Hidden Highlights 04.28.08: Issue #139

Posted by JP Prag on 04.28.2008

MVP wants to protect his ring, Mark Henry uses all his might for the pinfall, Alex Shelley tries desperately to save his partner, Natalya Neidhart goes right for Cherry’s knees, and more!

Hidden Highlights
By JP Prag

Issue #139

Hello everyone whose second cousin you just met but are getting to know, 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: Last weekend, I was visiting my grandmother and I was showing her pictures from TNA Lockdown. And you know what she said? "Oh, these guys are so small! They were much bigger in my day!" Well, there you have it from a kayfabe perspective: TNA looks small. She did think the women wrestlers looked better than in her day, so at least they have that going for them. But since she was unfamiliar with the current wrestling product, I decided she would be a bad choice as a special guest co-host. Instead, I asked someone I know understands the current product and what Hidden Highlights is all about. You've seen him in these pages as a reader, but this time he's coming at you as a writer. Please welcome for the first time on the big stage Nikolai Nygard! Nik?

Nikolai: Well if nothing else, then this proves that by writing in enough times you get to be at the part where people write about you. And to that I would like to add one Flair like "WOOOOO". And having now woo'd on the big stage, I feel very pleased with myself. Anyway, a quick bit about me. I reside in California and have blond hair, but I'm smarter than most people that fit that description so yeah… go me. And now back to JP.

JP: I'm a short Jewish kid with thinning brown hair and sideburns who resides in Rhode Island… I'm not sure what type of fit that would be, but let's get on with the Hidden Highlights!



Monday, April 21, 2008 by Nikolai Nygard

Nikolai: The King of the Ring 3 hour spectacular RAW was certainly an interesting broadcast, and it seems only fitting that I found 3 of the Hidden Highlights staples. Although my first thought was to use 3 incredibly obvious ones, but then I remembered, that's a waste of my skills. So you get some Hidden Highlight favorites! Be happy!

(3) International Highlight Superstars:

We start off the Highlights with the Carlito vs Holly match that happened in the middle of the night. Now it's been noted that Santino is a pretty good highlight machine, and he performed a LOT of highlights in this that well actually aren't that hidden. But here're two that you might have missed. While Carlito had Holly down near the corner and was unloading the punches, the camera caught a clip of Santino swinging along with Carlito, which is a highlight in itself, but he was actually timing it to try to hit along Carlito. The second one was just one of the lines Santino said while cheering Carlito. He said "You are almost da close!" The "da" in there is hard to hear, it happens along with a move but Santino has been on a streak of English butchering, and it's fun to watch it continue.

(2) MVP Can be King of Something:

And that something is another Highlights favorite, Color Coding!(!!) MVP may only have had one match tonight but he had a lot of little things to code himself to RAW. He came out in a suit that was black and reddish orange, which coincided with the colors on RAW. Also, to add to that, a more hidden one. Along MVP's arm, I think it was his left arm, not positive there, it says "Protect This Ring" This is a Super Duper Hidden Highlight, as it's pretty hard to remember, but MVP was awarded a U.S Title ring by JBL. And with Matt Hardy back he sure would need to protect that.

(1) I Get to Give a Regal Award!!!:

And my final RAW Highlight is my chance to award a Regal Award...to Regal. In his match with Finlay, there were several parts of the match that could easily have allowed for this award but I thought that this was best. For the finish of the match, Regal applied the Regal Stretch to Finlay. While he was applying the hold I noticed two things. One: When Regal was tying the legs together he did slower, with a mean face, and he did it with a little angry push. In the other two Regal Stretches he applied, he did this portion much quicker. Two: Once he had the hold locked on, Regal had kept Finlay's hand from being able to tap, so Regal had to make the move look like it could still end the match. And he did, Regal took his forearm and ground it into Finlay's face, which made the move more painful and made Finlay's face look even more like it was being mushed into dream land. Finlay also deserves props for rolling his eyes back along with this as his eyes did completely roll back with Regal's face mushing help.

JP: A William Regal Award for William Regal! Oh, how I miss not having the opportunity to do it myself! That night made me really believe that they could get behind Regal and let him do what he does best. Did you read that interview with Regal when he was talking about how Flair loved his wrestling and wanted to wrestle him in Japan? I'd love to see them let WCW Television Champion Sir Steven Regal lose in the ring and wrestle the way we know he can!

Nikolai: It's fitting that the King of WWE is Regal. I'm looking forward to the segments he'll have now every week with his Kingliness, which according to MS Word is a real word.



