The WWE is a well known supported of the US armed services and Vince McMahon is a super patriot, and on this day in wrestling history began their annual show specifically for the troops.
After nearly two decades, it seems easy to chalk this up to just another WWE show, but it’s far more than that.
It started with a show called Christmas from Bagdad that was recorded at Camp Victory in Baghdad on December 20, 2003 and was broadcast on Smackdown as a special Christmas episode.
It’s such a simple concept as movie, stage, and musical stars have been entertaining the troops for decades ass the USO shows, but this falls into the category as being so simple no one thought of it.
No one did, that is, until John Bradshaw Layfield had a burst of inspiration and shared it with Vince McMahon. Since then, the yearly special has been dubbed Tribute to the Troops.
.@JCLayfield joined us on #WWETheBump and discussed the origins of WWE Tribute to the Troops.
The 18th annual Tribute to the Troops airs Sunday, Dec. 6 on @FOXTV. #WWETroops pic.twitter.com/RwijHX71wI
— WWE’s The Bump (@WWETheBump) November 28, 2020
Inspirational
On WWE The Bump, JBL talked about how he had the idea for the special and his time when he was in Baghdad.
Special thanks to Sportskeeda.com for the transcript.
“I’ve gone to Afghanistan – I think it was the first civilian group to go after the invasion. After that next year, they said, ‘How about you go back with some WWE Superstars. We went back but to Southern Iraq in the summer, and it was unbelievably hot. We were on one of the busses, and I grew up watching the ‘Bob Hope USO Shows.’ I always thought that it would be cool to do something like that.
“I don’t know if I emailed or called Vince [McMahon] about it, but immediately he said he was going to come up with some sort of idea of Tribute To The Troops. He said, ‘Let’s take over lots of souvenirs to give as gifts to the troops.’ I get a lot of credit, especially on social media, but this was an idea WWE formulated. I was just the spark.”
It never ceases to amaze us how something so significant can begin with a simple idea. It’s moments like these that make this day in wrestling history fun and special to write.
More than that, it’s awesome seeing so many have since enjoyed putting on a show for our troops to help life their morale and thank them for their sacrifices.
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