| WWE Tribute to the Troops | |
|---|---|
Logo, circa 2011 |
|
| Format | Sports entertainment |
| Created by | Vince McMahon John Layfield |
| Starring | WWE roster |
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of episodes | 11 (as of December 17, 2011) |
| Production | |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel |
NBC (2008–present) UPN (SmackDown: 2003–2004) USA Network (Raw: 2005–2007) (2010-Present 2 Hours) |
| Original run | December 25, 2003 – present |
| External links | |
| Website | |
WWE Tribute to the Troops is an annual event held by WWE together with Armed Forces Entertainment in December around Christmas since 2003 as a way of honoring the men and women of the United States armed forces serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Selected WWE wrestlers and employees travel to the said countries and interact with the members of the US Military for at least three days. The WWE Superstars regularly visit military camps, bases and hospitals, including Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Bethesda Naval Hospital, during their travels to bolster the morale of the troops.[1]
WWE then holds a special wrestling show in an open field, with the troop members in attendance for free. The show features matches involving selected Superstars and Divas from both Raw and SmackDown. The company then airs the matches, as well as videos highlighting their interaction with the members of the military, in a special televised program of the same title.
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The idea of honoring and entertaining the American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan is credited to wrestler John "Bradshaw" Layfield, who suggested it to WWE Chairman Vince McMahon.
WWE first held the event in December 2003. Select WWE Superstars (including Layfield and McMahon) held a wrestling show at Camp Victory, Baghdad, Iraq and was aired on Christmas Day as a special episode of WWE Smackdown. The main event of the show saw John Cena defeating The Big Show, with Stone Cold Steve Austin coming out after the match, hitting a Stone Cold Stunner on both men, and finally inviting all the talents and Vince McMahon to the ring to celebrate.[2] For this show and all tribute to the Troops shows until 2011, commentary recorded at WWE headquarters in Stamford, CT was used in the shows as the announcers were not present at ringside.
In December 2004, WWE traveled to Camp Speicher in Tikrit, Iraq. The wrestling show, dubbed Christmas in Iraq, aired on December 23 as another special SmackDown episode. Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio defeated Kurt Angle and Luther Reigns in the main event.[2]
In 2005, Superstars held the event in Bagram, Afghanistan. The wrestling show taped there on December 9, 2005 was dubbed Tribute to the Troops and was aired on December 19 on WWE Raw. For the main event, Shawn Michaels beat Triple H in a Boot Camp match.[2][3] In 2006 it was another Raw episode that aired on Christmas Day. The show was taped in Baghdad, Iraq, and had Carlito pin Randy Orton for the win at the main event. A day before the show's taping in Camp Victory, a mortar attack happened near the camp. Michael Cole reported from the scene minutes after the attack, which injured 14 soldiers.[2][4]
In 2007, they returned to Tikrit, Iraq. D-Generation X members Triple H and Shawn Michaels defeated Umaga and Mr. Kennedy in the main event of the wrestling show, which aired on Christmas Eve on WWE Raw.[2][5]
2008's Tribute to the Troops was not aired on any regular WWE programming. Instead, for the first time, the wrestling show in Camp Liberty, Baghdad, Iraq aired on NBC on December 20 as a one-hour special. In its main event, John Cena, Batista and Rey Mysterio defeated Chris Jericho, The Big Show and Randy Orton in a six-man tag team match.[2][6]
WWE once again travelled to Iraq in 2009, and hosted its seventh Tribute to the Troops. In the main event, John Cena retained his WWE Championship against Chris Jericho. The event aired on December 19, 2009 on NBC.[7]
In 2010, WWE announced that there would not be an overseas Tribute to the Troops.[8] It was later noted that a 2010 Tribute to the Troops would in fact be held and was taped on December 11th, at Fort Hood in Texas, USA. It aired on NBC on Saturday, December 18th, at 9/8 CT for one hour, with a message from former president George W. Bush.[9] WWE also announced on the December 13, 2010 airing of WWE Raw that a 2-hour version of the 2010 Tribute to the Troops would air on Wednesday, December 22, 2010 at 8/7 CT on USA Network.
