wrestling / Columns
Hidden Highlights 11.19.07: Issue #116
Hidden Highlights
By JP Prag
Issue #116
Hello everyone is just plain exhausted physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, 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: Some weeks, it’s hard to write the most positive article in the IWC. Not because of the product, mind you, but because of my own life. But that’s ok, writing the most positive article in the IWC cheers me up, and it cheers you up, so that’s all that matters.
Ghost of JT: Who, me?
JP: Well, since you are a figment of my imagination, I’m sure that’s true.
Stenographer: I’m a figment of your imagination, too!
JP: Sforcina, your week was two weeks ago, stop writing dialogue! This week, we get a special guest from the MMA Zone. He may write Sprawl and Brawl Video Reviews and Five Rounds Of News, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t like the fake fighting too. My peeps, this is Randy Harrison. Randy?
Randy: Fake?!? FAKE??!!?? IT’S STILL REAL TO ME DAMMIT!! (sobbing)
JP: That’s true, I don’t like using the word “fake” because it doesn’t describe what it really is: predetermined. Does that work a little better for you?
Randy ::sniffle:: A little…
JP: Would you like some ice cream? How about a soda? Sooooodaaaaa? Well screw it, I tried. Let’s get on with the Hidden Highlights!
Sunday, November 11, 2007 by the Readers via JP
JP: And we got nothing. Thanks for the banner anyway, Dan!
Randy: “We”, he says. I just got here and I’m already getting blamed for things. Is that the kind of operation you’re running over here JP?
Monday, November 12, 2007 by JP
JP: It was guests from other brands showing up unannounced night on RAW, kind of like they do here in Hidden Highlights. Except Stephen Randle doesn’t draw a dime, so it doesn’t matter if he shows up uninvited. And as covered in the Hamilton Ave Journal, ratings actually dipped 6.7%. But in this article, we don’t care about that, right? All we want is some awesome Hidden Highlights, and that this show provided in spades.
(3) Smacking it up in the corner:
In a match that will surprisingly show up multiple times in the Reader Write-in section, Melina, Lillian… errr… Jillian Hall, and Layla El teamed up to take on Mickie James, Kelly Kelly, and Michelle McCool. Melina, get a last name! Anyway, late into the match, Kelly Kelly found herself stuck in the heel corner and was taking several boots from Melina to the gut. It was at this moment that Layla actually stuck her head out between the middle and top ropes to talk smack to Kelly! It wasn’t enough for her to just badmouth Kelly; she had to get right in her face to do so—and his was as she was being kicked in the stomach. Nice work by Layla El there really getting into the moment.
(2) This a’guy, right a’here:
Earlier in the night, Santino Marella came out to badmouth Stone Cold Steve Austin some more and then go after his good friend Jim Ross (you deserved it Ross for your crooked smile!!). As he began his promo, Santino said, “I’m Santino Marella…” and then proceeded to point at his own face! It was absolutely one of those hilarious little gestures and cocky things that I usually only see in the likes of Chris Jericho or Christian Cage. This absolutely made me laugh and proved once again why Santino is the best guy on the mic on RAW… at least until tonight.
(1) Someone is reading us again:
Slightly later in the show, we had another six-man tag featuring Matt Hardy, Jeff Hardy, and Rey Mysterio (who would be wearing a Jeff Hardy shirt when they came out as lumberjacks later in the night) versus Fit Finlay, Mr. Kennedy, and the WWE United States Champion, one-half of the WWE Tag Team Champions, half man, half amazing, the only man that is three halves and the highest paid free agent in SmackDown! history: MVP. Ballin’!
And this Hidden Highlight is not for any of them.
Later in the match, Jeff Hardy tagged in and Jim Ross said, “The man formerly known as the rainbow-haired warrior…” Formerly? Looks to me that Jim Ross has once again been on the inter-web and reading his and many other WWE official’s favorite article: Hidden Highlights. Nice work there JR, we are proud of you for reading this article after many weeks of pointing it out. Good catch up!
Randy: Santino rules and I can’t wait for the verbal joust between him and Jericho when it inevitably happens. That could be comedy gold the likes of which hasn’t been seen since… well since Santino and his can of “Ass Whip”, cause that was pretty fantastic. And congratulations on JR being a reader JP, but in case you haven’t noticed I have some celebrity fans of my own, as pointed out in my last Sprawl and Brawl which can be read right here on 411mania!! YEAHHHHHH!!! God, I love Mick Foley for making shameless plugs cool.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007 by JP
JP: Over on ECW, the lack of brand extension continued. At least ECW and SmackDown! have a story for their talent exchange. Still, I don’t like watching a match on ECW that does not feature one ECW wrestler. Luckily, it gave me two of my three Hidden Highlights.
