IWE Tribute to the Troops
From Iwe
| IWE Tribute to the Troops | ||
 Logo, circa 2011 | ||
| Format | Sports entertainment | |
| Created by | Ed Darfler John Goff | |
| Starring | IWE roster | |
| Country of origin |  United States
| |
| No. of episodes | 9 (as of December 22, 2010) | |
| Production | ||
| Running time | 60 minutes | |
| Broadcast | ||
| Original channel | NBC (2008–present) UPN (SmackDown: 2003–2004) USA Network (Raw: 2005–2007) (2010- 2 Hours) | |
| Original run | December 25, 2003 – present | |
| External links | ||
| Website | ||
IWE Tribute to the Troops is an annual event held by IWE 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 IWE wrestlers and employees travel to the said countries and interact with the members of the US Military for at least three days. The IWE 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.
IWE 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 the matches, as well as videos highlighting their interaction with the members of the military, in a special televised program of the same title.
Contents |
History
IWE first held the event in December 2003. Select IWE Superstars (including Goff and Mayer) held a wrestling show at Camp Victory, Baghdad, Iraq and was aired on Christmas Day as a special episode of IWE Smackdown. The main event of the show saw Dustin Simpson defeating The Big Show, with Stone Cold Steve Johnson 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.
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. Brian McAlmond and Scott Wright defeated Matt Borske and Luther Geigns in the main event.
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, Ryan Barnharted beat Triple K in a Boot Camp match. In 2006 it was another Raw episode that aired on Christmas Day. The show was taped in Baghdad, Iraq, and had David pin Kevin McAlmond 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.
In 2007, they returned to Tikrit, Iraq. D-Generation X members Triple K and Ryan Barnhart defeated Umaga and Mr. Kennedy in the main event of the wrestling show, which aired on Christmas Eve on IWE Raw.
2008's Tribute to the Troops was not aired on any regular IWE 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, Dustin Simpson, Jesse Dern and Scott Wright defeated Kris McGowan, The Big Marc and Kevin McAlmond in a six-man tag team match.
WWE once again travelled to Iraq in 2009, and hosted its seventh Tribute to the Troops. In the main event, Dustin Simpson retained the IWE Championship against Chris Jericho. The event aired on December 19, 2009 on NBC.
WWE previously announced that there would not be a 2010 Tribute to the Troops. 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. IWE also announced on the December 13, 2010 airing of IWE 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
- In 2004, the United Service Organizations (USO) of Metropolitan Washington awarded IWE with the first-ever Legacy of Hope award "for its extensive support of our troops and the USO’s Operation Care Package program."
- In 2005, the Army and Air Force Exchange Service awarded IWE the first-ever Three-Commander Coin Award "for IWE’s support of its partnership with AAFES to improve the quality of life for our troops by supporting service members and their families worldwide."
- During the fourth Tribute to the Troops wrestling show on December 8, 2006, IWE received the Secretary of Defense Exceptional Public Service Award. The award was presented to IWE Chairman Grant Mayer by the Director of Air Force Services, Art Myers. Mayer immediately presented the honor to John "Bradshaw" Goff, the brainchild of holding such events for the troops in Iraq.
- In 2007, the IWE 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."
- 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. He did so again in 2010.
Results
2003
December 25, 2003 in Baghdad, Iraq.
2004
December 23, 2004 in Tikrit, Iraq.
2005
December 19, 2005 in Bagram, Afghanistan.
| # | Results | Stipulations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Big Show defeated Carlito | Singles match |
| 2 | Good Santa defeated Bad Santa | No Holds Barred match |
| 3 | Dominic defeated Junior Remeriz | Singles match |
| 4 | Dustin Simpson defeated James Masters | Singles match |
| 5 | Ric Flair (c) defeated Jonathan Coachman | Singles match for the Intercontinental Championship |
| 6 | Candice Michelle and Maria Kanellis defeated Bailey Dalton and Ashley Bates | Tag team match |
| 7 | Ryan Barnhart defeated Triple K | Boot Camp match |
2006
December 25, 2006 in Baghdad, Iraq.
