What is WWE Tribute to the Troops? Everything you need to know

The event was co-produced with the Armed Forces Entertainment

WWE Tribute to the Troops was a popular yearly event co-produced with Armed Forces Entertainment that aired over the holiday season in December.

The event was intended to honor and entertain the US Armed Forces. It was a television special, with a few exceptions, such as the 2019 event, which was not broadcasted and the 2021 edition, which aired in mid-November.

The program included WWE Superstars from several brands, but from 2020 to 2023, it focused mostly on the SmackDown roster.

When did WWE Tribute to the Troops debut?

The Tribute to the Troops event debuted in 2003 and its early years were renowned for events staged in Iraq and Afghanistan, when WWE stars interacted with US troops and visited military facilities, hospitals and camps.

These events were an important aspect of the show’s character, demonstrating WWE’s commitment to the men and women in the military. From 2003 to 2007, the special was shown as pre-taped episodes of SmackDown! and Raw.

Beginning in 2010, the event was staged domestically, primarily around military bases in the United States, with some performances taking place at prominent locales such as the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Bethesda Naval Hospital.

The 2021 edition was a notable departure from previous editions, as it was the first Tribute to the Troops event not hosted at or near a military post, and it was also the only edition that did not air in December. Instead, it aired in mid-November.

The last Tribute to the Troops special aired in December 2023 as a live episode of SmackDown. This marked the end of an era for WWE and their annual holiday tribute to US military veterans.

In addition to Tribute to the Troops, WWE also canceled the NXT Level Up show, which was scheduled to debut in February 2022.

The show replaced 205 Live and aired on Fridays at 10:00 p.m. ET on Peacock and the WWE Network. According to Bodyslam.net and Fightful Select, the final episodes of NXT Level Up were taped during a recent NXT taping, and the show will be replaced with a new reality series, WWE LFG, which will air on A&E in early 2025.

Following the cancellation of NXT Level Up, WWE has announced that SmackDown would be extended to a three-hour format beginning January 3, 2025. This change will affect WWE’s programming lineup for the coming year, as the corporation continues to expand its television services.

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