(3) Keep it back, bro:
Continuing where we just left off, The Hardy’s reunited after a long… uh… five months when they lost the World Tag Team Championship to Cade and Murdoch. Yeah Tazz, it’s been a very long time since we’ve seen the Hardy’s together. Anyway, while taking on MVP and Mr. Kennedy, Jeff Hardy had been knocked to the outside (the first time) and MVP was walking around the ringside area in order to come over and inflict a little more damage. As he reached Jeff, Matt was there to stop him (though he did not get directly in his path). MVP hesitated and looked like he was about to go for it when you could read Matt’s lips clearly state, “That’s my brother”. It was such a simple statement but it was so clear. Matt was fine with MVP attacking anyone else, but he could not let him lay a finger on his own flesh and blood. MVP got the message loud and clear and without another word backed away.
(2) You’re my partner tonight:
In the same match—but after the commercial break—Matt Hardy found himself in the ring with Mr. Kennedy. After a short while, Matt was dominating Mr. Kennedy with one hand hitting move or fist after another. Finally, MVP started shouting at Mr. Kennedy, “What are you doing?! Look out!!” It was such a great moment because MVP still cares about winning the match and making his partner look bad, he just doesn’t want to do it himself.
On a side note, I have to give major props to the Matt Hardy, MVP, the bookers, and the agents for having Matt Hardy and MVP not have any physical confrontations. Despite being in several matches together and run-ins, the two have not laid a hand on each other. THAT is how you build to the eventual blowoff of this feud. And having MVP save Matt Hardy from a chair shot was great as well because it shows he care more about the titles than hurting Hardy. I actually hope the Classic Survivor Series match comes down to these two, but that would require Triple H jobbing to someone. Preferably that would be Mr. Kennedy, but I can’t see it happening.
(1) Keep on moving:
In your actual ECW moment involving ECW wrestlers on ECW, the main event saw ECW Champion CM Punk take on Jamie Noble with the Miz and John Morrison on commentary. As the match was about to start, Morrison’s music hit and he started to come down to the booth. Per usual, he was in slow motion. The camera then went to the Miz followed by CM Punk, who were both moving at regular speed. When the camera returned to Morrison, he was still moving in slow motion! Excellent work by the production crew there to make that switch happen so seamlessly and to keep with Morrison’s gimmick. It worked perfectly and made an awesome, yet hilarious, visual.
Randy: Hey JP, I don’t know if you can notice but I’m writing my Hidden Highlights for iMPACT in slow-motion. I will return to regular speed for Smackdown to help keep the column moving though.
Thursday, November 15, 2007 by Randy Harrison
Randy: There are Hidden Highlights for iMPACT this week, but I’m not entirely sure I can divulge them until my contractual status with this column has been resolved, as per the gag order invoked by Jim Cornette. I’ll be opening a Swiss account in the next couple of days JP and any monies transferred will never be traced back to you. If you ever want to see your Hidden Highlights again, you know what to do. Bear in mind this isn’t blackmail or anything, I’m just saying.
(3) They’re nothing if not accurate:
Before she killed poor Alexa Jade I noticed during the introductions that Dave Penzer announced her weight as 272 and 3/8 pounds. With the way they seem to be pushing her as almost a shootfighter-type with her four ounce gloves and spinning back fists, it would only make sense for them to be as pinpoint as they are with her weight. What other sport can you think of that has their fighters weigh-in down to the fractions of a pound, wear four ounce gloves and throw spinning back fists (though I will admit I’ve never seen a modified torture rack yet)? That’s right kids, MMA. Even when talking about wrestling I get drawn back to it like a moth to that outside porch light you always forget to turn off. A great touch by the writers to add that 3/8 to her weight as a nod to her current character.
(2) Entertaining without saying a word:
The Team 3-D promo with their kidnap victim was a glimpse into the past for Brother Ray and Devon, back to when they were the ultimate heels in ECW that had people practically climbing the railings to get at them. Brother Ray was his usual intense/goofy, split-personality self but the real highlights came from Devon who was just to the side and behind Ray. Whenever the victim moaned or muttered or moved, Devon was right there yanking on the restraint and making sure he didn’t get loud enough to interrupt Ray’s list of demands. And what was he restraining him with but one of the studded belts looped around the neck, with the belt of course being their weapon of choice as of late. A great bit of continuity that added just that little bit extra to the promo when they could probably just as easily settled for some rope.
