WWE Tribute to the Troops

Last updated
WWE Tribute to the Troops
WWE Tribute to the Troops logo.png
Created by Vince McMahon
John Layfield
Starring SmackDown roster
Country of originUnited States
No. of episodes20 [a]
Production
Running time120 minutes
Original release
Network UPN
ReleaseDecember 25, 2003 (2003-12-25) –
December 23, 2004 (2004-12-23)
Network USA Network
ReleaseDecember 19, 2005 (2005-12-19) –
December 20, 2018 (2018-12-20)
Network NBC
ReleaseDecember 20, 2008 (2008-12-20) –
December 27, 2014 (2014-12-27)
Network Fox
ReleaseDecember 6, 2020 (2020-12-06) –
December 8, 2023 (2023-12-08)

WWE Tribute to the Troops was an annual American professional wrestling event held by WWE and Armed Forces Entertainment. The show aired as a television special during the month of December (specifically during the holiday season), with the exception of the 2019 event, which was a special non-televised show, and the 2021 event, which aired in mid-November. As its name implied, the show honored and entertained United States Armed Forces members. From 2020 to 2023, the event aired on Fox and featured wrestlers primarily from the SmackDown brand. The 2023 event would be the final show as it was quietly canceled in 2024.

Contents

From 2003 to 2007, Tribute to the Troops aired as pre-taped episodes of SmackDown! and Raw , before being established as a standalone special in 2008. The 2023 edition, which was the final broadcast, was held as a live special edition of SmackDown. In the early years of the event, WWE put on shows for troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, with performers and employees traveling to these countries and interacting with troops, as well as visiting military camps, bases, and hospitals. Beginning in 2010, the show took place in the US, with events typically promoted at and near domestic military bases, as well as visiting sites such as Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Bethesda Naval Hospital. [1] The 2021 event was the first not to be held at or near a military base, and the only to not air in December. [2]

History

Series creator John Layfield interacting with soldiers John Layfield Iraq 1.jpg
Series creator John Layfield interacting with soldiers

The idea of the event is credited to wrestler John "Bradshaw" Layfield, who suggested it to WWE Chairman Vince McMahon. [3] [4]

WWE first held the event in December 2003, from Camp Victory in Baghdad, Iraq and aired it on Christmas Day as a special episode of SmackDown! . [5] [6] [7] In the main event, John Cena defeated Big Show, and Stone Cold Steve Austin came out after the match, performed a Stunner on both men, and finally invited all the talent backstage to the ring to celebrate. [8] For this Tribute to the Troops and all others until 2011, commentary was recorded at WWE headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut, as commentators were not at ringside.

In December 2004, WWE traveled to COB Speicher in Tikrit, Iraq. The television show, 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. [8]

Chris Jericho performs an enzuigiri on Randy Orton during the 2007 Tribute to the Troops Chris Jericho - Enzuigiri.jpg
Chris Jericho performs an enzuigiri on Randy Orton during the 2007 Tribute to the Troops

On December 9, 2005, WWE held the event at the Bagram Airfield in Bagram, Afghanistan. It aired December 19, this time on USA Network as a special edition of WWE Raw . In the main event, Shawn Michaels beat Triple H in a Boot Camp match. [8] [9]

In 2006, the show was taped at Camp Victory in Baghdad, aired on Raw on Christmas Day, and had Carlito pin Randy Orton in the main event. A day before taping, a mortar attack happened near the camp, injuring 14 soldiers. Michael Cole reported details from the scene minutes later. [8] [10]

In 2007, WWE returned to Tikrit. D-Generation X members Triple H and Shawn Michaels defeated Umaga and Mr. Kennedy in the main event, which aired on Christmas Eve on WWE Raw. [8] [11]

2008's show from Camp Liberty, Baghdad was the first to air in a non-standard WWE timeslot, a one-hour December 20 special on NBC. In its main event, John Cena, Batista and Rey Mysterio defeated Chris Jericho, Big Show and Randy Orton in a six-man tag team match. [8] [12]

WWE again traveled to Iraq in 2009. In the main event from Joint Base Balad, John Cena retained his WWE Championship against Chris Jericho. It aired on December 19, 2009 on NBC. [13]

In 2010, WWE held its first domestically hosted Tribute to the Troops, from Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas on December 11. It aired on NBC December 18 for one hour, with a message from former president George W. Bush. [14] A two-hour version of the show aired December 22 on USA Network.

