IWE Tribute to the Troops
From Iwe
| IWE Tribute to the Troops | ||
 Logo, circa 2011 | ||
| Format | Sports entertainment | |
| Created by | Grant Mayer 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 Marc, 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 Steven 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.
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, Jesse Dern and Scott Wright defeated Kevin McAlmond, Kris McGowan and The Big Marc | Six-Man Tag match |
| 2 | Josh Hooper, Justin Eldridge and B-Truth defeated John "Bradshaw" Goff, Joe Linderman and Joe Smith | Six-Man Tag match |
Note: Josh Hooper, Joe Linderman, and Joe Smith 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.
| # | Results | Stipulations |
|---|---|---|
| Dark Match | Mikhail Schmalzried defeated James | Singles match |
| 1 | Scott Wright and Steven Larson defeated David and Justin Eldridge | Tag team match |
| 2 | Joe Smith defeated Joe Linderman | Champion vs. Champion match |
| 3 | Dustin Simpson (c) defeated Kris McGwaon | Singles match for the IWE Championship |
| 4 | Sari Pasma, Denise, Ali and Katie Katie def. Amanda Johnson, Victoria, Riley and Kassi Austin | Eight Diva Santa Littler Helper Match |
| 5 | D-Generation X, Khristian and B-Truth def. Mark Semmler, Kyle Johnson, William Kapphan and Zack Nuss | All-Star Interpromotional Eight Man Tag Team Match |
| 6 | Jose Serrano and Nicole Bergman def. Garrett and Dixie Hooper | Mixed Tag Team Match |
| 7 | Nick Kessler and Dax Hoovestall def. Matt Hooper and Danlay | Tag Team Match |
| 8 | Kane def. 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). IWE announced that 2 versions of this show will air: 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.
| Dec 22 # | Dec 18 # | Results | Stipulations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | N/A | Steven Larson won by last eliminating Garrett. Also involved: Joe Linderman, Russell Dalton, Chavo McAlmond, Kody Brown, James, Mark Semmler, Jake Wilson, Justin Black, David Mahrt, Devin Keller, Jeremiah Garcia, Kooper McAlmond and Wes Helbusch | 15-man battle royal |
| 2 | 1 | The Big Marc and Jose Serrano defeated Charlie Wilson and Nick Kessler | Tag team match |
| 3 | N/A | B-Truth (with Nicole Bergman) defeated Kyle Johnson (with Riley) | Singles match |
| 4 | N/A | Shannon, Kelly Kelly, and The Gozelanski Twins (Crystal and Tierney) defeated Lehr-Son (Victoria and Amanda Johnson), Kassi Austin, 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 Scott Wright defeated Joe Smith (with Brian Hosmer), Justin Marlen and Daniel Gonzalez | 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. Nickelback, Mary J. Blige, Maria Menounos and George Wallace are scheduled to appear. 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 featured a pre-recorded message from President Barack Obama. Nickelback performed the clean version of Burn It to the Ground, the theme song for Raw. Sergeant Slaughter made a special appearance.
| Dec 13 # | Dec 17 # | Results | Stipulations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Kevin McAlmond fought Daniel Gonzalez to a double count out | Singles match |
| 2 | N/A | Zack Nuss (with Sergeant Slaughter) defeated Charlie Wilson (with Nick Kessler) | Singles match |
| 3 | N/A | Kassi Austin, Nicole Bergman, Katie Katie and Maria Menounos defeated The Gozelanski Twins, Shannon and Chandra Denney | 8-Diva Tag team match |
| 4 | N/A | Kody Brown defeated Mark Semmler | Singles match |
| 5 | N/A | David Ferry and Epico (with Rosa Speranza) defeated Air Boom (Jose Serrano and Justin Hensen) | Tag team match |
| 6 | N/A | Garrett defeated Dax Hoovestall | Single match |
| 7 | 7 | The Big Marc, Justin Eldridge and Dustin Simpson defeated Alberto Del Rio, The Miz and Steven Larson | 6-man tag team match |
==External links==
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