(1) Colors are a wonderful thing:
I know how much the Hidden Highlights love color so I had to make this one as soon as I saw it. During the mixed tag match of Robert Roode and Miss Brooks vs. Gail Kim and Chris Harris, there were multiple wardrobe hidden highlights for me, including Miss Brooks’ ring attire being a sportier version of her usual outfit, complete with a sewn-on tie which was a nice touch. The biggest one though had to do with the matching colors on the ring attire. Now whenever there’s a tag team or a mixed tag team that has been together for awhile it’s not entirely odd to see them in matching colors like Roode and Brooks were in this match. However the “fan” that has been interjected into the storyline was also wearing the same color as Roode and to a lesser extent Brooks. What better way for an obsessed fan to show her devotion by wearing the same color as her favorite, and what a good way for TNA to subconsciously make her stand out from the crowd, show she’s part of the story, and have us notice her, than to have her in the same color as the two characters she’s been interacting with.
JP: Oh believe me, when we get to the Reader Write-in Section below, you’ll see how much trouble color can get us into.
Friday, November 16, 2007 by Randy Harrison
Randy: Smackdown on Friday was the go-home show for Survivor Series, but would they have time between all they hype to give up some quality Hidden Highlights? Well you tell me, faithful readers, you tell me.
(3) I’m too good for that kind of thing:
In the opening bout with Finlay and Jeff Hardy (or rather the post-bout shenanigans), I noticed that Jeff Hardy ended up with possession of the shillelagh in the center of the ring while Finlay lay out on the floor. After posing with it for a moment, in a move that almost didn’t make camera, Hardy threw the shillelagh back outside to ring in the general direction of Finlay. Now for Finlay to use it wouldn’t be too out of the ordinary, but for a babyface like Jeff Hardy, he would want to be winning the fight based on his own abilities rather than relying on the cheap out of a weapon like the dastardly Finlay had to. Great touch by Hardy to stay true to his babyface roots and take the high road, choosing to prove he’s the better man and doesn’t need to take any shortcuts.
(2) Again with the colors??:
Before I became a writer here for 411 I was a fan, with Hidden Highlights being one of my favorites (shout out to JT!!), and I remember how much people paid attention to the colors in the backgrounds. During the Hardy’s locker room segment, Jeff is getting ready to leave from his locker and there is a red shirt hanging off of a side hook. Matt is sitting in front of his locker taping up for his match and what’s hanging on the side hook of his locker but a blue shirt. Even in the locker room, there’s color continuity with Jeff being at the “red” locker as the Raw Superstar and Matt being at the “blue” one for Smackdown. I never used to notice those things before I started reading Hidden Highlights and now not only am I noticing them but as a writer, I’m guest hosting the column as well!! Will wonders never cease.
(1) He’s quite the people person:
It was somewhat of a throwaway statement and it might not have meant a lot to a lot of people, but to me it was a Hidden Highlight that made me laugh for at least a couple of minutes. During the Kennedy/Mysterio match, JBL and Michael Cole were discussing the two teams of five that will compete on Sunday and JBL mentioned that he thought that Umaga had put together a heck of a team. I thought about it for a moment and wondered just how, exactly, Umaga had been able to make that team since he “can’t speak English” and is an “island savage”. Imagine how that must have gone on off-camera….
Umaga: “Oggba OOMA, yuba go tola, SAMOA!!!!”
Mr. Kennedy: “Huh?”
Umaga: “Oggba OOMA yuba GO TOLA, SAMOA!!!!!”
Mr Kennedy: “Ohhhhhh. Alright, I’ll do it”
Yeah it’s a little silly to consider but it made me laugh so I’m counting it damn it!
JP: I like how that’s playing into the storyline about Umaga and Kennedy vying for control of the team. Kennedy and Umaga both think they are captain, and it’s more likely that Kennedy put the team together and Umaga took control of it.
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: I already had over a dozen e-mails from the time this article posted to 4am when I woke up. So, *GENERAL WARNING*:: some parts of the following Reader Write-in Hidden Highlights may be edited for grammar, spelling, and English translation…
Apparently, the readers hit quite the hot button when you talked about the green logo USA logo (and me talking about the green SciFi logo). Just so you know how painful it was for me to get the same message over and over again (although some varying levels of detail), I present to you every single e-mail I got on the subject in order of arrival. First up is Rick Landis:
I noticed that people were talkin’ ’bout the green USA logo. I thought to myself that it was for DX. But then the next night, I was watchin’ “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit” and noticed it was green as well. I told my parents ’bout it, and then a commercial came on about the environment. Somethin’ ’bout keepin’ the earth healthy.
Just thought I’d clear it up for y’all.