The 2019 edition marked the first and so far only time that the event was not aired on television. [15] [16]

The 2020 edition returned to television, this time being broadcast from Orlando's Amway Center, by way of the WWE ThunderDome bio-secure bubble. The one-hour special aired on Fox on December 6, adjunct to NFL coverage. [17]

The 2023 edition was broadcast live as a special episode of SmackDown on December 8, 2023, from Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, Rhode Island. [18] To cross promote the Army–Navy Game occurring the following day at Gillette Stadium, CBS college football commentator Brad Nessler made a guest appearance. [19]

On December 24, 2024, with no taping held for a 2024 show, Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported that Tribute to the Troops was done, "for the time being". While an official statement was not put out by the company, Meltzer said that a WWE source confirmed it to him. [20]

Awards and honors

WWE wrestlers during the 2003 Tribute to the Troops WWE superstars.jpg
WWE wrestlers during the 2003 Tribute to the Troops

Events

#DateAirdateVenueLocation
1December 20, 2003December 25, 2003 Camp Victory Baghdad, Iraq
2December 18, 2004December 23, 2004 Camp Speicher Tikrit, Iraq
3December 9, 2005December 19, 2005 Bagram Air Base Bagram, Afghanistan
4December 8, 2006December 25, 2006 Camp Victory Baghdad, Iraq
5December 7, 2007December 24, 2007 Camp Speicher Tikrit, Iraq
6December 5, 2008December 20, 2008 Camp Victory Baghdad, Iraq
7December 4, 2009December 19, 2009 Holt Memorial Stadium (Balad Air Base) Balad, Iraq
8December 11, 2010December 18, 2010 Fort Hood Killeen, Texas
9December 9, 2011December 19, 2011 Norfolk Scope Norfolk, Virginia
10December 11, 2012December 13, 2012 Crown Coliseum Fayetteville, North Carolina
11December 11, 2013December 28, 2013 Joint Base Lewis-McChord Tacoma, Washington
12December 11, 2014December 17, 2014 Columbus Civic Center Columbus, Georgia
13December 8, 2015December 23, 2015 Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena Jacksonville, Florida
14December 13, 2016December 14, 2016 Verizon Center Washington, D.C.
15December 5, 2017December 14, 2017 Naval Base San Diego San Diego, California
16December 4, 2018December 20, 2018 Fort Hood Killeen, Texas
17December 4, 2019Not televised Marine Corps Air Station New River
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune 		Jacksonville, North Carolina
18December 2, 2020December 6, 2020 Amway Center Orlando, Florida
19October 15, 2021November 14, 2021 Toyota Arena Ontario, California
20November 11, 2022December 17, 2022 Gainbridge Fieldhouse Indianapolis, Indiana
21December 8, 2023December 8, 2023 [b] Amica Mutual Pavilion Providence, Rhode Island

