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TRIBUTE TO THE TROOPS

WWE @ Baghdad, Iraq - Camp Victory - December 20, 2003
Smackdown - aired on Christmas Day; Spc. Marilynn Anderson from the 18th MP Brigade sang the National Anthem to open the show; featured an in-ring segment in which Vince McMahon thanked the troops for their efforts but was interrupted by Santa Claus, who came out and distributed presents to several of those in attendance; after Santa refused to give Vince a gift, Vince verbally berated him and knocked him to the mat; moments later, Santa revealed himself to be Steve Austin and hit the Stunner on McMahon; Austin then thanked the troops for everything they were doing (Austin's surprise TV return following Survivor Series); included an in-ring promo from John Cena in which he mentioned facing the Big Show later in the night, then thanked the troops; featured a closing music video to the tune of Creed's "Weathered":
The Acolytes defeated Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin at 4:38 when Bradshaw pinned Haas with the Clothesline from Hell after Haas hit the corner
Rikishi pinned Rhyno with a Samoan Drop at 2:28 after Rhyno failed an attempt at the Gore and hit the corner; after the bout, Rikishi brought two female soldiers in the ring to dance with him
Eddie Guerrero pinned Chris Benoit at 11:38 by reversing a powerbomb attempt into a sunset flip and putting his feet on the ropes for leverage; after the bout, Eddie started a "USA" chant before the two men shook hands and hugged out of respect
Torrie Wilson defeated Dawn Marie and Sable in a Santa's Little Helper outfit contest; after the event, Wilson fought off Dawn Marie and Sable after being double teamed
John Cena pinned WWE US Champion the Big Show in a non-title match at 4:11 with the FU after blocking a chokeslam attempt with a low blow; after the bout, Steve Austin came ringside and hit the Stunner on both participants before inviting all the other talent on hand, Vince McMahon included, to the ring to celebrate the show

WWE @ Tikrit, Iraq - Camp Speicher - December 18, 2004
Smackdown - Christmas in Iraq - 12/23/04: featured Vince McMahon addressing the troops to begin the broadcast, thanking them for their sacrifices, before introducing Lilian Garcia who then performed the National Anthem; included a video montage on the WWE talent flying to Iraq and meeting with the troops, set to Creed's "One"; featured an in-ring segment in which Santa Claus came out, with Torrie Wilson, Dawn Marie, Lilian Garcia, and Jackie Gayda helping distribute gifts to some of those in attendance; after Dawn Marie and Jackie got into a fight and Dawn Marie was sent to the floor, Torrie unmasked Santa as being Mick Foley; included WWE World Champion John Bradshaw Layfield coming to the ring in a Hummer, wearing a biohazard suit, and addressing the troops, saying that the next time they pick a fight somewhere make sure it's a place where alcohol is allowed; moments later, the Big Show came out to confront the champion, called him a deserter, and knocked him out of the ring before putting on the champion's cowboy hat; included a closing video package of the WWE tour set to Creed's "Higher":
Booker T pinned Rene Dupree with the scissors kick at 3:41
The Undertaker defeated John Heidenreich via count-out at 7:34 when Heidenreich tried to leave through the crowd but was blocked by the soldiers in the front row
Hardcore Holly pinned Kenzo Suzuki with the Alabama Slam at 2:38
Eddie Guerrero & WWE Smackdown! Tag Team Champion Rey Mysterio Jr. defeated Kurt Angle & Luther Reigns at 6:01 when Mysterio pinned Reigns with the springboard legdrop after Guerrero threw Angle to the floor

WWE - Bagram, Afghanistan - Air Base - December 9, 2005 (5,000+)
Raw "Holiday with the Troops" - 12/19/05; featured an opening in-ring segment where Vince McMahon praised the troops for their efforts and said they were being largely ignored by the media in the States; he then introduced Lilian Garcia who sang "The Star Spangled Banner"; included footage of the WWE superstars visiting Ramstein Air Force Base and Landstuhl Regional Medical Center on their way to Afghanistan; featured a video package on the high number of land mines positioned in the area; included footage of WWE World Champion John Cena and WWE Women's Champion Trish Stratus holding a press conference for Afghan TV; featured footage of MSNBC's Rita Cosby documenting the WWE's tour, with comments from Rita, JBL, Triple H, and Vince McMahon; Cosby was later shown in attendance of the show; included video montages of the tour set to "You and Me" by Lifehouse and "Right Here Waiting" by Staind; featured a commercial for the following week's Raw where Kurt Angle would make a major announcement; included a video package on some of the soldiers killed in the line of duty; featured a closing video package set to Scott Stapp's "You Set Me Free":
WWE Raw Tag Team Champion the Big Show pinned Carlito Caribbean Cool with the chokeslam at 1:09
Mick Foley pinned John Bradshaw Layfield in a no holds barred match with the Mr. Socko Mandible Claw at 1:58 after a double arm DDT; the match came about after JBL, dressed as Santa Claus, was interviewed in the ring by Jonathan Coachman, with JBL saying he was going to cancel all the holidays; moments later, Foley, also dressed as Santa, came out and said he wanted a no holds barred match against the other Santa; during the contest, both of their costumes were removed
Gene Snitsky pinned Shelton Benjamin at 1:52 with a boot to the face after Benjamin hit his head on an exposed top turnbuckle
WWE World Champion John Cena pinned Chris Masters in a non-title match at 4:53 with the FU
WWE IC Champion Ric Flair defeated Jonathan Coachman via submission with the figure-4 at 2:01
Candice Michelle & Maria defeated WWE Women's Champion Trish Stratus & Ashley when Candice pinned Ashley with a roll up and grabbing the clothes for leverage at 4:16
Shawn Michaels pinned Triple H in a bootcamp match at 13:35 with the superkick after a catapult sent Triple H face-first into the corner; prior to the bout, Jerry Lawler & Joey Styles mentioned that one of the soldiers on hand, Chris Polumbo, is the brother of former WWE wrestler Chuck Polumbo and was a recipient of the Silver Star

