December 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.
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 livespecial 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
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 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]
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
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 (AAFES) 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]
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.[22]
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.[23][24]
In 2015, WWE themselves began presenting a custom WWE Championship belt to the servicemen and women who had helped in hosting the event and for their continued service to the country. The custom belt featured side plates that commemorated the year's event.[25][additional citation(s) needed] They subsequently presented custom belts at every event thereafter.[26][additional citation(s) needed]
^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.
