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WWE Tribute to the Troops

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WWE Tribute to the Troops
File:WWE Tribute to the Troops.PNG
Logo, circa 2008
Created byVince McMahon
John Layfield
StarringWorld Wrestling Entertainment roster
Country of originUnited States United States
No. of episodes8
Production
Running time60 minutes
Original release
NetworkNBC (2008–present)

UPN (SmackDown: 2003–2004)

USA Network (Raw: 2005–2007) (2010- 2 Hours)
ReleaseDecember 25, 2003
Releasepresent
Releasepresent
Releasepresent
Releasepresent
Releasepresent
Releasepresent
Releasepresent

WWE Tribute to the Troops is an annual event held by World Wrestling Entertainment (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 this, as well as videos highlighting their interaction with the members of the military, in a special televised program of the same title.

History

JBL interacting with soldiers

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.

The Big Show in Tribute to the Troops 2004.

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 Stunner on both men, and finally inviting all the talents and Vince McMahon to the ring to celebrate.[2]

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]

Chris Jericho hits an Enzuigiri on Randy Orton during the 2007 Tribute to the Troops

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]

WWE previously announced that there would not be a 2010 Tribute to the Troops. [8] However, it was later noted that a 2010 Tribute to the Troops will, in fact, be done 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. [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.

Awards and honors

WWE Superstars during the 2003 Tribute to the Troops
  • In 2004, the United Service Organizations (USO) of Metropolitan Washington awarded WWE with the first-ever Legacy of Hope award "for its extensive support of our troops and the USO’s Operation Care Package program."[1]
  • In 2005, the Army and Air Force Exchange Service awarded WWE the first-ever Three-Commander Coin Award "for WWE’s support of its partnership with AAFES to improve the quality of life for our troops by supporting service members and their families worldwide."[1]
  • During the fourth Tribute to the Troops wrestling show on December 8, 2006, WWE received the Secretary of Defense Exceptional Public Service Award. The award was presented to WWE Chairman Vince McMahon by the Director of Air Force Services, Art Myers. McMahon immediately presented the honor to John "Bradshaw" Layfield, the brainchild of holding such events for the troops in Iraq.[1][10]
  • In 2007, the WWE became the recipient of the inaugural Corporate Patriot Award at the annual GI Film Festival in Washington, D.C., "in recognition of its ongoing support and appreciation of the U.S. military and their families, particularly its annual holiday Tribute to the Troops tour to entertain troops in war zones in Iraq and Afghanistan."[1]
  • In 2008, President George W. Bush issued a special message in thanks to the WWE for giving America's Troops the gift of entertainment every Christmas.

Results

2003

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

2004

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

2005

December 19, 2005 in Bagram, Afghanistan.

# Results Stipulations
1 The Big Show defeated Carlito Singles match
2 Good Santa defeated Bad Santa Singles 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

2006

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

2007

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

2008

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

2009

December 19, 2009 in Joint Base Balad, Iraq. WWE Diva Eve served as ring announcer.

# 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

Note: Tribute to the Troops was recorded before John Morrison lost his Intercontinental Championship and John Cena lost his WWE Championship at WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders, & Chairs.

2010

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. WWE announced that 2 versions of this show will air: a 60-minute version on December 18, 2010 on NBC and a 2 hour version on December 22, 2010 on USA Network.

December 18

# Results Stipulations
1 The Big Show and Kofi Kingston defeated Jack Swagger and Dolph Ziggler Tag team Match
2 John Cena, Randy Orton, and Rey Mysterio defeated The Miz, Alberto Del Rio, and Wade Barrett 6-man Tag Team Match

December 22

# Results Stipulations
1 Mark Henry won by last eliminating Sheamus 15 Man Battle Royal
2 The Big Show and Kofi Kingston defeated Jack Swagger and Dolph Ziggler Tag team Match
3 R-Truth {w/Eve Torres) defeated Ted DiBiase (w/Maryse) Singles match
4 Natalya, Kelly Kelly, and The Bella Twins defeated Lay-Cool (Layla and Michelle McCool), Alicia Fox, and Melina 8-Diva tag team match
5 Kane fought Major Grimsley to a no-contest. Arm Wrestling contest
6 John Cena, Randy Orton, and Rey Mysterio def. The Miz, Alberto Del Rio, and Wade Barrett 6-man Tag Team Match

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "About WWE's Support of Our Troops..." World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Cawthon, Graham. "Tribute to the Troops results". Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  3. ^ "WWE: TV Shows > Raw > Tribute to the Troops 2005". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  4. ^ "WWE: TV Shows > Raw > Tribute to the Troops 2006". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  5. ^ "WWE: TV Shows > Raw > Tribute to the Troops 2007". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  6. ^ "WWE: TV Shows > Raw > Tribute to the Troops 2008". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  7. ^ Clayton, Corey (2009-11-11). "Tribute to the Troops airs Dec. 19 on NBC". WWE Universe. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
  8. ^ K, T (2010-11-07). "No 2010 Tribute to the Troops". Sports Entertainment Scoops/sescoops.com. Retrieved 2010-11-07.
  9. ^ K, T (2010-11-07). "Tribute to the Troops airs Dec. 18 on NBC". WWE Universe. Retrieved 2010-11-07.
  10. ^ Cole, Michael. "WWE: TV Shows > Raw > Tribute to the Troops 2007". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-01-24.

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