The WWE Tribute to the Troops theme is currently on pause, but there’s potential for its return in the future. The event, originally conceived to honor American troops, involved WWE superstars traveling to military bases in the Middle East, including Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2010, the focus shifted to U.S.-based military installations.
While the special aired annually for many years, 2019 marked a significant shift when WWE opted to host a house show at Marine Corps Air Station New River and Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune rather than airing the event on television. From 2020 to 2023, Tribute to the Troops was taped at SmackDown events. However, the event did not take place in 2024, fueling speculation about its future.
Dave Meltzer previously reported that the event was shelved this year due to WWE’s packed schedule. On a recent edition of a Backstage Pass Q&A, WrestleVotes offered more clarity, indicating that WWE is considering reviving the special in a way that aligns with its original intent.
““Yeah, I tried to ask around about what happened to Tribute to the Troops. I did have a source say that it was likely that they want to get back to the roots of it. I don’t know if that means going overseas and stuff, but I think they wanted to get back into maybe the bases here in America and things like that, and they just didn’t have the organization to do that this time around. So I wouldn’t be surprised if it came back next year in more of a traditional military-based type of environment that we were used to before they changed to just the standard arena show.”
While there’s no definitive word on when Tribute to the Troops could return, fans may see a more traditional military-focused version of the event in the coming years. Whether that involves overseas visits or U.S.-based military bases remains to be seen.