Tuesday, April 22, 2008 by Nikolai Nygard

Nikolai: ECW this night had quite a bit to live up to. What with the King of the Ring being named yesterday. They put on a decent show anyway, featuring a mixed tag, a squash, a set up for a Tag Break-up and Kofi vs Benjamin. It also features one of my favorite Tazz lines "Shelton's like a freight train comin' at ya. A GOLD freight train."

(3) Morrison Like His Face Time:

In the 2nd match of the night we saw Jimmy Wang Yang vs John Morrison. Miz was on commentary but that's not important right now. One of the Wangster Gangsters early moves was a quick punch to the face, which led Morrison to clutch his jaw. Next Jimmy Yang Yang as Miz calls him, hits a Clothesline to send Morrison onto the floor. On the floor Morrison runs away and Yang stops himself from diving over the top. During this, Morrison is STILL clutching his face. And when he gets back into the ring, wouldn't you know it? He's still clutching it! He sold Yang's face smacking skills and his own vanity with that and that's just cool.

(2) Mark Henry's Pin of Pain:

After Yang and Morrison's match, the show came back in order to show the EPIC (warning: sarcasm may have affected that.) match of Mark Henry vs Nunzio. The match was a pretty simple squash, but in the end Mark Henry did something that at least got it praised here. After the World's Strongest Slam, Henry took a brief time to pause before covering Nunzio. Perhaps realizing this, Henry could be seen first holding down an arm with his knee, that was easy to see, but he also holds the other arm down with his other knee AND grinds a forearm to poor little Guido's face. Causing pain and a damn near impossible kickout when you consider Henry's weight on your arms.

(1) Are my Ears Bleeding?:

The conclusion to this ECW was the Cutting Edge featuring Kane, who has loud pyro, remember that, it's important for the Highlight. While Edge is busy talking down Kane and such, Ryder and Hawkins are standing there looking tough. However, once Edge finishes the intro and Kane's pyro comes on, that changes. When Kane's big stage pyro hits, you can see Ryder jump, and suddenly get this "I think I need new pants" look on his face. He's also suddenly covering his ears, and once the explosion is gone, he's busy looking at his finger, presumably to check for blood. I like the sell of absolute terror of Kane, by being afraid just by his pyro, and proving that deep down, all henchmen are cowards. Note: I figure Hawkins was too, but the camera was looking at Edge and the stage and you could only see Ryder in the side, let alone Hawkins.

JP: I guess you learned your lessons from Michael Hayes to NEVER say anything bad about Mark Henry. And yes, I did notice his strong pincover and thought it was a good showing.

Nikolai: I'm glad to see that Henry is picking up some Highlight skills in his ten years or so with the company.



Thursday, April 24, 2008 by JP

JP: This week felt like the "let's correct errors in storylines from last week yet maintain continuity" week on iMPACT. Sting and Booker T patched things up (with Mike Tenay even saying Booker acted "out of character"), Team 3D got back on the same page, Kaz let us know that he just "can't stay mad" at Eric Young, and Jim Cornette figures that if his character is going to come up with off-the-wall overbooked gimmick matches, his character might as well go completely insane in all other categories. And that, my friends, is taking something less than good and turning it into a positive. Remember when Dusty Rhodes was given the gimmick of the guy who loved wearing polka dots and turned it into one of the most over gimmicks in the company? That's what masters of Hidden Highlights can do!

(3) I thought that only happened in cartoons:

During the opening promo of the show, as mentioned, Booker T came out to apologize to Sting about being a hothead last week. That brought out James Storm and Robert Roode to let the two veterans know that their little moment was not so touching. Storm then started to berate the two with jokes, including one at the expense of Booker's weave! When the camera panned back to Booker T after that one, the vein on Booker T's left temple was literally pulsating! I mean, I've seen that in enough Japanese cartoons to realize what it means that Booker is very upset, but it was just amazingly well done on a real person. The fact that Booker can control his emotions so much that he can cause a vein to pulsate in anger was truly stupendous and poignant.

(2) One… last… chance:

As the Deuces Wild Tag Team Tournament began to take routes, the newly reformed team of Christian Cage and Rhino took on the de-pushed Motor City Machine Guns Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin. After delivering the Unprettier to Sabin, it looked like Christian and Rhino had the match wrapped up. But despite having taken a gore, Alex Shelley was not about to let his partner fall. You could just catch it in the corner of the screen, but Shelley was reaching over with whatever little strength he could to try to help out his partner. It was for naught, but kudos for making the effort anyway instead of just laying there doing nothing.

