Full Credit: PWInsider.com
Smackdown for December 23rd, taped last week in Iraq, opened with the usual Smackdown opening video, before showing U.S. Troops gathered at Camp Speicher in Tikrit, Iraq.
Vince McMahon came down to the ring, as Tazz & Michael Cole informed us that we would be hearing messages from the troops throughout the show. Vince said that the superstars were all there to say “Thank You” to the troops. Vince said they came to boost the spirits of the troops, but it was the troops that were boosting their spirits. Vince said the media only reports on the negative in Iraq, and not all the positive progress the troops are making. Vince said he was going to look up the “negative media types” when he got back home and tell them to “go to hell”. Vince then introduced Raw ring announcer Lilian Garcia, clad in a sexy Santa outfit, while Cole and Tazz explained that Lilian had grown up on military bases as a child. Lilian then sang the national anthem. The troops chanted “USA” following the anthem.
A video was shown on the wrestlers traveling to Iraq, with lots of candid footage of the wrestlers traveling in a military plane, and having to wear helmets and flak jackets.
Rene Dupree vs. Booker T. Rene was booed, coming to the ring with a French flag, as Michael Cole reminded us that France was against the operations in Iraq. Booker dominated early, but missed a scissor kick, and Dupree scored with a low mule kick. Dupree stomped Booker down, then did the French Tickler dance before dropping an elbow for two. Dupree but Booker in a chinlock, but Booker elbowed out. Booker hit a flapjack and a side kick, then planted him with a spinebuster. Booker did a spinarooni and hit the scissor kick for the pin at the four minute mark. Winner: Booker T.
We heard the story of a female soldier who is going home soon, but her husband (also a soldier) was being called into duty and would be coming into Iraq at the same time that she is leaving.
Another video package was shown, this one including the wrestlers being given instructions from the soldiers while they were traveling. Mick Foley talked about traveling over the country in a chopper, and seeing how many Iraqi’s were happy to see the soldiers. They also showed footage of a school being built. They showed JBL joking around with the troops, and Rey Mysterio looking at a “mortar garden” which was comprised of mortar and missile fragments that had been shot at them. After a commercial, another package was shown, with several of the workers being made into honorary “Steel Tigers” since they had been mortared during their visit.
Santa Claus came to the ring, and thanked the troops, then said he had brought presents for them all. Santa then brought out some “extra special presents”, which were Torrie Wilson, Dawn Marie and Miss Jackie. Santa and the Divas (including Lilian) tossed out gifts and gave hugs to the troops. Santa then brought the Divas back into the ring, and gave them each lingerie as a Christmas gift, except Dawn Marie, who got a half-drank bottle of Gaterade, since she was “naughty” this year. This led to Dawn trying to steal Jackie’s present, and the two got into a catfight. Torrie then “revealed” that Santa was actually Mick Foley.
They told the story of a single mom who is serving in the army in Iraq.
They reviewed how Heidenreich cost The Undertaker the WWE Title at Armageddon.
The Undertaker vs. Heidenreich. Undertaker came out in his ring gear, no coat or hat. They did have some smoke (very little) for his entrance. Taker stomped Heidenreich down in the corner at the start, then hit the Old School ropewalk forearm and a faceplant for a two count. Heidenreich rolled to the floor, and pulled the Undertaker to the outside to hit some punches. Back in the ring, Heidenreich scored a two count with a clothesline. Back to the outside, Taker took control and elbowed Heidenreich as his neck was stretched over the apron. Taker thi delivered a ring apron legdrop. Back in the ring, Undertaker went for Snake Eyes, but Heidenreich blocked it and grabbed Undertaker in a spinning sidewalk slam for a two count. Heidenreich hit some punches in a corner, then choked him down with his boot. Heidenreich hit a clothesline for another two. Taker battled back with right hands, and Heidenreich grabbed a sleeper, but Taker broke out with a back suplex. Both men were down, but Undertaker sat up at the eight count. The two traded right hands, and Taker hit the flying clothesline for a two count. Undertaker hit a series of splashes in a corner, then hit Snake Eyes and a boot to the face. Taker dropped a leg for a two count. The troops chanted for a Tombstone. Undertaker went for a chokeslam, but Heidenreich kicked Tager and rolled out of the ring. Heidenreich tried to escape through the crowd, but the troops wouldn’t let him through. The referee counted him out, and the troops booed as Heidenreich left up the aisle. Winner via countout: The Undertaker.
The story of a soldier who has a newborn baby was told, with the soldier informing his wife (via the show) that he was coming home on leave and would see her on Christmas day.
