I am no wrestling fan, not since the late 60's, early 70's. But I watched a tape today of the WWE in Bagdad only after seeing Vince McMahon on one of the news shows.
Not since Bob Hope have I seen the morale boosted beyond belief for our troops. They were happier than even when President Bush came for turkey -smiles-. So for those of you, like me, unfamiliar in the world of wrestling (my teens taped the Christmas show last night and I said I'd watch it with them as time spent doing what they like) I got the gift Freeper's because I cried seeing our troops happiness.
A soldier's firsthand report:
Smackdown in Bagdad *Spoilers*
On to the show. Mr McMahon comes out to a huge ovation. He tells us how happy he and honored he is to be here. Tells us that since we have to be here for Christmas, then he was bringing a slice of home to us. Some holiday music hits, and here comes santa! We all know who it is and start screaming our lungs off.
McMahon tells Santa to pass out his gifts to the crowd; only if Mr McMahon gets the biggest gift of them all. Santa goes outside the ring and starts to toss T-shirts everywhere. As this is going on, Vince is standing on the ring post with a huge smile making fun of Santa's huge belly. When he has nothing left in his bag, Santa goes to leave. Vince calls him back to the ring and demands his present. When Vince realizes there is nothing left he tells Santa about the years when he was a kid and Santa never stopped by the McMahon house. The crowd is cracking up when all of the sudden Vince hits Santa with a low blow and turns to celebrate. Here come the stunner chants! Sure enough, under the beard is Stone Cold and Vince gets the stunner. Awesome celebration!
First up is TWGTT against the APA. Bradshaw comes out to a big cheer wearing a flack vest and kevlar helmet. Everyone in the armed forces that watches wrestling loves that guy for all he does. I could not see what went on during the match, but the APA won.
Next we get Rikishi against Rhyno. Again, I can't really give mutch of a play by play. All I could see is Rikishi missed a stink face. Somehing happened and Rikishi won. We started to chant for the stink face and we ended up seeing one!
Rikishi was about to leave when the ref convinced him to return to dance. He called up to soldiers and danced with them. The crowd went nuts!
John Cena comes out next to do a free style for us. I was expecing a Big Show dis, but what I got was the best part of the day. Cena punked out everything you can think of from Saddam to France for not fighting in the war. I wish I could hear it again. That was awsome!
Eddie Guerrero vs Chris Benoit was next. These two guys definitly provided the best pure wrestling of the night. Guerrero ended up with the win. During the match he was getting beat up good by Benoit so he ran outside and put the flack vest that Bradshaw had brought out. It can stop a bullet, so why not a wolverine? Good stuff. Eddie grabbed the mike after the match to say thanks to everyone out here.
This is what all the guys were waiting for. I don't know what the contest was called, but Torrie Wilson, Dawn Marie, and Sable come down in some holiday outfits to dance for us. Sable is up first. She was decent. Dawn Marie is next. Torrie Wilson is up, and she follows Dawn Marrie's lead to reveal something I can only say is, well it was something. She ends up winning as the guys in the crowd are still having a blast!
Big Show is next out in a non title match with John Cena. Cena comes out to the ring and just starts at the Big Show. Again, I could not see mutch. Although I could see the Big Show clearly. He was winning when he goes for Cena's chain. He goes to hit Cena with it only to miss and fall victom to the FU! Cena wins it!
Austin comes out to get into it with Cena, who of course gets the stunner. Austin grabs the mike and calls everyone back out to the ring to say thanks again. Big Show gets up to object, only to get stunned. Everyone comes out and Vince doesn't want to get into the ring. Big Show gets up again and gets stunned again.
Vince says his thanks and gives the mike back to Austin who sees Big Show getting up again. We start to chant that we want beer(It's been over ten months since most of us had one he wishes he could give us the rest, but he doesn't want to get in trouble. Vince grabs the mike and says that if Austin had any balls he would give us the rest. Austin then starts to toss them all into the crowd!
That was it. I can't wait to read about the filler stuff from TV. All in all an awsome time was had by all. Especially me who ended up with pictures next to practicly all of them the day before!
Cheers:
-Any time Austin came out
-Cena's Rap
-Rikishi's dance
Boos:
-TWGTT (come on, they we wrestling the APA!)
I never thought wrestler's were Patriot's but these folks did not just land at the airport and leave. They travelled all over Bagdad, visiting troops and hospitals so many of our troops were brought a smile.
Special Holiday Edition of WWE SmackDown!
This is what Christmas is all about and the troops love wrestler's it seems and "I" am for whatever makes our blessed troops this happy, especially so far away from home!