This is one of the best things that WWE does all year. It's basically a house show in nature, but that's really not the point here. It's about giving the men and women who serve America something to say thank you for their service. With that in mind, let's do this!
Tribute to the Troops Thoughts (Written As It Was Viewed)
- After the National Anthem and video package, we get The New Day dressed in festive Christmas attire. (JBL is on commentary as he helped create this event all those years ago.) Big E is dressed as Sant. E. Claus (lol), Kofi as an elf, and Xavier as a reindeer. They cut a promo to thank the troops and on their favorite holiday traditions.
- Bad Reputation plays as Ronda Rousey enters with a huge smile on her face and shaking hands with the fans. Natalya is out next. It's Natalya and Ronda Rousey taking on the Riott Squad's Logan and Morgan and Tamina and Nia Jax. It's a Triple Threat Tag Team Match apparently. Good opening part of the match with Morgan, Natalya, and Ronda getting the crowd warmed up. Soon after, Nia and Tamina get the advantage and mow over Natalya. Eventually, Sarah Logan tags herself in on Natalya. (Basically, the faces have never left the ring as Natalya has been taking the bumps/punishment from the other two heel acts. But the crowd is responding very well for it, which is all that matters.) Natalya gets the tag to Rousey, and the crowd responds very hot to the mayhem that unfolds. Rousey does the double armbar to Logan and Morgan! Tap out! Very good opening match for this type of show. A great decision to start off with Rousey and the other women who all put on a great show.
After the match, Rousey thanks the troops for their sacrifice and goes around the ring to shake hands, give out hugs, and sign autographs.
- The next match is Elias and Finn Balor. He walks to the ring, plays his song, and asks "WHO WANTS TO WALK WITH ELIAS?" Finn Balor comes out and a surprising amount of people do the arm motion during his entrance. So, it's Finn Balor and Elias vs. Bobby Lashley and Drew McIntyre. Elias fights off both McIntyre and Lashley before tagging in Balor. Balor gets some momentum going but gets knocked down by McIntyre. Lashley and McIntyre take turns beating down on Finn Balor. McIntyre continues to keep up the intensity even in an event like this. A Tilt-a-Whirl DDT gets McIntyre off of Finn, and Elias gets the hot tag. Lio Rush gets involved and puts Elias in path of Bobby Lashley's spinebuster. Finn helps Elias fight off Lio and Bobby which allows Elias to get the rollup pin. Another very good tag team match for this type of show.
- Miz TV is up next with Becky Lynch and Charlotte as the special guests. A loud "Miz is Awesome" chant. Miz tells the troops they are awesome. Becky comes out as does Charlotte. Becky is not happy about this situation, and Charlotte isn't too pleased by it either. Becky calls out The Miz for being a fake Marine and tells everyone that she is just "The Man." Mandy and Sonya come out to cut a promo. Sonya tells Becky that she hits a lot harder than Nia Jax. This sets up a tag team match with Charlotte and Becky facing Sonya and Mandy. During the match, tensions are played up between Becky and Charlotte. A fake tag by Charlotte leads to a dive on the floor onto Mandy and Sonya. Back in the ring, Deville and Rose get the advantage on Charlotte. Becky awaits for the hot tag as Charlotte tries to go it alone. Good Becky chants going on even though she hasn't been tagged in yet. Charlotte continues to have problems with tagging Becky. The classic "Ref doesn't see the tag" spot happens here with Becky still being kept from the in-ring action. Becky made the blind tag to Charlotte and slapped on the Disarmer for the win.
(Note: This may have been as a result of Becky having issues being cleared to take many bumps for a few weeks after her concussion. So, she takes no bumps and gets a submission win. Good day at the office. Again, another solid tag team match on this show with Rose and Deville doing their fair share in this match.)
- After a Jon Stewart comedy bit and another musical performance, we get to the main event for this show: a rare Raw/SmackDown mixed tag featuring AJ Styles and Seth Rollins facing Daniel Bryan and Dean Ambrose. I mean Dean and Daniel both claim to be the moral centers of their shows. So, it makes sense for them to be partners. Dean and Daniel jump Seth to get the match going. Seth and AJ take the fight to their respective rivals. Daniel helps Dean get the advantage against Seth as we go to commercial break. We return to see Ambrose continue to work on Rollins. Ambrose gets caught on the corner, setting up Rollins to hit his Buckle Bomb. Ambrose and Rollins tag in Daniel and AJ, respectively. Great display by both men hitting their key spots in a flurry of offense. Ambrose and Dean double team on Rollins once again, but Daniel hits Dean by accident with a running kick in the corner. Suicide Dive by Rollins. Phenomenal Forearm by AJ to Daniel Bryan gets the 3.
Again, another House Show quality match elevated by the location of the match and the rare occasion of SmackDown and Raw stars teaming up.
Both men thank the troops for their service and their toughness.
Overall this was a very fun 2 hour show. While it won't blow away anyone from an in-ring perspective, it was a good display of WWE's athleticism and what it can do from a PR perspective to bring joy to people. Another well-done Tribute to the Troops show.
Until next time, take care of yourselves. Spread some awesomeness.
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