(1) One of us… one of us…:

After taking a hard hit to the knee on the outside, Samoa Joe looked to be in trouble. His trainer and motivational speaker Kevin Nash then came out to cheer Samoa Joe on and get him back in the ring (though I would figure a money-hungry and title maintaining Nash would rather just take the count-out loss than risk losing the title), saying things like "We can do it!" and "Come on, we need to win this one!" Mike Tenay was quick to point out that Nash was using the plural singular pronoun quite a bit, but then he said something interesting of his own about Kevin Nash: "He's like one of us, one of the TNA fans!" That is quite interesting as it appears as Mike Tenay wants to represent himself and Don West as just fans of the TNA product and not employees of TNA. This is quite an interesting viewpoint of himself and his partner.

Nikolai: I sort of figured West was a fan since he screams like crazy at all the big moves. I caught the Shelley thing to when I was watching iMPACT. Nice to see that they still seem to try during punishment. I still need help from a friend to explain the Deuces Wild Tournament each time they talk about it.



Friday, April 25, 2008 by JP

JP: If MVP can win a major championship after dropping the US Title to Matt Hardy, he may yet become my favorite wrestler of this era. Right now I'm sticking with Christian Cage, but MVP has the potential! Of course, it's no secret that I prefer heels and admire potential, so it could all be for naught. I still hold out hope for Carlito and Santino to do great things, so maybe I'm not a good person to follow in favorite wrestlers.

Nikolai: Don't worry, they are Highlight machines, so they do have a reason to be liked by you. I mean the first Highlight I sent ever was of Carlito walking funny after Backlash last year. Wow, how the hell do I remember that?

JP: I remember Hidden Highlights from the first issue. But like I said, I'm rather peculiar.

(3) Kozlov mad! Kozlov smash!:

I decided to give a Hidden Highlight to the man whose entire gimmick is about not having any flash, emotion, or showiness in anyway. Too bad, guy, because I caught you in a moment of Hidden Highlight goodness! In his match with Marty Garner, Garner managed to get in some offence, including a palm to Kozlov's face. When that hand landed on Kozlov, he had the complete wide-eyed look of shock yet did not have any movement in his mouth area! So at the same time he managed to look shocked that the shot happened, but not over-shocked nor really phased by the hit.

(2) What is with knees this week?:

This one is a little less hidden, but more about general look and viciousness. Earlier in the evening, Natalya Neidhart (why would you drop that last name?) was taking on Cherry in her second WWE on-air match. About midway through the match, Cherry looked to be going for a kick or an enziguri when Natalya caught Cherry and delivered a kick right to the top of Cherry's left knee. The way she delivered the kick so crisply and with such finesse and refinement that I just really wanted to point it out. Natalya made that kick look like it destroyed Cherry, and of course it eventually led to the Sharp Shooter at the end of the match.

(1) Stop laughing:

The opening of the show saw the Extended Family being confronted by Mr. Money in the Bank CM Punk. Punk began to run down the crew and making fun of everyone, including implying that Edge had slept his way to the top. On the microphone, you could just catch Michael Cole snicker at the comment. Coach, always in the perfect heel and reactionary mode, quickly responded under his breath (but just enough to hear), "That's not funny, Cole." It was just the absolute best response you could look for and shows that despite the hatred, Coach is usually right on his game.

Nikolai: I think it's funny that for the most part, whoever Edge sleeps with gets pushed higher, so technically Vickie slept her way up the card. Thankfully not on TV like Lita. One thing I'd like to add that nobody has mentioned is Shannon Moore's cowboy hat which is more scratched and messy than Yang's, oh and it has a skull on it. I have been reading this since before they teamed up and it still doesn't look like it was mentioned.




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: Even with one of the regulars writing the column, I still have plenty to get to. 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 with a whole lot of Chris Jacobs, who I look forward to the day when he gathers his thoughts together and sends me one e-mail instead of five in a row:

Matt Hardy had a color HH when he came out on Smackdown. He was wearing the black long sleeve with a blue T-shirt over it, he went to the announce team dressed in Smackdown colors.

JP: Well he IS a SmackDown star, he should be wearing their color scheme!

Then I would like to point out the HH that could have been caught, and played as MVP being a rookie that doesn't scout his opponents. He said that he has accomplished more than Matt Hardy because Matt has never held singles gold. Even though Matt Hardy was at least at one time a SINGLE hardcore champion. That was even while the belt had SOME prestige to it. They could have turned that around to MVP being a rookie and not watching tapes and scouting properly.

JP: And as you sent me later, Matt Hardy was also a Cruiserweight champion. That said, those two titles no longer exist, so maybe MVP is right. I mean, if the titles no longer exist, than Matt Hardy has held no ACTIVE singles titles.