JP: Ah good ‘ol boys. Sometimes, I miss living in the south. Only sometimes. Well, this seemed an explanation enough for me, then designer of the fancy logo around here Dan Hamilton said:
OK right off the bat I figured that people would send in HH’s mentioning the USA logo being green on the night that DX would have a ‘One Night Only’ ordeal, but I had a small glimmer of hope that people would know why the USA logo was green, and if anyone watched the Today last week they would know that NBC Universal (the parent company of USA, Sci-Fi, and believe it or not NBC [big shocker I know]) was running a campaign named ‘Green is Universal’, and one of the things was to make all of the channels logos green.
One thing I didn’t think about until I read the website, was that all of the programming that was airing the previous week was going to be green themed, so Vince could have in fact been coerced into bringing back DX for RAW, because what are the DX colors? GREEN & Black.
JP: That’s a stretch, but it makes a damn good Hidden Highlight! Actually, as seen in the Hamilton Ave Journal, it was really about November sweeps advertising rates. The there was Alex DiGiacomo:
The USA logo was not green for DX.
It was green since it was Green Week on USA.
Which is why is was also green for Law and Order and the rest of the week.
JP: If I read this one first I’d be like, “What’s green got to do with anything?”. Regular Chris Jacobs took it another step:
The logo turning green was not for DX. A few other channels, ABC and NBC for sure did it as well. It is a earth green week, or something along that lines. Life fight pollution or whatever, because it was on a few days before, and I still noticed it today, so maybe it’s green month. Arbor day commercials are showing, so I’m guessing that has something to do with Go Green promotions. Although it was cool to see it during DX, but more than just USA is doing it, and it has been that way for a while.
JP: American “Earth Day” is April 22, by the way, so I in no way thought there was something going on. Isn’t that Ben & Jerry’s free ice cream day, too? What do you think, QuickNSpeedyE?:
This really isn’t a hidden highlight but it’s a response to the readers who wrote in about the USA bug being green in order to match the “DX-one night only” theme. Actually, NBC is running a “green” environmental theme for the week (month?) and every network under the NBC umbrella is doing that, which explains the sci fi bug being green and the past “heroes” open being green as well. Sorry to burst your bubble.
JP: Why does everyone act like it was ME who said it? Sure, I didn’t disagree, nor did I know it was green week, but I still didn’t say it! Steven Prickrell, you’re up!
The reason those logos were green is because last week was green week on NBC to raise awareness for trees and such. Since USA and Sci-Fi are part of NBC, I’d say that’s why.
JP: This is the one that got me, because either people were really “aware” to the vast number of e-mail I got or they were really “unaware” because me, my guest co-host, and the reader who wrote in had no idea. Then again, I’m a bad example because I don’t watch TV and work crazy hours. Adam Pooling is a better example:
The green color had nothing to do with DX, last week was a week about environmental awareness apparently. The logo for NBC during Heroes and Chuck was green as well.
JP: I’m sticking to Dan’s theory that Vince knew it was going to be Green Week and brought back DX just for that. Therefore, it had everything to do with DX! Jeff Green may think that is reasonable:
The “Green logos” were used by a lot of networks because it was “Green Week”. Read below
from Tree-hugger.com:
No need to adjust your sets, your TV is going greener this week with NBC Universal’s week of environmentally focused programming, part of its new “Green is Universal” campaign. With “Green Week,” NBC will be “entertaining, informing and empowering Americans to lead greener lives,” with these Very Special Episodes of your favorite shows, Web clips, and PSAs from stars such as ER’s Linda Cardellini, Law & Order: SVU’s Christopher Meloni, and Las Vegas’ Josh Duhamel. Hey, the more you know… ::NBC
JP: I do really like Linda Cardellini, though I can’t stand ER so I don’t get to see her. I actually like her from her 2.5 episode stint on Boy Meets World. She played a girl name Lauren who worked in a mountain ski lodge. Corey sprains his ankle getting off the bus and has to spend all day in the lodge with Lauren. They end up staying up all night, and Lauren is not shy to tell Corey her true feelings. She even kisses him, which like three episodes later leads to Corey and Topenga breaking up because Corey hid it from her (and had to test his love for Topenga by going on a date with Lauren, even though it was Togenga’s idea). Anyway, I really hated Corey’s final decision to try to get back together with Topenga because I liked Lauren better. She was funny, straight forward, interesting, and not manipulative like Topenga. It was like on the Wonder Years when Kevin would keep going for Winnie Cooper, even though she cheated on him constantly and treated him like crap. At least in the last episode of that show we learned that he married some other girl and stopped putting up with that whore. That was a satisfying ending. Corey going back to Topenga instead of exploring a meaningful relationship with Lauren? What a wasted opportunity.