December 25, 2003 in Baghdad, Iraq.
| # | Results | Stipulations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The APA (Faarooq and Bradshaw) defeated The World's Greatest Tag Team (Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas) | Tag team match |
| 2 | Rikishi defeated Rhyno | Singles match |
| 3 | Eddie Guerrero defeated Chris Benoit | Singles match |
| 4 | Torrie Wilson defeated Dawn Marie and Sable | Santa's Little Helpers contest |
| 5 | John Cena defeated The Big Show | Singles match |
December 23, 2004 in Tikrit, Iraq.
| # | Results | Stipulations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Booker T defeated Rene Dupree | Singles match |
| 2 | The Undertaker defeated Heidenreich by countout | Singles match |
| 3 | Hardcore Holly defeated Kenzo Suzuki | Singles match |
| 4 | Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio defeated Kurt Angle and Luther Reigns | Tag team match |
December 19, 2005 in Bagram, Afghanistan.
| # | Results | Stipulations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Big Show defeated Carlito | Singles match |
| 2 | Good Santa defeated Bad Santa | No Holds Barred match |
| 3 | Gene Snitsky defeated Shelton Benjamin | Singles match |
| 4 | John Cena defeated Chris Masters | Singles match |
| 5 | Ric Flair (c) defeated Jonathan Coachman | Singles match for the Intercontinental Championship |
| 6 | Candice Michelle and Maria Kanellis defeated Trish Stratus and Ashley Massaro | Tag team match |
| 7 | Shawn Michaels defeated Triple H | Boot Camp match |
December 25, 2006 in Baghdad, Iraq.
| # | Results | Stipulations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | John Cena defeated Edge | Singles match |
| 2 | CM Punk defeated Shelton Benjamin | Singles match |
| 3 | The Undertaker defeated Johnny Nitro (with Melina) | Singles match |
| 4 | Bobby Lashley defeated Hardcore Holly | Singles match |
| 5 | Umaga defeated Jeff Hardy | Singles match |
| 6 | Carlito defeated Randy Orton | Singles match |
December 24, 2007 in Tikrit, Iraq.
| # | Results | Stipulations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chris Jericho defeated Randy Orton by disqualification | Singles match |
| 2 | Jeff Hardy defeated Carlito | Singles match |
| 3 | Mickie James and Maria vs. Kelly Kelly and Layla ended in a no-contest | Tag team match |
| 4 | Rey Mysterio defeated Mark Henry | Singles match |
| 5 | D-Generation X (Triple H and Shawn Michaels) defeated Mr. Kennedy and Umaga | Tag team match |
December 20, 2008 in Baghdad, Iraq.
| # | Results | Stipulations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | John Cena, Batista and Rey Mysterio defeated Randy Orton, Chris Jericho and The Big Show | Six-Man Tag match |
| 2 | Jeff Hardy, CM Punk and R-Truth defeated John "Bradshaw" Layfield, John Morrison and The Miz | Six-Man Tag match |
Note: Jeff Hardy, John Morrison, and the Miz were the WWE and World Tag team Champions, respectively. However, they did not take their belts to the ring with them.
December 19, 2009 in Joint Base Balad, Iraq. WWE Diva Eve served as ring announcer. Despite Cena defending his WWE title against Jericho at the event, at the time it aired, Sheamus had already won Cena's title at TLC.
| # | Results | Stipulations |
|---|---|---|
| Dark match | Montel Vontavious Porter defeated Chris Masters | Singles match |
| 1 | Rey Mysterio and Mark Henry defeated Carlito and CM Punk | Tag team match |
| 2 | The Miz defeated John Morrison | Champion vs. Champion match |
| 3 | John Cena (c) defeated Chris Jericho | Singles match for the WWE Championship |
| 4 | Mickie James, Maria, Kelly Kelly and Melina def. Michelle McCool, Layla, Maryse and Alicia Fox | Eight Diva Santa Littler Helper Match |
| 5 | D-Generation X, Christian and R-Truth def. Cody Rhodes, Ted DiBiase, William Regal and Zack Ryder | All-Star Interpromotional Eight Man Tag Team Match |
| 6 | Kofi Kingston and Eve Torres def. Sheamus and Jillian Hall | Mixed Tag Team Match |
| 7 | Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre def. Matt Hardy and Finlay | Tag Team Match |
| 8 | Kane def. Randy Orton | Street Fight Match |
The 2010 event was taped on December 11 in Fort Hood, Texas. This was the first Tribute to the Troops event not to be held in Iraq or Afghanistan. Diddy, Sherri Shepherd, Miss USA Rima Fakih, Trace Adkins and Cedric the Entertainer appeared as celebrity guests. Modern Family cast member Ariel Winter sang The Star-Spangled Banner (though the performance did not air). Two versions of the program aired: a 60-minute version on December 18, 2010 on NBC and a 2 hour version on December 22, 2010 on USA Network. The NBC broadcast only included the tag team and 6-man tag team matches listed below.