WWE @ Camp Victoria, Iraq - December 8, 2006
Tribute to the Troops - 12/25/06 - included highlights of an in-ring segment in which Gen. George W. Casey Jr. thanked the WWE and Vince McMahon for their support and thanked the troops for everything they do; featured a music video of still photos of troops and WWE superstars to John Lennon's "(Happy X-Mas) War is Over;" included CM Punk and Shelton Benjamin wishing their friends and family back home a happy holidays; featured Lilian Garcia performing the National Anthem earlier in the day; included footage of a mortor attack the day before the taping, with Michael Cole reporting from the scene as the smoke came up, and comments from several WWE employees who experienced the incident first-hand; the attack injured 14 soldiers; featured interviews with several Iraqi soldiers about the changes to their country; included a backstage promo by Chris Masters in which he said he would challenge the troops to break the Masterlock; featured comments from John Cena, Carlito Caribbean Cool, Edge, Torrie Wilson, Bobby Lashley, Jeff Hardy and others about their experience with the troops; the segment featured Johnny Nitro and Melina commenting on seeing a memorial service for a soldier who was killed in the line of duty, with Melina crying; included highlights from an in-ring segment in which Director of Armed Forces Entertainment Art Myers presented 1st Lt. Shannon Terry with the 2.6 millionth letter, making it official that every soldier in the Middle East received a letter from citizens back home; featured footage of the troops setting up the ring and lighting for the show; included an in-ring segment in which "Santa" cut an in-ring promo in which he brought out Torrie Wilson, Maria, and Kristal to hand gifts out to the troops; after several minutes of throwing merchandise out to the crowd, Chris Masters interrupted and challenged Santa to a Masterlock Challenge, with Masters winning; after the contest, Masters challenged a soldier from the crowd by the name of Jose Avila; as Masters had the hold applied, Santa got back on the apron and disrobed, revealing himself as John Bradshaw Layfield; JBL then came up behind Masters and kicked him, causing Masters to break the hold and Avila be declared the winner; moments later, JBL hit the Clothesline from Hell on Masters before celebrating in the ring with the divas; featured a closing music video of the WWE's tour set to the Goo Goo Dolls' "Better Days":
WWE World Champion John Cena pinned WWE Raw Tag Team Champion Edge in a non-title match at 16:33 with the FU after Edge hit his head in the corner while attempting the spear
CM Punk pinned Shelton Benjamin at 4:47 with a roll up after avoiding a Benjamin splash in the corner
The Undertaker pinned Johnny Nitro (w/ Melina) with the tombstone at 3:57
ECW World Champion Bobby Lashley pinned Hardcore Holly in a non-title match with the running powerslam at 6:28
Umaga pinned WWE IC Champion Jeff Hardy in a non-title match at 5:53 with the thumb strike to the throat after a back splash in the corner
Carlito Caribbean Cool pinned WWE Raw Tag Team Champion Randy Orton with a roll up and grabbing the tights for leverage at 5:09 as Orton argued with the referee after the ref caught Orton making a cover with his feet on the ropes