Randy: Uh… JP… you know that those people are all fictional.
JP: Of course I do! It just bothers me so.
Randy: Then you know this is a wrestling article, not a TV article?
JP: Wrestling is on TV…
Randy: …
JP: Point taken. Justin Lake has a couple of points of his own:
In regards to Issue #115, you had a few people write in about the green USA logo. This wasn’t because of DX, but because NBC and its sister stations were apart of this “Go Green Week” campaign they had going on. All the NBC stations had green logos.
But I did notice something on Raw. You know the animation they show for the upcoming matches? The one where they the Wrestlers posing on buildings, or something like that? DX’s building had green lights. All the others were normal. Gotta love the WWE production staff.
JP: Yeah, I saw that one, too. They also used a different font for their nameplate graphic. Production is quite good. Jeff Sheehan:
The USA and Scifi logos were green because NBC/Universal was doing a “green week” theme on all of their networks and shows. dX reuniting and the logos being green was purely a coincidence.
JP: Was it a coincidence? The longer this section goes on, the more I believe Dan’s theory. Josh chimes in from my other home in Washington, DC (I spend 4 days a week there):
Here is the reason why it was green: http://www.nbc.com/Green/
It was NBC/Universal Green Week. ALL NBC/Universal stations had their logo green including NBC (network), USA, Sci Fi, Bravo, CNBC, MSNBC, Universal HD, and Telemundo. I will admit, however, that I did think it had something to do with DX. That is, until I changed to all of the channels mentioned before and saw they were green too.
JP: As anyone who reads Hidden Highlights knows, I don’t actually watch TV. I DVR stuff and watch it later at random dates. Hell, I still have four… no five more episodes of Reaper to go through! Steve has the same thought as you, though:
On the reader write-in highlight about the USA logo being green for the DX reunion: That’s what I originally thought also, but if you watch NBC at all (Michael Scott rules), you’ll know that it was the environmental “Green Week” on NBC. Since both USA and SciFi are both owned by NBC, I bet it was more of a corporate thing than a DX thing.
JP: And on top of what I just said, I don’t watch commercials. The only time I do is during baseball and football games. And now just football. And what the heck is with two Sunday night games in a row followed up a Monday night game? I need sleep desperately!!!! Unlike our next celebrity guest write-in, Producer/On-air talent for the Total Traffic Network and part of the Street Team KISS108 up in good ‘ol Taxachusetts Jadd Naamani:
Just a little clarification on what everyone thought was a hidden highlight on RAW. Since DX was coming back for one night only, everyone assumed that the USA logo being green was decided to DX. Last week was actually green week/save the earth week/heal the world and make it a better place (what up Michael Jackson…stay away from my baby brother ya creep)…whatever they call it, that’s why the logo was green. Other stations logos were also green all week. Chalk it up to just impeccable timing for a DX return.
JP: Hahaha, classic Michael Jackson line. You do know I’m a Howard Stern fan, though, and can’t support Clear Channel, right? Glad we got that little bit of uncomfortableness out of the way. And yes, uncomfortableness is not a word, shut up spell checker. D, what do you got?:
Actually, the USA logo going green didn’t have anything to do with the DX return (cool as that may have been.) All the NBC Universal networks have been using green versions of their logos as part of an environmental awareness program. Here’s a link to their promotional web page for it. http://www.usanetwork.com/greenusa
JP: Too late! I got the link like three or four e-mails back! Joe K, mix it up a little:
To clear up about all of the confusion over the “Green logos”:
NBC/Universal was supporting the Green Earth environmental campaign the week DX came on. Therefore, all of the logos for the NBC/Universal networks (NBC, USA, Bravo, Sci-Fi, etc.) were green for that week. The fact that DX was on was merely coincidence (or was
it?) Which led me to my original HH:
During ECW on Sci Fi, I noticed that the Rey Mysterio DVD that Tazz was holding had the green Rey mask on it. Sci Fi, being one of the NBC-Universal owned networks, is “going green” for the new green environment movement by having its logo (and all NBC-Universal network logos) displayed as green. Now, the Rey DVD has 4 collectable covers. Why choose green for tonight? Interesting. Can you see WWE as a “green” environmentally friendly company?