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "About WWE's Support of Our Troops..." WWE. Archived from the original on 2010-12-08. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  2. ↑ Wolstanholme, Danny (November 8, 2021). "What date will WWE Tribute to the Troops 2021 be telecasted on TV?". www.sportskeeda.com. Archived from the original on November 12, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  3. ↑ Mueller, The Doctor Chris. "Why WWE's Tribute to the Troops Is Their Most Important Event of the Year". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on 2021-10-25. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
  4. ↑ "WWE Tribute to the Troops Special Returning to Television". WWE. Archived from the original on 2020-11-25. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
  5. ↑ Featherstone, Chris (2016-11-12). "WWE News: Next WWE 'Tribute to the Troops' event announced". www.sportskeeda.com. Archived from the original on 2021-12-02. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
  6. ↑ "WWE Tribute to the Troops comes to Washington, D.C." WWE Community. Archived from the original on 2020-12-02. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
  7. ↑ "WWE stars grapple onto post for Tribute to the Troops". www.army.mil. Archived from the original on 2021-05-20. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Cawthon, Graham. "Tribute to the Troops results". Archived from the original on 2016-12-21. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  9. ↑ "WWE: TV Shows > Raw > Tribute to the Troops 2005". WWE. Archived from the original on 2017-08-17. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  10. ↑ "WWE: TV Shows > Raw > Tribute to the Troops 2006". WWE. Archived from the original on 2017-08-24. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  11. ↑ "WWE: TV Shows > Raw > Tribute to the Troops 2007". WWE. Archived from the original on 2017-08-17. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  12. ↑ "WWE: TV Shows > Raw > Tribute to the Troops 2008". WWE. Archived from the original on 2017-08-17. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  13. ↑ Clayton, Corey (2009-11-11). "Tribute to the Troops airs Dec. 19 on NBC". WWE Universe. Archived from the original on November 14, 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
  14. ↑ K, T (2010-11-07). "Tribute to the Troops airs Dec. 18 on NBC". WWE Universe. Archived from the original on 2017-08-17. Retrieved 2010-11-07.
  15. ↑ "WWE Tribute To The Troops Reportedly Won't Air This Year - 411Mania.com". December 10, 2019. Archived from the original on December 13, 2019. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  16. ↑ "WWE Hasn't Discussed Airing Tribute to the Troops As WWE Network Special - 411Mania.com". December 12, 2019. Archived from the original on December 13, 2019. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  17. ↑ "18th Annual "WWE Tribute to the Troops" to Air on FOX". The Futon Critic . November 11, 2020. Archived from the original on November 23, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  18. ↑ McGuire, Colin (2023-12-08). "WWE SmackDown Tribute to the Troops live results: CM Punk returns". WON/F4W - WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, AEW News, AEW results. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  19. ↑ O'Neill, Robert (2023-12-09). "Brad Nessler appears on WWE Smackdown, calls match". Awful Announcing. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  20. ↑ Nason, Josh (December 24, 2024). "Updates on future of WWE Tribute to the Troops & NXT Level Up". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online . Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  21. ↑ Cole, Michael. "WWE: TV Shows > Raw > Tribute to the Troops 2007". WWE. Archived from the original on 2009-02-27. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  22. ↑ Vassallo, Colin. "US President George W. Bush Tapes Video Message for Tribute to the Troops Show". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on 2021-10-25. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
  23. ↑ "ShieldSquare Captcha". validate.perfdrive.com. Archived from the original on 2021-10-23. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
  24. ↑ President Obama addresses the WWE Universe, archived from the original on 2020-04-16, retrieved 2020-11-25
  25. ↑ Triple H [@TripleH] (December 8, 2015). "Honored to present a Troops WWE World Heavyweight Championship to Captains Stacey K. Wright and Scott Gray at US Navy" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  26. ↑ Triple H [@TripleH] (December 13, 2016). "This Championship is in recognition of all you do for our country. Thank you Cmd. Sgt Troxell, Elaine Rogers & Maj. Gen. Becker" (Tweet) – via Twitter.

Notes

  1. ↑ 21 shows were produced, but only 20 aired as the 2019 event was non-televised. From 2003 to 2007, Tribute to the Troops aired as pre-taped episodes of SmackDown! and Raw , before being established as a stand-alone special in 2008. The 2023 edition was held as a live special edition of SmackDown.
  2. ↑ The 2023 edition was held as a live special episode of SmackDown .
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