A video package with the wrestlers’ giving their thoughts on the trip was shown, with several of them saying they want to come back again. They also showed the wrestlers thanking the troops personally, with Eddie Guerrero and Lilian Garcia getting choked up as they thanked the troops.
A package was shown discussing the camp they were at in Iraq, and the coins that are given to the soldiers for excellence. The wrestlers were given a special coin for coming over.
Hardcore Holly vs. Kenzo Suzuki. Kenzo played heel to the crowd as he came to the ring. During this match, they scrolled the names of the people on the technical crew for this show across the bottom of the screen. Kenzo was wrestling in bare feet. Holly took over early with chops, but Kenzo hit a Hot Shot and stomped him down. Suzuki hit a clothesline, then put Holly in a sleeper. Holly came back with a clothesline and dropkick for a two count. Holly hit a top rope clothesline for a two count, then hit the Alabama Slam for the pin at the two minute mark. Winner: Hardcore Holly.
They told the story of a soldier that is currently stationed in Iraq and missed his daughter’s birth.
A video package was shown on how they set up the dilapidated soccer stadium in Iraq for the show. It included some footage of soldiers fooling around in the ring, including doing a strut and “Whoo” ala Ric Flair.
John Bradshaw Layfieled came to the ring in a humvee, decorated with JBL stickers and longhorns. JBL was escorted to the ring by armed soldiers, and was wearing a biohazard suit with a cowboy hat on it. They played up the storyline from last week that JBL didn’t want to come to Iraq. JBL, acting nervous, said he wasn’t afraid. JBL said the conditions are “atrocious”, the food doesn’t have “an exit strategy” and their toilet paper is “abrasive”. JBL said that they could at least open up a bar by now. JBL mentioned that whenever he visits, the troops capture someone (Saddam), and he is tired of doing their job for them. JBL joked that Iraq was like being in rehab, due to the lack of cold beer. JBL was looking to make a quick exit, when the Big Show came out. JBL joked that they had just found “the weapon of mass destruction”. Big Show chastised JBL for his attitude, and called him a “deserter”. JBL tried to leave, then tried to sucker punch Show. Show blocked the punch and headbutted JBL to the floor. Show put on JBL’s cowboy hat in the ring, as JBL took off.
They showed a video of last year’s visit to Iraq, which went into a package on this year’s visit, which included having the wrestlers visit Forward Operating Bases during their three days in Iraq.
Another video package on the tour, showing the wrestlers interacting with the troops, was shown.
Eddie Guerrero & Rey Mysterio vs. Luther Reigns & Kurt Angle. Angle got on the mic to explain that he doesn’t “suck”, but was interrupted by Guerrero’s music. Rey and Eddie, decked out in helmets and flak vests, drove a jeep to the ring, with Rey filming the troops with the “619 cam”. Rey had a camouflage mask and ring gear for the match. Angle started out with Rey, outwrestling him on the mat. Rey springboarded out of an armbar, but Angle grabbed him with an armdrag. Luther tagged in and gave Rey a backbreaker for a one count. Angle tagged in, stomping Rey down and hitting a vertical suplex for two. Luther tagged back in and hit another backbreaker, pushing down on Rey’s chin to add pressure to it. Rey kneed out of the backbreaker, and booted a charging Luther twice. Rey delivered a tilt-a-whirl DDT to Luther and tagged in Guerrero just as Angle tagged in. Eddie hit Angle with a pair of clotheslines and decked him with a right hand. Guerrero dropkicked Luther when he ran in, and took Luther and Angle down with a armdrag/headscissor combo off the top rope. Guerrero hit two vertical suplexes on Angle, but Angle blocked the third and applied an ankle lock. Guerrero kicked him into the ropes, and Rey went for the 619, but Luther clotheslined Rey. Guerrero hit Luther with a DDT, and Angle hit Guerrero with an Angle Slam. Rey gave Angle a rana, taking both of them to the floor. In the ring, Luther covered Guerrero for a two count. Guerrero poked Luther in the eyes, and lifted Rey to kick Luther in the back. Rey hit Luther with the 619, and Guerrero followed with the frog splash, but Angle broke up the cover. Angle then charged Guerrero, but Eddie backdropped him to the floor. Rey then hit Luther with a springboard legdrop for the pin at the six minute mark. Winners: Eddie Guerrero & Rey Mysterio.
A music video showing highlights of the trip ended the show. It should be pointed out that in addition to the wrestlers that appeared in the ring, Charlie Haas was also on the trip, as he was shown in the various video packages visiting the troops.
Source: PWInsider.com
