-Merry Christmas everyone! We celebrate the holiday today by taking a look at the 2003 Tribute to the Troops from the WWE.
-The 2003 Tribute to the Troops was called Christmas from Baghdad. It was shown as an episode of Smackdown on the UPN network on December 25, 2003. It was recorded December 20, 2003 from Camp Victory in Baghdad, Iraq.
-Intro. The National Anthem is performed. Michael Cole and Tazz welcome us to Christmas from Baghdad. Vince McMahon comes down. He says on behalf of everyone, he says thank you. He says they decided to bring the WWE to Iraq. Santa Claus comes out. He gets in the ring and McMahon makes fun of him. Santa goes out and starts to give out gifts to the troops. McMahon calls Santa out. He says Santa forgot one thing. He asks for his present. McMahon says he got passed over every year. McMahon then attacks Santa from behind, and it's Steve Austin. He stuns McMahon and drinks beer for the troops. He thanks the troops for what they do. They show the anti-terrorism team talking to the WWE Crew.
-World's Greatest Tag Team Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin vs. The APA Bradshaw and Farooq: Benjamin and Farooq start. They tie up and drive to a corner. Farooq with a second rope shoulder block. Bradshaw tagged in. Benjamin rakes his eyes. Haas tags in. Bradshaw power slams him for a two count. Farooq tagged in. WGGT double team him and Benjamin gets him down for a two count. Farooq with a backdrop. Bradshaw tagged in. He clears the ring. Benjamin makes the save on a pin attempt. Bradshaw hits the Last Call on Haas. Bradshaw hits the Clothesline from Hell to get the pin.
-Rikishi vs. Rhyno: The bell rings and they circle each other. Back and forth. Rikishi misses a butt bump. Rhyno with some shoulder blocks in the corner. Rikishi comes back. Rikishi with a Banzai Drop, but Rhyno gets his knees up. Rikishi avoids a Gore attempt and hits a Samoan drop to get the pin. Rikishi does the Stink Face to Rhyno. The crowd loves it. Rikishi and some soldiers then do some dancing.
-We get some behind the scenes footage. John Cena comes out and raps for the troops.
-Eddie Guerrero vs. Chris Benoit: Steve Austin has been stirring things up between Guerrero and Benoit. The bell rings and they circle each other. They lock up and drive to a corner and break. Benoit with a shoulder block. They trade moves and counters. Guerrero with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a two count. Back and forth. Guerrero begs off. He puts on a flak jacket. The referee makes him take it off. He throws it at Benoit, and then dropkicks him. They fall out of the ring. Back in, Benoit with the advantage. Guerrero runs Benoit into a ring post. Guerrero with a twisting slam for a two count. Guerrero hits the three Amigos, and Benoit counters into the Crossface. Guerrero gets to the ropes. Benoit chops Guerrero in the corner. Guerrero slammed down. Benoit gets a series of German suplexes. Benoit hits a shoulder breaker. He misses a diving headbutt. Guerrero misses a frog splash. Guerrero gets the pin with a roll up with his feet on the ropes. Benoit is mad. Guerrero puts his flak jacket and helmet back on.
-Scenes of the WWE wrestlers visiting the troops. Santa's Little Helper contest: Torrie Wilson, Dawn Marie, and Sable are your participants. They have a fashion show for applause. Wilson wins. She is then attacked by Sable and Dawn Marie.
-The Big Show vs. John Cena: TBS is the United States Champion, but this is a non-title match. Cena runs to the ring and attacks TBS, but TBS comes back with a choke slam that knocks Cena to the outside. Cena guillotines TBS on the top rope. TBS chops and throws Cena around. Cena fights back. TBS headbutts Cena down. TBS puts Cena in an abdominal stretch. Back and forth. The referee gets taken out accidentally by a TBS big boot. TBS grabs Cena's chain and goes to hit Cena with it, but Cena ducks and low blows TBS and hits TBS with the chain. He gets a two count. Cena hits the FU for the pin. Steve Austin comes out. He hits a Stunner on Cena and TBS. He calls the Diva's and the other wrestlers back out. He and the rest salute the troops and he stuns TBS again. They sign off from Iraq.
-Final Thoughts: This was a nice gesture that the WWE would continue for years.