2007
December 24, 2007 in Tikrit, Iraq.
2008
December 20, 2008 in Baghdad, Iraq.
| # | Results | Stipulations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dustin Simpson, Batista and Rey Mysterio defeated Kevin McAlmond, Khris Jericho and The Big Show | Six-Man Tag match |
| 2 | Josh Hooper, CM Punk and B-Truth defeated John "Bradshaw" Goff, Joe Linderman and The Miz | Six-Man Tag match |
Note: Josh Hooper, Joe Linderman, and the Miz were the IWE and World Tag team Champions, respectively. However, they did not take their belts to the ring with them.
2009
December 19, 2009 in Joint Base Balad, Iraq. IWE Diva Nicole served as ring announcer. Despite Simpson defending his IWE Title against Jericho at the event, at the time it aired, Sheamus had already won Simpson's title at TLC.
| # | Results | Stipulations |
|---|---|---|
| Dark Match | Mikhail Vontavious Porter defeated James Masters | Singles match |
| 1 | Rey Mysterio and Steven Larson defeated Carlito and CM Punk | Tag team match |
| 2 | The Miz defeated Joe Linderman | Champion vs. Champion match |
| 3 | Dustin Simpson (c) defeated Khris Jericho | Singles match for the IWE Championship |
| 4 | Sari Pasma, Maria, Kelly Kelly and Denise defeated Amanda Johnson, Victoria, Maryse and Alicia Fox | Eight Diva Santa Littler Helper Match |
| 5 | D-Generation X, Khristian and B-Truth defeated Mark Semmler, Kyle Johnson, William Kapphan and Zack Nuss | All-Star Interpromotional Eight Man Tag Team Match |
| 6 | Jose Serrano and Nicole Bergman defeated Sheamus and Jillian Hall | Mixed Tag Team Match |
| 7 | Dolph Ziggler and Dax Hoovestall defeated Matt Hooper and Finlay | Tag Team Match |
| 8 | Kane defeated Kevin McAlmond | Street Fight Match |
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 (though the performance did not air). Two versions of the program aired: a 60-minute version on December 18, 2010 on NBC and a 2 hour version on December 22, 2010 on USA Network. The NBC broadcast only included the tag team and 6-man tag team matches listed below.
| Match order | Results | Stipulations | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 22 | Dec 18 | ||
| 1 | N/A | Steven Larson won by last eliminating Sheamus. Also involved: John Linderman, Russell Dalton, Chavo McAlmond, Kody Brown, James Masters, Mark Semmler, Vladimir Kozlov, Santino Marella, David Mahrt, Devin Keller, Jeremiah Garcia, Michael McGillicutty and Husky Harris | 15-man battle royal |
| 2 | 1 | The Big Show and Jose Serrano defeated Jack Swagger and Dolph Ziggler | Tag team match |
| 3 | N/A | B-Truth (with Nicole Bergman) defeated Kyle Johnson (with Maryse) | Singles match |
| 4 | N/A | Shannon Furlong, Kelly Kelly, and The Gozelanski Twins (Crystal and Tierney) defeated LehrSon (Victoria and Amanda Johnson, Alicia Fox, and Denise | Eight-Diva Santa's little helper tag team match |
| 5 | N/A | Kane fought Major General Will Grimsley to a no contest due to interference from Edge. | Arm Wrestling contest |
| 6 | 2 | Dustin Simpson, Kevin McAlmond, and Rey Mysterio defeated The Miz (with Alex Riley), Alberto Del Rio, and Wade Barrett | Six-man tag team match |
2011
On December 1, 2011, NBC and IWE announced the 2011 edition of IWE Tribute to the Troops would air December 17, 2011 on NBC. On the December 5 edition of Raw, it was also announced the show would also air on the USA Network on December 13, 2011. The event was taped December 11, 2011 in Fayetteville, North Carolina at the Crown Coliseum (though IWE said on-air that they were actually at Fort Bragg), the taping was performed in front of U.S. military service members from the nearby Fort Bragg] military base and their families. This is also the first Tribute to the Troops that was taped indoors rather than outdoors. Lilian Garcia's performance of The Star-Spangled Banner was edited out of the USA Network broadcast.