| Dec 22/ USA # |
Dec 18/ NBC # |
Results | Stipulations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | N/A | Mark Henry won by last eliminating Sheamus. Also involved:John Morrison, Ezekiel Jackson, Chavo Guerrero, Daniel Bryan, Chris Masters, Cody Rhodes, Vladimir Kozlov, Santino Marella, David Otunga, Heath Slater, Justin Gabriel, Michael McGillicutty and Husky Harris | 15-man battle royal |
| 2 | 1 | The Big Show and Kofi Kingston defeated Jack Swagger and Dolph Ziggler | Tag team match |
| 3 | N/A | R-Truth (with Eve Torres) defeated Ted DiBiase (with Maryse) | Singles match |
| 4 | N/A | Natalya, Kelly Kelly, and The Bella Twins (Brie and Nikki) defeated Lay-Cool (Layla and Michelle McCool), Alicia Fox, and Melina | Eight-Diva Santa's little helper tag team match |
| 5 | N/A | Kane fought Major General Will Grimsley to a no contest due to interference from Edge. | Arm Wrestling contest |
| 6 | 2 | John Cena, Randy Orton, and Rey Mysterio defeated The Miz (with Alex Riley), Alberto Del Rio, and Wade Barrett | Six-man tag team match |
On December 1, 2011, NBC and WWE announced the 2011 edition of WWE Tribute to the Troops would air December 17, 2011 on NBC.[11] On the December 5 edition of Raw it was also announced the show would also air on the USA Network on December 13, 2011. The event was taped December 11, 2011 in Fayetteville, North Carolina at the Crown Coliseum (though WWE said on-air that they were actually at Fort Bragg), the taping was performed in front of U.S. military service members from the nearby Fort Bragg military base and their families.[12]This is also the first Tribute to the Troops that was taped indoors rather than outdoors. Lilian Garcia's performance of The Star-Spangled Banner was edited out of the USA Network broadcast.
The event featured a pre-recorded message from President Barack Obama. Nickelback performed the clean version of Burn It to the Ground, the theme song for Raw SuperShow, and When We Stand Together. Sgt. Slaughter made a special appearance, supporting Zack Ryder at ringside. Maria Menounos also made a special guest appearance, teaming with Kelly Kelly, Eve Torres, and Alicia Fox to defeat Divas of Doom (Beth Phoenix and Natalya) and The Bella Twins in an 8 Divas Tag Team Match, in which she pinned down Phoenix for the victory. George Wallace performed some stand-up comedy. Mary J. Blige performed Need Someone and Family Affair.
| Dec 13/ USA # |
Dec 17/ NBC # |
Results[13] | Stipulations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Randy Orton fought Wade Barrett to a double count out. | Singles match |
| 2 | N/A | Zack Ryder (with Sgt. Slaughter) defeated Jack Swagger (with Dolph Ziggler) | Singles match |
| 3 | N/A | Alicia Fox, Eve Torres, Kelly Kelly and Maria Menounos defeated The Bella Twins (Nikki & Brie) and The Divas of Doom (Natalya & Beth Phoenix) | 8-Diva Tag team match |
| 4 | N/A | Daniel Bryan defeated Cody Rhodes | Singles match |
| 5 | N/A | Primo and Epico (with Rosa Mendes) defeated Air Boom (Kofi Kingston and Evan Bourne) | Tag team match |
| 6 | N/A | Sheamus defeated Drew McIntyre | Single match |
| 7 | 2 | The Big Show, CM Punk and John Cena defeated Alberto Del Rio (with Ricardo Rodriguez), The Miz and Mark Henry | 6-man tag team match |
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