Nikolai: Matt was also European champ, second longest ever, longest American European Champ. But like the other two, those aren't active.

As Matt was walking out, he pointed to his wrist as if a watch was there, and mouthed "your time is up, I'm coming for you" or something like that. Which MVP should have known right there it was a subtle hint for him only. What he said along with the watch gesture, because what are the lyrics when MVP comes out?

(sounds of a clock ticking)
1, 2, you hear the clock tickin,
tick tock, you about to stop livin
tick tock, I want you to remember me
tick tock, cause the day aint got no memory
I'M COMIN'

Perfect subtle hint meant for MVP and MVP only.

JP: I just had to leave that in there to see you rapping. Moving on to RAW we have Bill Bumgarner with a short one:

I noticed that, from the time that "Hillary" made her entrance to the moment when Umaga arrived to put the kaibosh on the whole thing was roughly three minutes. This is a Highlight if you remember that Umaga used to be Jamal who, along with Rosie and Rico, made up Three-Minute Warning.

JP: I doubt that was in the intention, but I love unintentional Hidden Highlights! What's that? Fine, fine, I'll rap, too:

We got, 3 minutes and we're out of here
The clock is tickin and we're in the clear,
We got, 3 minutes and we're out of here,
We got, 3 minutes and we're out, we're out
We got, 3 minutes and we're out of here
The clock is tickin and we're in the clear,
We got, 3 minutes and we're out of here,
We got, 3 minutes and we're out

Nikolai: I actually liked that theme quite a bit. I was watching the '03 Rumble last week and that was one of the themes that stuck out clearly.

JP: Yeah, that was good. Nick Noel, did you think my rap was good?:

RAW

MVP Is A Surprise – I know this has been covered before, but I thought it deserved another mention. When MVP is announced as a surprise entrant (for KOTR in this case) his whole entrance paraphernalia is not used, therefore being an extra surprise from only his music (with that ticking clock I totally thought it was the Boogeyman making his comeback!)

JP: Boy it has been a while since you heard the Boogeyman's music!

Nikolai: Doesn't Boogeyman's theme start off with him going "I'm da Boogeyman, and I'm comin' to getcha!"?

JP: Don't be jealous of the other readers!

Call Me Crazy – But did you notice how a RAW superstar won the first match of the KOTR tournament … on RAW? It's a conspiracy I tells ya!

JP: Did you notice that the vast majority of wrestlers were from SmackDown yet the finals were between and RAW and ECW wrestler, of which a RAW wrestler won? Pecking order!

Nikolai: The RAW GM at that, well at least then the conspiracy makes sense, you know since Regal has supposed ability to book all the matches and all.

King Of The Ring Truly Is Multi-Brand – So far as they even use referees from all the different brands in the matches. Also a nice touch was the Smackdown referees coming out to check on Smackdown wrestler Finlay.

JP: Someone has to care for Finaly. Oh, and for those who wondered what would have happened if Khali decided to win his match against Finaly, ruining William Regal's plan: what you didn't see what Regal in the back riling Khali up so that he would get DQed after damaging Finaly. You see, Regal is that smart!

Nikolai:And he's this week's Regal award winner!

Charles Robinson Calms Khali Down – As Finlay was walking to the ring, Khali started taunting him to hurry up. Referee Charles Robinson got all animated waving his arms telling Khali to wait and not jump the gun. He was so into the match as well, flinching with every shot.

JP: See, Khali was so mad! Luckily, Charles Robinson is just as persuasive.

In The Vein Of Shawn Michaels – Jericho has a tattoo on his ring finger in lieu of a wedding ring. Again, not sure how late I'm getting this in, as I'm guessing someone before me has pointed it out, but just in case …

JP: I actually noticed it two weeks ago for the first time and have been waiting for someone to point it out. Good job!

Wrestlemania Reading Challenge – Haha the Wrestlemania reading thingy was represented by three WWE Superstars … CM Punk, The Miz … and YOUR TEACHER MATT STRIKER! That was the funniest thing I saw all night (and I'm including the whole political candidates thing).

JP: Remember kids: if you learn to read, then you, too, can be fired from the New York State School System!

ECW

Talk About A Company Man – But whenever Tommy Dreamer isn't wearing an ECW t-shirt, he's wearing one for the upcoming PPV.

JP: Except after WrestleMania when he was still wearing the WrestleMania t-shirt. Guess the No Way Out ones hadn't come in yet.

