Extracted from wwe.com
A MERRY CHRISTMAS FOR AMERICA'S HEROES
Dec. 25, 2003
They stand on the frontlines and risk their lives on a daily basis
to preserve the safety and freedom of the American people. They are
the real heroes, who have not been home in many months, and spent
Christmas away from their loved ones. They are the Armed Forces of
the United States, and on a special Christmas SmackDown! from
Baghdad, there were four matches. But by evenings end, it was
clear that there was only one winner
the very men and women who
risk so much to keep us free.
More than 5,000 servicemen and women packed Baghdads Camp Victory
for the action and excitement of SmackDown!
a special event in
the middle of an active war zone. As Mr. McMahon proclaimed during
a speech to open the event, the troops were treated to a slice of
Americana as a special thank you for their heroic efforts.
SmackDown! featured not only the action and excitement that is
World Wrestling Entertainment, but it even featured a visit from
Santa Claus and his "little helpers" who paid their visit to the
troops for Christmas.
But in a truly stunning turn of events, Santa turned out to be
perhaps the biggest gift of all to those in attendance. After being
attacked by Mr. McMahon for not having a gift for the WWE Chairman,
Santa revealed himself to be none other than Stone Cold Steve
Austin, who made a surprise return to WWE for the first time since
Survivor Series. And if the site of the Rattlesnake was not enough
to send the troops into a frenzy, Austins stunner to Mr. McMahon
surely was! Austin may have been away since Survivor Series, but
his Stunner has not lost its touch, as both John Cena and the Big
Show would later find out!
In action on SmackDown!, John Cena and the United States Champion,
the Big Show, have been jawing at each other for weeks and they
finally had a match to help settle their differences, albeit a
non-title affair. Despite being dwarfed by the enormous Big Show,
Cena escaped an attempted Choke Slam, and hit the FU to score the
pinfall victory. After the match, Stone Cold Steve Austin entered
the ring to have a discussion with Cena, a conversation that turned
into a Stunner for both Cena and Big Show!
In other action, Eddie Guerrero despite the absence of a
low-rider and Chris Benoit, who have both engaged in their fair
share of classic matches as of late, had the chance to do the same
against each other
and they did not disappoint! Guerrero promised
he would lie, cheat, or steal to gain the win, and he did just that
when he used the ropes for leverage to gain the pinfall victory.
After the match, Guerrero reentered the ring dressed in a flack
jacket and helmet to try to fend off the angry Benoit, but the
Christmas spirit was in the air and instead of trading punches, the
two shared a Christmas hug to celebrate a job well done.
And if the site of Stone Cold Steve Austin and the SmackDown! were
not enough to keep the troops completely entertained, the Santas
Little Helper Contest surely was. In an event that featured two
former Playboy Covergirls, Torrie Wilson was declared the winner
over Sable and Dawn Marie when her Little Helper costume was
removed to reveal a special holiday bikini!
SmackDown! from Baghdad brought out the best from the SmackDown!
Superstars who were so eager to share in the holiday spirit, but
when they return next week to the United States, chances are that
many will not be in a giving mood. Fresh off his victory over the
United States Champion, will John Cena seek the opportunity at his
first Championship? Will Hardcore Holly continue his crusade to
gain the WWE Championship and revenge on Brock Lesnar? Only one way
to find out
spend New Years Day with WWE and watch SmackDown! at
8/7 CT on UPN!
Match results:
APA defeated the Self-Proclaimed Worlds Greatest Tag Team
Rikishi defeated Rhyno
Eddie Guerrero defeated Chris Benoit
Torrie Wilson won the Santas Little Helper Contest over Sable and
Dawn Marie John Cena defeated the Big Show in a non-title
match