WWE Tribute to the Troops
WWE Tribute to the Troops | |
---|---|
Created by | Vince McMahon John Layfield |
Starring | SmackDown roster |
Country of origin | United States |
No. of episodes | 20[a] |
Production | |
Running time | 120 minutes |
Original release | |
Network | UPN (2003–2004) USA Network (2005–2018) NBC (2008–2014) Fox (2020–present) |
Release | December 25, 2003 present | –
WWE Tribute to the Troops is an American annual professional wrestling event held by WWE and Armed Forces Entertainment. Since 2003, the show airs 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 event, and the 2021 event, which aired in mid-November. As its name implies, the show honors and entertains United States Armed Forces members. Since 2020, the event airs on Fox and features wrestlers primarily from the SmackDown brand.
In the early years of the event, WWE put on shows for troops serving in
History
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
In December 2004, WWE traveled to
On December 9, 2005, WWE held the event at the
In 2006, the show was taped at
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
In 2010, WWE held its first domestically hosted Tribute to the Troops, from
The 2019 edition marked the first and so far only time that the event was not aired on television.[15][16]
The
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]
Awards and honors
- 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 2006 show, Director of Air Force Morale, Welfare and Recreation Art Myers presented WWE Chairman Vince McMahon with the Secretary of Defense Exceptional Public Service Award. McMahon immediately presented the award to John Bradshaw Layfield, who had the idea for the show.[1][20]
- In 2007, WWE received the first 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, then President George W. Bush aired a message during the show, thanking WWE for giving US troops the gift of entertainment every Christmas.[citation needed] He did so again in 2010.[21]
- In 2011 and 2012, WWE aired messages from President Barack Obama during the broadcasts, expressing his gratitude for the Armed Forces for their service in Iraq and Afghanistan.[22][23]
- In 2015, WWE themselves began presenting a custom WWE Championship belt to the servicemen and women who have helped in hosting the event and for their continued service to the country. The custom belt features side plates that commemorate the year's event.[24][additional citation(s) needed] They have presented custom belts every year since.[25][additional citation(s) needed]
Events
# | Date | Airdate | Venue | Location |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | December 20, 2003 | December 25, 2003 | Camp Victory | Baghdad, Iraq
|
2 | December 18, 2004 | December 23, 2004 | Camp Speicher | Tikrit, Iraq
|
3 | December 9, 2005 | December 19, 2005 | Bagram Air Base
|
Bagram, Afghanistan
|
4 | December 8, 2006 | December 25, 2006 | Camp Victory | Baghdad, Iraq
|
5 | December 7, 2007 | December 24, 2007 | Camp Speicher | Tikrit, Iraq
|
6 | December 5, 2008 | December 20, 2008 | Camp Victory | Baghdad, Iraq
|
7 | December 4, 2009 | December 19, 2009 | Holt Memorial Stadium (Balad Air Base) | Balad, Iraq |
8 | December 11, 2010 | December 18, 2010 | Fort Hood
|
Killeen, Texas |
9 | December 9, 2011 | December 19, 2011 | Norfolk Scope | Norfolk, Virginia |
10 | December 11, 2012 | December 13, 2012 | Crown Coliseum
|
Fayetteville, North Carolina |
11 | December 11, 2013 | December 28, 2013 | Joint Base Lewis-McChord
|
Tacoma, Washington |
12 | December 11, 2014 | December 17, 2014 | Columbus Civic Center | Columbus, Georgia |
13 | December 8, 2015 | December 23, 2015 | Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
|
Jacksonville, Florida |
14 | December 13, 2016 | December 14, 2016 | Verizon Center
|
Washington, D.C. |
15 | December 5, 2017 | December 14, 2017 | Naval Base San Diego | San Diego, California
|
16 | December 4, 2018 | December 20, 2018 | Fort Hood
|
Killeen, Texas |
17 | December 4, 2019 | Not aired on TV | Marine Corps Air Station New River Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune |
Jacksonville, North Carolina |
18 | December 2, 2020 | December 6, 2020 | Amway Center
|
Orlando, Florida |
19 | October 15, 2021 | November 14, 2021 | Toyota Arena | Ontario, California |
20 | November 11, 2022 | December 17, 2022 | Gainbridge Fieldhouse | Indianapolis, Indiana
|
21 | December 8, 2023 | December 8, 2023[b] | Amica Mutual Pavilion | Providence, Rhode Island |
Results
References
- ^ a b c d e "About WWE's Support of Our Troops..." WWE. Archived from the original on 2010-12-08. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "WWE Tribute to the Troops Special Returning to Television". WWE. Archived from the original on 2020-11-25. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "WWE Tribute to the Troops comes to Washington, D.C." WWE Community. Archived from the original on 2020-12-02. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b c d e f Cawthon, Graham. "Tribute to the Troops results". Archived from the original on 2016-12-21. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
- ^ "WWE: TV Shows > Raw > Tribute to the Troops 2005". WWE. Archived from the original on 2017-08-17. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
- ^ "WWE: TV Shows > Raw > Tribute to the Troops 2006". WWE. Archived from the original on 2017-08-24. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
- ^ "WWE: TV Shows > Raw > Tribute to the Troops 2007". WWE. Archived from the original on 2017-08-17. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
- ^ "WWE: TV Shows > Raw > Tribute to the Troops 2008". WWE. Archived from the original on 2017-08-17. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ O'Neill, Robert (2023-12-09). "Brad Nessler appears on WWE Smackdown, calls match". Awful Announcing. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
- ^ Cole, Michael. "WWE: TV Shows > Raw > Tribute to the Troops 2007". WWE. Archived from the original on 2009-02-27. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "ShieldSquare Captcha". validate.perfdrive.com. Archived from the original on 2021-10-23. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
- ^ President Obama addresses the WWE Universe, archived from the original on 2020-04-16, retrieved 2020-11-25
- ^ Triple H [@TripleH] (December 9, 2015). "Honored to present a Troops WWE World Heavyweight Championship to Captains Stacey K. Wright and Scott Gray at US Navy" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Triple H [@TripleH] (December 14, 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
- ^ 21 shows have been produced, but only 20 have 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.
- ^ The 2023 edition was held as a live special episode of SmackDown.