Knox Stalks Kelly – After Layla tagged him in, he started moving menacingly towards Kelly, but when she tagged in Dreamer, he stopped and backed up a few steps. Nice character playing by Knox!

JP: I wish Adamle knew anything about the product so he could talk about their history. Where were, Tazz, in that instance?

Miz's Puns Are Worse Than Adamle's – Adamle: "Has Morrison shown you how to get those abs?" Miz: "ABSolutely". *groan* At least he pulled Adamle up on his "Jamaican me crazy" from last week. Dear god, he tore Adamle apart tonight. "If he can get things wrong, so can I." YAY MIZ!

JP: I did enjoy the verbal abuse Adamle took this week from everyone. To his credit, he took the abuse like a champ. I don't think a man with the prestige and resume of Adamle is used to having his work chewed out, especially on the air.

Nikolai: My god even Word hates Adamle, half that Highlight has a swiggly line under because of his name not being a word.

Kofi Plays The Arm – Kofi Kingston goes for the pin on Shelton Benjamin but can't hook the far leg due to the injured arm. That's something you don't see every day (but probably should).

Nikolai: I actually was stuck between choosing this and choosing Morrison's when I was doing ECW. I chose Morrison because I couldn't come up with a good title for the Highlight.

JP: Makes sense to me! Good work, Nick (and Nik) I'm sure we'll be seeing more of it real soon. And here's another guy we see, Trevor Alexander:

Right after they showed the C.M punk logo on the Titantron they cut to Jericho in the ring and what was behind him to the left, a big Pepsi sign with the classic logo.

That was either a one in a billion shot or someone in production pays attention.

JP: I usually believe in the quick wit and sharpness of the production crew, even if they don't think I look "real" enough to put on TV.

Nikolai: Weren't you on TV like six times in the past few weeks?

JP: Yeah, but that was all unintentional! The one time they intentionally filmed me they basically said we sucked!

Nikolai: God you must have really, really sucked if that's the case; in the 1991 Rumble the show opens up with shots at kids and each time the camera cuts to them they stopped cheering and stared at it. They still aired that. Did you like stop cheering, look at the camera, and go "Hey I'm on TV. LOOK AT ME!"?

JP: Production has gotten a lot better (and perhaps snootier?) in the past 17 years, kid!

When Finlay hooked Regal's leg after the seated splash he hooked his leg and his ankle at the same time.

JP: Part of me really hopes we can get the 100% healthy Finlay versus Regal. I mean, I've seen the match before but it's been about 15 years, so I'd like to see it again!

Even though it wasn't that hidden it was a great move to have Regal lock the Regal stretch into position where Finaly couldn't tap. I miss the good old days of where a wrestler had to humiliate themselves and verbally submit and not just tap out. But for the purpose of this match it kept Finaly tough while giving Regal the win.

JP: It looks like you and Nik are on the same page for that one!

Nikolai: It's not surprising, I had a really big page full of Highlights that I had to narrow down. That was the one thing I liked in the Write in Contest, I could send them all in.

Chavo's body guard is a former border patrol agent, according to Cole. CHAVO...hired a border guard. Shouldn't Kurt Angle have hired him during the feud with Eddie.

JP: Hehehe, Chavo is from Texas, you racist! I kid, I kid. But I never kid around when it comes to Tammy Heuer wrapping us up this week:

I have a hidden highlight for you from Raw on 4/21. Not really that fantastic, but it amused me.

JP: I'll be glad to amuse you any night, not just Monday.

Nikolai: I'll totally be the nicest Co-Host you've ever had by not laughing at you on the column.

Ghost of JT: Luckily, I have no qualms about it and can laugh at JP all I want! BWA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

I noticed when MVP came out for his match; his breath right strip was the exact same color orange as the orange on his outfit. I honestly had no idea those things came in any color other than "flesh". Excellent attention to detail.

JP: Oh yeah! MVP has been real good about color coordinating his nose strips to his outfits. And it wouldn't surprise me if he had some of them painted to match his outfits if the color were not available.

Still lovin' your column, always one I look forward to.

JP: And the column loves you, too.

Nikolai: OK, I lied, cue the DiBiase music, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.


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 to our extra special guest co-host Nikolai Nygard for not only living up to, but exceeding my expectations in him. You really stepped up your game this week from a reader to a writer, and I liked the result.

Nikolai: Thanks, it just goes to show that in the words of my favorite ever, "I am a winner, WOO!" (That's Owen Hart from the Slammys.)

JP: Let's see here, you talked about 1991 and the Slammy's here… I think I'm beginning to sense a pattern for when you became a fan…

In case you are stuck in a certain era of wrestling, 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 139th 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!