WWE @ Tikrit, Iraq - Camp Speicher - December 7, 2007
Raw - Tribute to the Troops - 12/24/07 - featured an opening video to the tune of the Goo Goo Dolls' 'Better Days;' included Michael Cole & Jerry Lawler on commentary from Stamford, CT; featured footage of the WWE stars meeting with the troops during the tour to the Foo Fighters' 'Times Like These,' Staind's 'So Far Away,' and Graham Colton's 'Best Days;' included a feature on soldier-made paintings; featured a feature on a mess hall that was damaged during a suicide bombing in 2004 which killed 19 soldiers; included a feature on how much progress has been made in Iraq; featured footage from earlier in the day of several soldiers being reinlisted in the wrestling ring; included a slideshow of the soldiers and WWE talent to the tune of John Lennon's 'Happy X-Mas (War is Over);' featured a feature on the soccer stadium used for the venue, its violent history, and getting it ready for the show; included a feature on IED attacks; featured a feature on John Cena touring a base just outside an insurgent stronghold; included a feature on Chris Jericho making his first tour of Iraq; featured a closing music video to the tune of Daughtry's 'Feels Like Tonight':
Chris Jericho defeated WWE World Champion Randy Orton via disqualification in a non-title match at 14:19 when John Bradshaw Layfield appeared, mic in hand, and climbed in the ring; moments later, Jericho attacked JBL but was dropped with the RKO by Orton; during the match, Director of Armed Forces Entertainment Art Myers was shown in the crowd; after Orton left ringside, JBL dropped Jericho with the Clothesline from Hell
WWE IC Champion Jeff Hardy pinned Carlito Caribbean Cool in a non-title match at 6:34 with the Twist of Fate and Swanton
Mickie James & Maria fought Kelly Kelly & Layla to a no contest at around the 4-minute mark; prior to the bout, Vince McMahon cut an in-ring promo on how much the WWE supports the troops before taking a ringside seat for the match; McMahon eventually stopped the match and said Santa Claus wasn't coming to Iraq, until Santa - with one arm in a sling - appeared and said McMahon had tried to sabatoge his sleigh; Santa then told a story from when McMahon was little and stole a naughty magazine from a convenience store; after Santa read an old letter McMahon gave him, asking for a rooster for Christmas, McMahon ripped off the Santa hat to reveal Santa as John Cena; Cena then dropped McMahon with the FU; moments later, Cena had the divas throw gifts out to the corwd (the bout began during the commercial break)
Rey Mysterio Jr. pinned Mark Henry with a roll up at 4:17 after Henry hit his head on the middle turnbuckle
Triple H & Shawn Michaels defeated Umaga & Ken Kennedy at around the 11-minute mark when Triple H pinned Kennedy with the Pedigree after the superkick from Michaels; after the bout, Triple H & Michaels brought soldiers from the crowd into the ring with them and did the DX chop as the broadcast ended (the bout began during the commercial break)

WWE @ Baghdad, Iraq - Camp Liberty - December 5, 2008
Tribute to the Troops - aired as a 1-hour special on 12/20/08 on NBC - featured an opening video package featuring Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, and Marilyn Monroe as several entertainers who have performed overseas for American troops; included pretaped comments from President George W. Bush, shown to the crowd, in which he thanked WWE for their constant support of troops and their families over the years; the first Tribute to the Troops event to have a video wall as part of the production; featured Michael Cole & Jerry Lawler on commentary; included footage of Kelly Kelly, Rey Mysterio Jr., Eve, World Heavyweight Champion John Cena, and R Truth at Camp Echo; featured footage of JBL, Mickie James, Chris Jericho, Maria, CM Punk, Eve, the Big Show, Truth, Batista, Cryme Tyme, John Morrison & Mike Mizanin, Cena, Kelly, Jeff Hardy, Mysterio, and Alicia Fox, set to Ben E. King's "Stand By Me" and Nickelback's "Gotta Be Somebody;" included Lilian Garcia introducing Cryme Tyme, who appeared dressed as Santa Claus; after Cryme Tyme said they loved every person in attendance, they had Santa's Little Helpers - Maria, Eve, Kelly, Mickie, and Alicia - come out, greet the troops, and throw merchandise out to the soldiers; featured the reading of letters from children to the soldiers serving overseas, to the tune of Shinedown's "Second Chance;" included holiday greetings from 225 PSD in Camp Korean Village; featured footage of Jericho, JBL, Show, and other talent visiting sites in the area that had been bombed but were being repaired, set to Staind's "Believe;" included still photos from the tour set to Bob Dylan's "Ring Them Bells;" featured a closing music video recapping the tour, set to Needtobreathe's "Shine On":
Jeff Hardy, WWE Raw Tag Team Champion CM Punk, & R Truth defeated John Bradshaw Layfield, John Morrison & Mike Mizanin at 7:41 when Hardy pinned JBL with the Twist of Fate and Swanton; prior to the bout, JBL was escorted to the ring in a Humvee and wearing his cowboy hat on top of a helmet; the bout was taped before Hardy won the WWE World Title and Morrison & Mizanin won the WWE Raw Tag Team Titles but they were referred to as champions by the commentary team; after the bout, Director of Armed Forces Entertainment Art Myers was shown in the crowd
World Heavyweight Champion John Cena, Batista, & Rey Mysterio Jr. defeated Chris Jericho, the Big Show, & Randy Orton at 9:50 when Cena pinned Orton with the FU as Batista pinned Jericho with the sit-down powerbomb, following a double 619 from Mysterio; late in the match, Show walked out of the match after fighting off his two partners

Email: Graham Cawthon