 Match 1: Randy Orton vs. Chris Jericho (non-title) Jim Ross is on vacation, so Michael Cole moves over from Smackdown to fill in. Coincidentally, Cole, a former radio newscaster, made the trip and posted blogs on the WWE website. Our opener is a return match from Armageddon. At one point, Jericho borrows a digital camera from one of the soldiers at ringside and takes a picture of Orton, who convienently slumps off the ring steps. Funny. Orton takes control, however, right before the break with a DDT off the middle rope. The tide turns, though, as Jericho comes back, fighting off a sleeper hold. He hit the Lionsault, but got only 2. Orton hit his neckbreaker on the back, then set up for the RKO. Jericho countered into the Walls, but that's when the 10 Gallon Grinch, John Bradshaw Layfield, came down, mic in hand, talking trash. The second he stepped through the ropes, ref Mike Chioda called for the bell, and Jericho charged. Orton recovered and hit the RKO, leaving Jericho easy prey for a cheap Clothesline from Hell. Winner: Chris Jericho via DQ.
Throughout the show, we're seeing clips of the superstars & divas, and even Vince McMahon, interacting with the troops. Orton gives a female soldier a kiss. See, he has a heart after all. John Cena, the former champion, has made the trip, making his first appearance on Raw since going on the DL 2 months ago. Rey Mysterio & Lillian Garcia try their hands with the machine gun turrets. Ay caramba! This is the 5th year they've done this, and the 2nd straight year that Raw has presented the event.
Match 2: Jeff Hardy vs. Carlito (non-title) Another return match, this one from the 15th anniversary show 2 weeks ago. This time, though, it's a straight wrestling match. Hardy is wearing special face paint for the occasion, his own way of paying tribute to the troops, as Cole explains. Hardy went for the swinging dropkick in the corner, but Carlito could see that coming and moved, leaving Hardy to land on his butt. Hardy hit the dropkick later in the match, however, and went for the Twist of Fate, but Carlito countered and hit the applekakke (roll the dice). However, it only netted Carlito a 2. He asked for and got his apple, and took 2 bites, hoping to spit in Hardy's face. Not happening. Jeff hit a jawbreaker, then the Twist, then the Swanton. Adios, Carlito! Winner: Jeff Hardy.
A video package recaps the work the troops have done in Iraq the last few years, and there is also a sign listing the men who have given their lives in the cause of freedom.Vince McMahon is out, and thanks the troops, pledging the company's continuing support. He also queues up our next match.
Match 3: Extreme Expose (Kelly Kelly & Layla El) vs. Mickie James & Maria Yes, Kelly & Layla are back together, but for one night only, with their animosities put aside for this occasion. Someone should've told Layla to leave her black hose at home. Kelly was clearly the weak link, as things went downhill the minute she tagged in. She went for a handspring elbow on Mickie, but the former champion was long gone by the time Kelly reached the corner. Mickie & Maria hit stereo bronco busters on Extreme Expose. At that point, Vince McMahon decided to stop the match, declaring that the troops had seen enough. Winners: None. Vince claims Santa isn't coming, but no sooner than he says this than some music plays, and Santa does come down, with his right arm in a sling. That right there gives away who's under the beard this year. Santa produces a letter purportedly written by Vince as a child. As Santa reads the letter, his voice starts changing, until finally, Vince pulls down the beard, revealing John Cena. Despite the bad arm, Cena hits the FU on the insane chairman to a requisite phat pop. As Vince is rolled out of the ring, Cena and the girls toss out some gift t-shirts & DVDs to the soldiers.
Footage is shown of a re-enlistment ceremony that took place earlier in the day (12/7) at Camp Speicher.
Match 4: Rey Mysterio vs. Mark Henry At first, Henry, the Olympic strongman, dominates Mysterio, shoving him into the corner twice. Rey starts fighting back with dropkicks and kicks to the hamstrings. Henry applies a bearhug, but Mysterio bites his way out of it. A simple clothesline by Henry gets 2, nothing more. Mysterio connects with a springboard senton, which Cole calls the West Coast Pop II. That gets a 2. Mysterio hits a baseball slide dropkick in the corner, which Henry sells as if it were a borderline low blow. Rey hits the 619 and a 2nd senton splash, but needs a schoolboy rollup to earn the fall. Winner: Rey Mysterio.
John Cena takes viewers on a tour of a Base Olson, where the troops have held off the insurgents. Here's a rare case. The Raw Rebound from last week's show is used here instead of the Smackdown Rebound that normally airs here.
Chris Jericho wasn't a part of the first two Tribute shows, and left before the '05 edition. He's making his first trip to Iraq, and like everyone else, he's having a blast.
Match 5: DX (Triple H & Shawn Michaels) vs. Umaga & Mr. Kennedy A match between Ron Simmons & Hardcore Holly was edited off the show because of all the video features. Hence, we're jumping to the main event. The match is joined in progress after a commercial break, with Michaels battering Kennedy to a fare thee well. He hits the elbow, but as he tunes up the band, Umaga intercepts to swing the advantage over to Kennedy. Michaels was face in peril the rest of the way, even taking Kennedy's Green Bay Plunge at mat level for 2. Umaga misses a splash off the top, and that allows Michaels to tag in HHH. High knee to the head of Kennedy, who was also tagged in. Facebuster for Umaga. Kennedy eats a spinebuster. Umaga intercepts again, this time as Hunter has Kennedy ready for the pedigree. Umaga sets up for the Samoan Spike, but Michaels wipes him out with a superkick. Kennedy staggers back to his feet, and backs away from HHH, only to eat a superkick himself, then get his pedigree checked, as JR would say. Winners: DX. HHH & HBK invited some soldiers into the ring for a group crotch chop to end the show. The last image we see is a female soldier on the shoulders of the Cerebral Assassin, waving a Santa's Helper hat. And Miz thinks HE's a chick magnet?
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