Hidden Highlights 09.22.08: Issue #160

Posted by JP Prag on 09.22.2008

Charlie Haas does all the research possible to become Good ‘ol Jim Haas, The Miz drills his knee into Evan Bourne, Booker T uses the ref as a barricade, JR manages to take Shelton Benjamin’s greatest attribute and turn it against him, and more!

Hidden Highlights
By JP Prag

Issue #160

Commentator: Previously, on Hidden Highlights…

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Commentator: With 159 prior weeks of history, some people were bound to forget the trivial fact or two.

Metheos: I'm sure I'm being stupid but can someone please clarify what consists of someone getting "The Regal Award"??

Chocolate Award Trophy: The Regal Award is for making a move look more realistic and/or painful.

Stenographer: Just to clarify it a bit more, it is about taking a move and doing something extra to it to dish out the pain. Like if you had someone in an arm bar and then bent back their fingers.

Ghost of JT: Aren't you a Stenographer? Aren't you only supposed to repeat what you just heard, not make up original content?

Stenographer: Aren't you dead? How can you even talk?!

Commentator: With understanding behind everyone, questions of the future always remained.

Gothekain I'm still loving HH as my favourite columns here. Really, you should not limit it to 15 HHs - rather, mention all of them! You've run out of space for SD! this week, plus you're doing Retro HHs as well.

Other than that little niggle, excellent column as always.

Stenographer: Now you see this time I can quote exactly what was said last week:

JP: Sorry for the lack of SmackDown; I simply ran out of time and had plenty of other things to talk about. Maybe I'll get to them next week, depending.

In other words, JP had not watched SmackDown by the time the article went to print.

Ghost of JT: And what about limiting to only 15?

Stenographer: Go back and read Issues #150-154. I don't have the energy to quote all that!

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





JP: Hello everyone who is spending about 12 hours at home this week in total, and welcome back to Hidden Highlights! If you've never been here before, let me tell you what we are doing in these pages.

Hidden Highlights are about the little things that make the product great. They are about showing the positive motions all those involved in wrestling do to make a better show. The Miz may hold his opponents hands down to make a pin attempt better. Charles Robinson may let a little tear shed from his eye every time someone mentions Ric Flair. Mike Tenay may tell you about the 17 year history of a visiting wrestler and make them sound huge in one sentence. These are all examples of little things that make the product far better.

Every week this article spotlights the Top 15 Hidden Highlights of the week, whether the be from television (RAW, ECW of SciFi, iMPACT, SmackDown!, and a PPV or television special if there is one), the past, small shows, tapes, or the indy scene.

This article may have an author, but it is also dependent upon the readers and true fans of professional wrestling—those who love what they watch and want to tell the world what they have found. The Top 15 are chosen from what I see and what readers write-in. Whatever is the best is what you'll see!

And who am I? Well, I am JP Prag, and I bring you Hidden Highlights with one goal in mind: to appreciate all those little things that make a huge difference.

Now let's get on with the Hidden Highlights!


RAW – Retro 1 Week

JP: We'll kick it off a bit in the past, and by a bit I mean seven days. Greg T, let's get it rolling!

Greg T: On last week's Raw, Manu, Rhodes, and Dibiase had Orton surrounded in the ring like a pack of wolves. Randy was on the commentator side of the ring, but slowly made his way to the ramp side during the promo. He only slapped Dibiase when he had the opportunity to run immediately after. If he had done so on the commentator side, he would have been trapped. Way to be crafty in selling 3-1 odds, Randy!

JP: Randy Orton isn't even officially back yet and he's already getting Hidden Highlights? Well, I know one friend of Randy's that will be quite happy!


RAW – Retro 1 Week

JP: Sticking with the old RAW, I've included this one from Joe just because I love the reference.

Joe: King mentioned during the Manu, DiBiase & Rhodes match that he didn't think 3 second generation stars ever teamed before. Well I know it's all from one family but the Hart's and Von Erich were second generation 3-man teams, and what about Curt Hennig, Barry & Kendall Windahm and Bobby Duncam Jr in WCW?

JP: You mean the West Texas Rednecks!