JP: Well they are trying to “clean up” their act. Ha ha ha ha ha ha, I made another funny! Is RockyRide as funny?:
The logos were green for Green Week supporting the planet. WWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOO RECYCLING
JP: Actually, despite all the jokes, I’m a pretty adamant conservationist. Let’s remember people, it is THREE R’s:
Don’t forget that it takes a tremendous amount of energy to recycle, so there is no net gain unless you do the other two. Greg Walden knows what I’m talking about:
So just to clarify the whole green “USA” logo thing. All the NBC Universal networks (NBC, MSNBC, CNBC, USA, SciFi) all had green logos due to it being some kind of thing about going “green”. Conserving energy, recycling, ya know, all that crap. Therefore, it wasn’t just for DX even though a lot of people would like to think that…
JP: The sad part is, I don’t pay for electricity so I’ve become quite the hog. David Grone is not proud of me:
I am a long-time reader of Hidden Highlights and wanted to point something out that came up a lot in last week’s column from the readers regarding the use of the green USA logo during Raw last week. While it is perfectly reasoable to think that they changed the logo to green in conjunction with the DX “reunion,” the more likely and admittedly very coincidental reason had to do with NBC Universal’s “Green Week.” As I was watching The Office on my Tivo last week, I noticed that the NBC logo was green to go along with the “Green Week” promotion. It ws then that I reminded myself that USA is a “subsidiary” of NBC Universal, so USA was just following along with that promotion. Made for a pretty cool coincidence anyway though!
JP: Boy am I getting tired.
Randy: If anything I’d think you’d be tired of typing the word green by now. Is it like if you say a word over and over and over again where the more you type it, the more it starts to lose all meaning?
JP: Type? My friend, let me teach you about copy and paste. Of course, I’m not as bad as Larry with his voice-to-text converter headset. Trevor Alexander will segue us away from this topic (at least temporarily, it comes up again):
So it seems the USA logo turning green was about NBC devoting an entire week to programs going green. Every single program on NBC for the week had something to do with the environment in one form or another. Since the same people who own NBC also own USA they spread the love. Looks like the WWE jumped on board by recycling old WWE gimmicks for the night with DX reuniting, AGAIN! and Stone Cold Steve Austin bringing out the beer truck…. Again. Maybe they could recycle the ring mat next year instead of bringing up back head cheese and the fantastic GTV.
JP: I’ve actually been waiting for someone to come out and say they were driving the white hummer.
Randy: I was meaning to talk to you about that sometime JP but it’s just never seemed like the “right moment”. Maybe we can discuss it once the column is finished.
JP: The way this column is going, we have a looooong ways to go.
I wonder if her panties match as well: Maria came out in nothing but red last night from her Bra , her hair, her outfit even down to her lipstick.
JP: I like redheads (though I’m sure when Maria became one) but she was a bit “overdone” for my tastes. I’m not big into makeup. On a side note, Michelle McCool used to have a unique look (army brat-ish) that has since been lost to generic blonde bimbo. Why can’t the WWE let someone just be something different? It worked so well for Lita, and even her they messed with. I like Michelle in army pants and with a southern drawl. Now, she’s just an anorexic tall chick.
Booker T still getting buried, this time in digital form: In the Smackdown Vs. Raw 2008 commercial if you pay attention you can see TNA’s newest acquisition in it, Booker T… getting a spine buster and a pedigree from HHH. Silly Booker Huffman, just because you leave the company it doesn’t mean they won’t continue making you HHH’s sla… one of “THOSE PEOPLE” as he so kindly put it during the Road to your Wrestlemania Burial.
JP: What messed me up this week was seeing Kane help Triple H. Ummm… they just mentioned Katie Vick last week.
Randy: Maybe Kane’s had a stay or two on the old psychiatrist’s couch and made his peace with it. I wonder if he goes to the pyschiatrist still in his wrestling gear like they made him go to his movie premiere in. THAT’S commitment to character people!!
Two weeks in a row we get no MISSSSTERR KENNEDY…we didn’t even get the bouncy castle from MVP. I feel cheated. Even Vince got shortchanged on his entrance this week.
JP: I was impressed that Vince had no intro this week since so many people didn’t get one last week.
During the 6 man tag they went to a commercial break and J.R. did something that I’ve been wanting him to do for years now, instead of saying “we’ll be back with the rest of the match after the break” (or something of that nature) he said “Will that end the match, we’ll find out after the break” We all know that the match won’t but it’s nice for J.R. play along. Even Mike Tennay from does it every now and then. I remember for a while, back in WCW, where they would actually end a match on a rare occasion during the commercial break and show you what happened when the cameras came back. Even on a pre taped show like Thunder I can recall they did it at least one or two times.
JP: I hope you’ve been paying attention to me because I harp on this all the time. Never act like the show is scripted, always act like you have no idea what is going to happen next. This one of the little things that absolutely works perfectly if done right.
Mickie gave someone the finger after giving Layla her finisher (called the “Long Kiss Good Night” by the king). You can clearly see it for a good 3 or 4 seconds right after the pin as she takes her time getting up. She is obviously pointing it at someone she motions with the finger behind her back in a forward and backward motion. I wonder did someone in crowd say something rude or was that a finger to the competition. You can clearly see her looking at the table area where the King and J.R. sit.
