By James Caldwell, PWTorch columnist

Leaving from Washington, D.C. on Tuesday morning, WWE took a complete HD TV set on the cargo plane bound for Iraq to film the Tribute to the Troops show at the end of the week.

Michael Cole said on his WWE Universe blog that WWE's production team spent months creating a custom Titantron set for the first HD broadcast from Iraq.

"The troops this year will be entertained this year with video packages and entrance videos," Cole said. "They’ll feel like they really are at a Monday Night Raw or a WWE TV event, and really feel like there are part of the show that will air on NBC the Saturday before Christmas."

Joey Styles provided an update from Iraq that there is a large security force on the ground in Baghdad, Iraq, and the WWE wrestlers are telling him it feels more secure than last year.

Randy Orton, Big Show, and Chris Jericho are among the WWE crew on the trip, and Styles wrote about Jericho maintaining his persona even when visiting with the U.S. troops.

"Chris Jericho maintains his rock star aura and cocky demeanor at all times, even when profusely thanking our men and women in uniform," Styles said.

Links: Cole blog and Day 2 of Styles's blog.

FYI: WWE issued a press release detailing the WWE trip to Iraq. The TV taping takes place at noon on Friday, Dec. 5 at Camp Liberty. Press release.

RELATED STORY at PWTorch.com: John Cena and Kelly Kelly promote Tribute to the Troops show.

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