Wow, two of those five are dead. Scary world!


iMPACT – Retro 1 Week

JP: Let's get back to living people and a little bit of TNA from last week as well, courtesy of Jasper Gerretsen.

Jasper Gerretsen: During the bikini section of the beauty pageant, Jeremy Borash mentioned that both competitors were wearing regulation bikinis. Tenay and West just joked about how lucky whoever's job it was to check that had gotten, but it made sense after what happened the last time TNA had a bikini match. During the Eric Young vs. Ms. Brooks bikini match on PPV about a year and a half ago, Eric Young nearly got disqualified several times because Robert Roode claimed he wasn't wearing a regulation bikini.

JP: Wow, that's a good memory there! I have no recollection of that whatsoever, which is quite odd given me. But I do understand you have more for us?


iMPACT – Retro 1 Week

Jasper Gerretsen: This might have just been the makeup, but the area around Saeed's eyes was looking completely white under her mask. It made it seem like she was wearing a mask under her mask, which would make sense after ODB tried to unmask her the week before.

JP: I remember Rey Mysterio having to do that for a while, too. And man, can I say how silly it is having an angle about unmasking Rey since I saw him without his mask for two years. In true Lucha Libra tradition, Rey is a disgrace for putting his mask back on!






RAW

JP: Finally moving on to this week, over on RAW Simply Priceless (Cody Rhodes, Ted DiBiase, and Manu TheWildSomoanSon) took on the makeshift team of Kofi Kingston, Jerry Lawler, and Charlie Haas in his latest personality Good ‘ol Jim Haas! Late into the match, Jim Haas went on to attempt an Oklahoma Stampede on DiBiase. This move—according to Michael Cole—was made famous by "Doctor Death" Steve Williams. And who managed Doctor Death in his short run in the WWE? Why none other than Jim Ross during his short lived heel turn! Kudos to Charlie Haas for not only imitating Jim Ross, but to go so far as connect him to another wrestler that he was really high on. Nice stuff there, Haas!


ECW

JP: With my e-mail system having issues Monday through Thursday, I think I missed quite a few write-ins. That just means we have to move on to ECW a little early. That ok, because ECW usually provides quite a few, and this one came from the Miz. During the Miz's match with Evan Bourne, Miz had Bourne in a Rings of Saturn like maneuver, except he was above Bourne instead of behind him. But from that position, Miz was able to put his knee into Bourne's ribs and kidneys, thus dishing out even more pain. Good job by the Miz to make a simple move even more painful.

Ghost of JT: Would that be a William Regal Award?

JP: Why, I do believe it would be!


ECW

JP: Throughout ECW, there was a lot of talk about how the WWE was the place to be for Sports Entertainment. This was especially poignant since the show was emanating from Nashville, TN, the corporate home of TNA Entertainment. But what really brought it home for me was when Jack Swagger, a total WWE creation, decimated Chase Stevens, better known to the people of Nashville as one half of the TNA tag team: The Naturals. Even though Chase Stevens and Andy Douglas left TNA for a chance at the WWE (a tryout where they did not impress), this was just one of those messages where one of the WWE's lowest and newest guys was to be better than a TNA guy. There are thousands of local and indy wrestlers the WWE could have used, but I'm quite sure the use of Chase Stevens was a deliberate message to TNA and their audience.


iMPACT

JP: Speaking of TNA, we have a couple from iMPACT as well! In the opening contest, the Motor City Machine Guns took on the team of Christian Cage and AJ Styles that saw the MCMGs give no respect to Christian Cage. Well, after meeting him in person, I can see why they would do that. But then again, I'm not sure I would give the MCMGs respect after meeting them either. Anyway, AJ Styles is an awesome guy in and out of the ring.

Towards the end of the match, Christian ducked an enziguri from Chris Sabin that hit Alex Shelley in the face. As Christian was making his way over to the corner to tag AJ in, you could see "Mister I-hate-cookies" himself Alex Shelley slapping himself to get back into the game. On top of that, he was slapping himself on the side that Christian had hit him on so he was trying to regain feeling in his jaw. Cool little movements by Alex Shelley, even if he won't eat cookies.


iMPACT

JP: Later in the evening, Booker T made it out of Hurricane Ike's path to take on Jay Lethal (who I know for a fact has talked to Randy Savage and has his blessing). As Lethal came into the ring, he got right up into Booker T's face. Not looking for an altercation, referee Andrew Thomas got in the middle of the two and put his hands up to Lethal. Not to be outdone, Booker T actually pushed the referee towards Jay Lethal so Lethal would be backed up. Rather than actually sully his hands with Lethal, Booker T used the referee as a tool to make his point.