JP: Maybe it was to the King because she figured he made some HLA remarks!
Blade Braxton from wrestlecrap has a fan, during the 6 man tag you could see a Blade Braxton loves Mickie sign in the front row… no hidden highlight sign though.
JP: Perhaps it was Blade Braxton. And if so, Blade, why weren’t you carrying this:
I’m just saying. Just like Chad Smith:
When they showed Dusty Hill from ZZ Top in the audience, JR made a funny noise that sounded like “Ah haw-haw-haw.”
That’s the laugh that is “sung” during the ZZ Top song, La Grange.
See this video:
The laugh happens multiple times during the song, but there’s a good example at the 1 minute mark.
JP: Uh… yeah… I know the boss wants more video, so there we go. Jim McDaniel, give us something wrestling related:
This is one I caught on the TNA Impact show on 11/8. I’ve always been entertained when Hall and Nash have been on the mic, but a slight gesture by Hall during his confrontation with Nash caught my eye. During his tirade to Nash about Big Kev not being there for him, he scratched his nose with the same hand he was holding the mic with, using only his middle finger to scratch with. Sure seemed a subtle way to tell Nash what he thought of his friend not being there when he needed him most!
JP: That was definitely not the heart-touching reunion of the year, that’s for sure! Where’s the love? Maybe it’s with Internet Jesus:
Noticed something on tonight’s Raw after the Diva match. After Mickie (who is so fine) pinned Layla and everyone was celebrating, Kelly stomped on Layla one last tine before she rolled out of the ring.
Nice furthering of their storyline there.
JP: Well, no love for Layla, but absolutely a perfect Hidden Highlight. What more can I say than that? Plus Internet Jesus thinks Mickie is hot, and I absolutely agree. Is she still dating Kenny Dykstra? Jadd Naamani, I’ll forgive you for Internet Jesus and give you another shot:
1) During the Orton/HBK face-to-face, when HBK was talking about how he can’t use the superkick and might need to use “a, oh I don’t know, a submission move?!” – just found it funny that he’s talking about using a submission move at Survivor Series with the 10 yr anniversary of the Montreal Screwjob right around the corner.
JP: Oh, that was quite blatant, but very funny.
Randy I was hoping he was going to have the Y2J list of 1,004 moves under the lectern and threaten Orton with move 494, the dreaded ARM-bar.
JP: Move 494 is a “pinch sleeper hold”. Check your Jericho-list of 1004 moves here!
2) At the end of the Divas match when Mickie, Michelle (who is my future wife by the way) and Kelly Kelly Kelly Kelly Kelly were getting their hands raised and Layla was still down in the ring, instead of letting her roll out like you see so many times, Kelly Kelly stomped the broad right outta the ring. She may suck as a wrestler, but she’s gold as a hidden highlight (and a computer background)
JP: See, you and Internet Jesus think so much alike. But if he took Mickie, you took Michelle (you can have her, see my comments above), that leaves me Kelly Kelly? No offence, but she’s like 19-20 years old. Maybe for one night, but not more than that. Oh, Internet Jesus, by the way, Nicholas Noel says I owns his words, I own is soul. Guess that makes me the Internet Mephisto:
USA’s Green Logo – Following up from last week’s green logo chat, I kept my eye on it for while and found out the reason the logo was changed to green for the entire week was USA had temporarily changed their slogan from “Characters Welcome” to “Environmentalists Welcome” and they had a whole ad break devoted to how “green” a company they now are.
JP: See, new information all the time.
Speaking Of Rings – Again from last week, the talk of wrestlers wearing tape over their wedding rings. I had a closer look this week and it appears as if Shawn Michaels has a tattoo on his finger instead of a ring.
JP: We’ve actually covered that before, but what the heck, it’s been 116 issues! You are bound to forget something.
Lillian Gets All Turned Around – Being a ring announcer for a local fed back in Australia, I really feel for Lillian when she stuffs up an entrance (considering the amount of times I’ve done it myself). So this week when introducing Matt Hardy (and last week when introducing Lance Cade instead of Trevor Murdoch) and she lost the plot completely, I really do understand. Add that to the fact she’s doing in front of thousands and thousands of people, she really does deserve a good nod when she goes through the night without a hitch. Good work Lillian, don’t let the bastards get you down.
JP: My only concern is she’s been doing it for years. Maybe she should use cards? I know it’s not sexy, but Michael Buffer does it!
