewers are seeing, but I like the idea of someone being there live telling me what I am NOT seeing.

Morrison Moves Fast – Morrison managed to get all the way back to the announce table and put is headphones on before the referee ejected him from ringside, instead of just standing around next to the ring waiting for it. The thump of the live mic hitting the table when he threw them down was just awesome. He's a Hidden Highlight machine.

JP: And people wonder why I always cheer on the heels! Between him, MVP, and Festus, SmackDown/ECW is complete for me.

GM's Office – You gotta love that Armando Estrada had a big advertisement for cigars on the wall of his office. And a premium brand as well. Nice character facet.

JP: I noticed the advertisement said "Smoke" which would really go against all those Truth ads the WWE runs.

Jarrod: Don't forget those NYSmokeFree ads that were on their site.

Kane Has Already Read The Contract – Because when he was asked to sign it, he flicked through it to the EXACT place he needed to sign! Nice little production moment where they didn't just have the opponents sign on the front page, ala most wrestling contract signings.

JP: I *****SO***** want to read what is actually in those contracts!

Not Sure If We've Covered It – But "the first Jamaican superstar in the WWE" Kofi Kingston's last name is also the name of the capital city of Jamaica. I noticed it the first week he debuted, but I don't think I've seen anyone mention it yet. Sure, it's not exactly "hidden", but you know.

JP: Joey actually kind of vaguely mentioned it this week, saying something along the lines of Kingston… the name of Kofi's home.

TNA

Black Reign's Rat – Well, he has a white one right? In his opening video it features a BROWN rat. PRODUCTION GAFFE!

JP: Errrr… no! It is a Nick Gaffe! Misty the Arctic Fox used to be a brown/black rat, but Kazarian dyed her white. Black Reign is just letting her get her natural color back. Just like I let Trevor Alexander get back to his natural color:

Wrestlemania/ECW/Smackdown

I am shocked that no one mentioned that the Rated R Army (Edge and Chavo) lost their Championships to the Brothers of Destruction. Both the Undertaker and Kane are "both" World Champions at the same time and I would think that would be a big deal for the WWE. Now I know that they aren't brothers and that many don't consider the ECW Title = to a World Champion but it's still something that should be mentioned.

JP: I kind of thought it was implied by the match they had on SmackDown after WrestleMania.

When ref showed the Undertaker the belt before the match at Mania his reaction was priceless as he jumped back like oh snap due to how intense Taker was staring.

JP: Oh the ref jumped backed! That took me a bit.

How can Vicki setup an ECW title match for a PPV? We all know her and Armando Estrada work together and help each other out so she should have thrown that clarification out there.

JP: Why do that? You've clarified it for us. Just like I'd like to clarify my feelings for the lovely, vivacious, and sexy Rachel Pritchard:

First off, the comments on my last submission made me giggle, so thanks.

JP: Believe me, honey, I'm good for more than just giggles.

Ghost of JT: Oh yes, some things on him will make you downright break down with laughter!

JP: Arrrrh! Ghost! What would you say such a thing?

Ghost of JT: Ummmm… maybe because you threw me out like yesterday's garbage in favor of that hussy Alive JT.

JP: Did… did you just call JT a hussy?

Anyway, one from each 'E show this week from me:

JP: You heard her Ghost, let the lady talk!

On Raw, during the Ric Flair send off (which was a non-hidden highlight in itself, of course), Festus was still in character - how awesome is that?

JP: This is about the 100th time we've covered it, but with you it feels like the first.

The next night on ECW, just before the Show/Colin classic, you can see the expression on Show's face for a split second, when he grabs Delany's shoulder, just before the camera cuts away to a wider shot: it's a total 'sorry man, no hard feelings' look of a man just doing his job. Admittedly, that's what's really happening so it's not an Oscar winning performance from Biggie, but still.

JP: I got to watch the before-match Colin and aftermath, so the fun continued without the cameras rolling.

Finally, on SmackDown Edge was wearing a Chavo t-shirt all night, showing solidarity with his future nephew-in-law. On the other hand, Chavo was wearing a button down for the opening promo BUT changed into an Edge shirt for the main event beatdown. Nice work on showing unity (and product placement) by those guys. Also could be a touch of continuity - Chavo seems to change his clothes during shows a fair bit, like the night of the 'Gulf of Mexico Match which was 'come as you are' and still led to Chavito changing into a completely different outfit. Maybe Charlie Haas should sue for gimmick infringement...

JP: Hehehehe. Chavo also changed shirts in between ECW and SmackDown tapings. As it was, Chavo was in the main event of ECW and ten minutes later was out all dressed up as you saw him on SmackDown. So I think he had five or six outfit changes that show! And as much as I'd love to continue our chat about our feelings, James Giles wants to talk about his Ric Flair sadness:

Damn you for showing that clip. I'm upset all over again. Anyways, when the wrestlers start coming down the ramp, did you catch Jesse and Festus? Festus was lead by the hand as usual and appeared to stay in character the entire time. Also, I know that had a shot of Big Dave looking disapprovingly at Michaels when he came to the ring, but watch Arn just before Shawn and Ric hug. Arn was always a sourpuss but his look seemed to mirror Batista's expression.

JP: We get it with Festus! More new Festus stuff! But actually, that is interesting about Batista because I did not notice that. Looks like they were sewing the seeds even then. I do have to say I like the Batista/Michaels feud because it is a perfect "shades of grey" where both men are right and both men are wrong. It's good to have a mature storyline every once in a while. But jumping back to that fateful WrestleMania, Ted Lach chimes in with:

I taped WM24, and was watching it again the other day when I noticed something I missed during the BunnyMania match. While all the Divas were dressed up for the occasion, Cherry still had her roller-skates on.

JP: Hey, they were classy roller-skates! Let's finish this up with Nikolai Nygard:

On TNA from 4/10/08 there was probably several highlights but for some reason I caught a rather obscure one from the Rave vs Creed match. During the match there is a part where Rave tosses Creed into the corner and is about to punch him but first taunts. When he comes back over, Creed tosses him to the corner without any major strike attacks. While Creed unloads, Rave is actually lifting his hands to protect himself like a boxer would. This is a great way for him to make the thing look more realistic and makes more sense than if he had been offensively placed in the corner rather than lightly placed, see because the gentler placement would allow him to still be aware enough to block.

JP: I knew there was a reason why I liked you. Well, keep sending them in, and I'll keep printing them! And if you are a lucky enough lady, maybe I'll give you some extra special attention, too.

Jarrod: Do you actually hit on all of your readers, because I'm starting to get irked over here…


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… readers just like to know!



JP: Thanks, Jarrod, for coming in this week. I know I rode you pretty hard for the first draft you sent me, and I'm much happier with the final results. Keep staying positive, and I'd be interested to see what you come up with in the future.

Jarrod: Well if you put it that way, my best exit would probably be that of a silent one.

JP: Ah well! Don't worry, I don't hold a grudge, even for people who try to write my final lines for me!

If you want to read something I'm sure to have written all of my words for, be sure to catch my very own Saturday morning news report The Hamilton Ave Journal: the only wrestling news report focused on the business of wrestling.

Thank you for reading the 137th 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!