SmackDown

JP: Since I did not get to it last week, let's have a big old dose of SmackDown this time around! And Clarke Mills leads the charge.

Clarke Mills: The overalls/moving uniforms that Jesse & Festus were wearing were labeled "My Moving Company" I believe. No doubt a not so subtle hint that Smackdown is moving to MyNetwork TV in October.

JP: And actually, Jim Ross mentioned that he thought so, too. But it's still a nice touch, though I thought last week that Kenny Dykstra was being shipped to FCW, just like he was shipped to OVW at the end of Spirit Squad angle. Actually, they still could be considering who else has been shipped out thus far.


SmackDown

JP: After a long time away, we finally have the return of Hidden Highlights Reader Write In Contest Finalist Trevor Alexander!

Trevor Alexander: After losing to Mrs. Callaway opps… McCool, my new favorite diva Maryse actually gave the ref the "talk to the hand" sign when he was checking on her while she lay on the ground after the match. Now that's bitchtastic.

JP: I have to agree, Maryse is really growing on me.

Ghost of JT: Oh, we know where this is going!

JP: No, I mean she's really good at the Hidden Highlights. Heck I have one of my own for her!


SmackDown

JP: During the aforementioned match, Maryse got McCool into a modified Camel Clutch. Whenever the referee looked up to check out the positioning or what was happening around the ring, Maryse actually put her fingers into McCool's mouth and pulled her lips apart. Not only does that dish out extra pain, but she did it in such a sneaker manner that it deserves double kudos!


SmackDown

JP: Later in the evening, "The Gold Standard" and United States Champion Shelton Benjamin took on R-Truth in a non-title match. During the match, JR started talking up the pedigree of Shelton Benjamin and how he got to go to college, contrasting him to R-Truth who had to grow up on the hard streets. The funny part? R-Truth's current gimmick of coming from the hard streets (which is true) is exactly the same as the one Shelton used to have. Shelton grew up in a rough neighborhood of Orangeburg, SC, and this has been well documented on WWE TV. His going to college was a sign of how much her overcame and showed great character. But JR was able to take something incredibly noble about Shelton Benjamin and make it sound like he was an elitist prick for doing so. Man, JR should take a job working in political campaign marketing!


SmackDown

JP: In another fun match during the night, the number one contender to the WWE Championship Jeff Hardy took on The Brian Kendrick. Late into the match, The Brian Kendrick was able to hit Jeff Hardy with a quick standing snapmere. But he did not just pull off the snapmere, but held onto Hardy's hair so that Hardy would not roll forward and he could kick Hardy in the square of the back. Nice combination by The Brian Kendrick showing everyone what he's got.


SmackDown

JP: The main event of the evening say WWE Champion Triple H fight MVP in quite a long contest. After the commercial break, MVP had hurt Triple H's arm and was working over his side. He managed to get Triple H in a horizontal position and MVP drove his elbow in Triple H's shoulder socket. But as he did so, MVP actually started twirling his elbow around and digging it in. Excellent work by MVP to try to dish out the extra damage to the champion.

It's been quite a week for good Hidden Highlights in the ring, and MVP topped it off for all of us!


Well everyone, that wraps up this week's show. Thank you for reading the 160th ISSUE of Hidden Highlights!

Do you have a Hidden Highlight from this or any week in history that you would like to share? Please e-mail this article at [e-mail] with your thoughts! Send them by Saturday afternoon to be considered! And remember, they can be from any show, live or taped, or any house show, or anything you saw. The best of the best will be featured among the top 15 next week.

In the meantime, be sure to catch my very own Saturday morning news report The Hamilton Ave Journal: the only wrestling news report focused on the business of wrestling.

Until then, you have just experienced the most positive article in all of the IWC: Hidden Highlights!