It’s 60’s Television Night! – Along with Santino BURYING Andy Kaufmann as “that guy from Taxi”, we had Mickie James, Michelle McCool and Kelly Kelly pull out the Charlie’s Angels theme tonight, all the way from Mickie’s flares to Kelly’s Farrah Fawcett hairdo. Throw in Ball Mahoney as Bosley (hey, he has to be better than Bernie Mac) and we’ve got something good!
JP I loved the Andy Kaufman reference, but like I said, I did not like Michelle McCool’s hair.
Hardy Boyz: All Growed Up – This one is a good segue from RAW to ECW this week, as the Hardy brothers re-unite in tag team competition on both shows. Interesting to note with these former champs, they went out there as a team and proceeded to act as singles competitors. No ringside banter, not even so much as brotherly interplay until the end of the match on ECW. They really have grown into their singles roles well, and with all their great Ladder and TLC matches rolling around in my brain, it makes me die a little inside.
JP: This is kind of like the conversation we had about xXx a few months back. They stayed in their single’s gimmicks despite being a team.
ECW
Keeping Team Xtreme Alive – Although the tag team match to open ECW contained ZERO talent from the brand, I have to say it wasn’t without its extreme moments. Nothing says extreme like Matt Hardy’s second rope elbow to the head. EXTREME!
JP: I thought the attempted murder on Jeff Hardy was pretty extreme. What was so funny was Tazz going, “Hey, these guys used to be Team Extreme!” Like he’s the first one to ever think of that. Classic!
Matt Striker Is EVERYONE’S Teacher – For the first time in ages, someone gets caught in a chokeslam and they sell the CHOKE and not just the SLAM. Kane wraps his hand around Striker’s throat and Striker’s face goes red, his tongue sticks out and his eyes bulge. Great, great man.
JP: Striker is so gold, I’d wish they’d let him go in the ring.
John Morrison Really Is The Guru Of Greatness – John Morrison was on fire tonight with some of his lines. I have to say I’ve been under-whelmed by him as a talker, but with lines tonight like referring to The Miz as “half Seacrest, half Teletubby” and to speaking of himself with “imagine if Jesus knew kung-fu” … I say bring on the Palace of Wisdom.
JP: I have never been under-whelmed by Morrison and have liked him since he was Eric Bischoff’s apprentice. I’m glad to see my loyalty has paid off… for now. Justin Lake goes a little classic on us:
Hey, It’s me, Justin Lake again, and I just noticed something. I don’t know if you guys already mentioned this or not, but here it goes. I was watching some Ron Simmons moments on YouTube, and I found this:
Watch Regal’s right hand when Cryme Tyme walks in. Excellent little act there. Also, isn’t Regal a lefty? Lefties usually wear their watch on their right hands.
JP: That was great covering up the watch! Regal is probably like me and likes to wear his watches on the same hand he writes with.
Randy: Really JP? I do the exact same thing with my watch on my right or writing hand. We must totally be like BFF’s or something.
JP: Of course, I don’t wear watches anymore and have been training myself to be ambidextrous, so this is a moot point. With real points is Marlon Jackson:
I know it’s wrong to laugh at what Christian said, but Sharmell didn’t make it any easier. Right after Christian called her a ‘nappy headed ho’, she began to feel the back of her neck for, what we black people, call naps. Hilarious. It was clear she just got a perm anyway. I applaud that crowd for giving Booker the pop he deserves, and Sharmell her first chant. Now gimmie some Karen/Sharmell segments and I’ll be set.
JP: We brothers have to stick together.
Randy: You’re not black.
JP: I’m not white either! And anyone who is not white needs to stick it to whitey!
Randy: Aren’t you a well paid consultant who makes a living off of getting rich people richer?
JP: Damn boy, you’re ruining my street cred.
Randy: I think you did that with you “Cryme Tyme” edition of Hidden Highlights.
JP: Point taken. Let’s finish this off with Peter Ryak:
The reason for the green logos on USA & SCI-FI were because NBC was doing it’s “green” week for environmental awareness. That’s why you saw green logos during RAW & ECW.
JP: SHUT UP ABOUT IT ALREADY!!!!!!
I’m sorry, that was uncalled for. I just got so many of these in such a short time, and then they were still coming in days later. Readers, go coordinate with each other.
Randy: I think someone needs a cup of tea and a hug. How do you feel about a nice steaming cup of GREEN tea JP?
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 [email protected] 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: Once again, many thanks to Randy Harrison for filling in this week. Maybe we’ll invite you back some day… maybe some day five weeks from now…
Randy: Ahem….Swiss account? I don’t work on the cheap you know.
JP: And I am on union break, see ya!
While I’m on break, 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 116th 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!
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