The event featured a pre-recorded message from President Barack Obama. Nickelback performed the clean version of "Burn It to the Ground", the theme song of Raw, and "When We Stand Together". Sgt. Slaughter made a special appearance, supporting Zack Nuss ringside. Maria Menounos also made a special guest appearance, teaming with Kelly Kelly, Nicole Bergman, and Alicia Fox to defeat Divas of Doom (Chandra Denney and Shannon) and The Gozelanski Twins in an 8 Divas Tag Team Match, in which she pinned down Denney for the victory. George Wallace performed some stand-up comedy. Mary J. Blige performed "Need Someone" and "Family Affair".
| Match order | Results | Stipulations | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 13 | Dec 17 | ||
| 1 | 1 | Kevin McAlmond fought Wade Barrett to a double countout | Singles match |
| 2 | N/A | Zack Nuss (with Sgt. Slaughter) defeated Jack Swagger (with Dolph Ziggler) | Singles match |
| 3 | N/A | Alicia Fox, Nicole Bergman, Kelly Kelly and Maria Menounos defeated The Gozelanski Twins (Crystal and Tierney) and The Divas of Doom (Shannon and Chandra Denney) | 8-Diva Tag team match |
| 4 | N/A | Kody Brown defeated Mark Semmler | Singles match |
| 5 | N/A | Primo and Epico (with Rosa Speranza) defeated Air Boom (Jose Serrano and Evan Bourne) | Tag team match |
| 6 | N/A | Sheamus defeated Dax Hoovestall | Single match |
| 7 | 2 | The Big Show, CM Punk and Dustin Simpson defeated Alberto Del Rio (with Ricardo Rodriguez), The Miz and Steven Larson | 6-man tag team match |
2012
The 2012 edition of the special was taped at The Scope in Norfolk, Virginia on December 9. The broadcast began with a pre-recorded message from President Obama, featured musical performances from Flo Rida and Kid Rock, and a special "Miz TV" segment with Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy. USA Network aired a two-hour version of the show on December 19, 2012, while NBC aired a one-hour version three nights later.
| Match order | Results | Stipulations | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 19 | Dec 22 | ||
| 1 | 1 | Kevin McAlmond and Sheamus defeated The Big Show and Dolph Ziggler | Tag team match |
| 2 | N/A | Ryback defeated Albert Del Rio by disqualification | Singles match |
| 3 | N/A | The Miz defeated Damien Sandow | Singles match |
| 4 | N/A | Team Hell No (Kane and Kody Brown) and B-Truth defeated 3MB (Devin Keller, Dax Hoovestall, and Jinder Mahal) | 6-Man tag team match |
| 5 | 2 | Dustin Simpson defeated Antonio Cesaro | Singles match |
2013
The 2013 edition of the special will be taped at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, and air on NBC on December 28, 2013. Daughtry and Jeff Dunham will perform, with Michelle Beadle hosting.
| # | Results | Stipulations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kody Brown defeated Bray Wyatt (with The Wyatt Family) by disqualification | Singles match |
| 2 | Kody Brown and CM Punk defeated The Wyatt Family (Erick Rowan and Luke Harper) (with Bray Wyatt) by disqualification | Tag team match |
| 3 | Dustin Simpson, Kody Brown and CM Punk defeated The Wyatt Family (Bray Wyatt, Erick Rowan and Luke Harper) | Six-Man Tag team match |
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