By James Caldwell, PWTorch columnist

WWE Tribute to the Troops Report
Aired December 20, 2008 on NBC prime time
Taped Dec. 5 in Baghdad, Iraq
Report by James Caldwell, Torch columnist

Intro video: They showed various highlights from wrestlers interacting with the U.S. troops throughout the week they were in Iraq prior to filming the show.

Prez prepared speech: President George W. Bush was shown on camera welcoming us to WWE's tribute to the finest fighting troops in the world. He said the troops are the heroes to every American and he supports WWE for their commitment to the men and women fighting overseas. WWE stars have boosted morale and WWE offers free tickets to military personnel because WWE knows the troops are America's finest citizens. Surreal seeing the President on a WWE show.

In-ring: Jeff Hardy kicked off the show coming to the ring for an opening tag match. C.M. Punk then came out as his tag partner. R-Truth was then shown standing on a tank in the crowd for his ring entrance. Truth rapped his way through the makeshift arena to the ring and asked Baghdad what's up. Miz and Morrison came out next and they were sporting cool Army hats. JBL's music hit and he came out in a military tank rather than the traditional limo. JBL was sporting a giant combat facemask to protect himself in the military zone, with a cowboy hat situated on top.

1 -- R-TRUTH & WWE champion JEFF HARDY & C.M. PUNK vs. R-TRUTH & THE MIZ & JOHN MORRISON

Quick TV six-man tag opening with the babyfaces clearing Team JBL to the floor and landing planchas to get a roar from the military men and women ringside. Babyfaces stood tall as they went to the first break.

[Commercial Break]

They returned to Camp Victory with Miz nailing Punk in the corner with a splash to continue working over Punk, who lost control of things during the commercial. Hardy then took a hot tag at 5:00 and worked on Miz as the fans chanted his name. Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler calling this one, and they referenced Hardy as the new WWE champion, so voice-overs from Stamford were recorded this week. JBL snuck into the ring at 7:00 and gave Hardy a big clothesline. Truth then snuck into the ring and clotheslined Miz to the floor.

[Q2]

JBL wanted the Clothesline from Hell on JBL, but Hardy ducked and nailed the Twist of Fate. Hardy then went up top for the Swanton Bomb and he connected square on JBL's gut for the pin and the win. Afterward, Hardy kinda collapsed on the mat until his partners picked him up and helped him celebrate.

WINNERS: Team Hardy in 8:00. Basic TV match to get as many top stars in one match. Totally fine. (*1/2)

Ringside: Art Myers, who is in charge of Armed Forces Entertainment, was shown ringside clapping it up for Hardy. ... They went to a video package on the WWE wrestlers talking about the experience in Iraq, with clips of wrestlers interacting with the troops. Lots of clips of the divas giving the troops a thrill. Shad Gaspar military pressing one troop. Rey Mysterio shaking hands with troops. JBL smiling and grinning. Soldiers holding up pics of their kids. Tons of "You Can't See Me" from Cena and the troops. A few seconds of Cena's post-show promo thanking the troops was shown.

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: Lilian Garcia said it's time for Santa Claus to come visit the troops. Cue up Santa Shad and JTG, who came to the ring in Santa suits while Cole and Lawler talked about Cryme Tyme trying to "borrow" a lot of things during their visit to Iraq. Cryme Tyme did their rap, then they asked for Santa's helpers to come out to the ring. Out came Kelly Kelly, Maria, Mickie James, Alicia Fox, and Eve to hand out Christmas gifts to the troops. One troop got a Christmas kiss from Maria. Lawler said that's the best Christmas present he's ever been given. Kelly tossed t-shirts into the crowd, then Cole transitioned into a serious video package on their tribute.

Video package: A group of children did voice-over readings of their letters to the troops while an action video package aired on the troops doing their thing in Iraq.

[Q3]

[Commercial Break]

Video package: The seeds of liberty have grown into a bond between U.S. and Iraqi soldiers. They showed clips of the two different country's soldiers walking together in a secure Iraq. Chris Jericho, ever the rockstar, solemnly pointed out this place was being bombed just a few years ago. They showed pro-U.S. clips of Iraqi life improved with the help of the U.S. soldier's work in Baghdad.

In-ring: Big Show, then Chris Jericho came out for another six-man tag match. Randy Orton then came out to round out the heel trio. Manu and Cody apparently didn't get to make the trip.

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: Batista came out first for the babyface team. Cole informed us it's his first trip Tribute tour and he came out sporting camo pants rather than traditional wrestling trunks. Batista waited on the apron, then Rey Mysterio came out and body-surfed into the crowd before entering the ringside area. And finally, World Hvt. champion John Cena, who was sporting a #4 jersey. Cole said it reps the fourth infantry division. Sweet overhead shots of the makeshift arena, by the way.

[Q4]

2 -- BIG SHOW & CHRIS JERICHO & RANDY ORTON vs. World Hvt. champion JOHN CENA & REY MYSTERIO & BATISTA

Batista wanted the Batistabomb on Orton early on, but Orton went to the knee and Jericho tagged in to continue working on the knee. Jericho yelled at the troops, then Batista caught him with a Black Hole Slam before tagging in Rey. Jericho reversed a whip, but Rey caught Jericho with a head scissors that sent him onto the middle rope. Rey wanted the 619 on Jericho, but Show stepped off the apron to catch Rey by the legs and whip him into the guardrail. Break time.

[Commercial Break]

Before returning to the ring, a slideshow of the trip was shown with pictures of the wrestlers interacting with the troops. Back to the ring where Jericho was stomping on Rey, who wanted to make that hot tag, but Jericho pulled him back into a neutral control to paint brush Rey. Jericho and Show then started to have an argument about taking out Rey, so Jericho shoved him in the chest.

Show slowly stepped into the ring and went right up to Jericho before giving him a chokeslam. Orton then took a headbutt for good measure and Show decided to leave the ring. Show went AWOL (there's an Orton military joke in there, but I'll pass), then Rey was able to make his hot tag to Cena, who cleaned house on Orton and set him up for the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Cena took his time and told Orton "You Can't See Me" before brushing that dirt off his shoulder to deliver the Knuckle smash. Cena wanted to put Orton away with the FU, but Jericho broke it up.

Action broke down and Orton wanted the RKO on Cena, but Cena shoved him off into Jericho and the heels butted heads. Rey was then in position to hit a double 619. And finally, Batista with a Batistabomb on Jericho and Cena with the FU on Orton simultaneously. Batista and Cena pinned the respective opponents for a double three count for the pin and the win.

WINNERS: Team Cena in 10:00. Fine house show-style send-'em-home-happy match for the troops. (*1/2)

Closing video: They showed another highlight video of the wrestlers flying to Iraq, then touching down to meet up with the troops. More of the "You Can't See Me" from Cena and troops. Nice recap video, including more mileage out of Prez Bush's show-opening speech to the troops.

A fine show. Just what WWE was supposed to do, which was put their best foot forward on prime time network TV and try to class up pro wrestling.

We welcome your 0-10 score and comments on this show for a "Tribute to the Troops Reax" feature in the Torch Feedback section of PWTorch.com. To contribute your thoughts on the NBC special, email to pwtorch@gmail.com

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