Jimmy Korderas was a WWE referee for over 20 years. Every Wednesday he writes a blog on CSRWrestling.com. Today’s recalls being part of the first Tribute To The Troops event ever. Here’s a sample:
As any fan of World Wrestling Entertainment knows, the company has taken a very active role with a wide range of worthwhile causes. Whether it is cancer awareness, anti-bullying, the Special Olympics or Make-A-Wish, the WWE goes above and beyond to assist with causes they believe in. The yearly WrestleMania spectacle is considered the biggest show of the year. With Christmas fast approaching, the most gratifying show for most Superstars and especially Vince McMahon is the annual Tribute to the Troops event. John Bradshaw Layfield was the one who suggested to Vince about the possibility of going overseas to perform for military personnel stationed there. JBL had made several prior trips to visit the troops on his own and thought that bringing a live show to the troops would be great for moral. Being a huge supporter of the armed forces, McMahon loved the idea and in December of 2003, the first Tribute show was arranged at Camp Victory in Bagdad Iraq.
No one was forced to take part in this venture. I remember my direct boss at the time Steve Taylor asking me if I would be willing to go on that first trip. I told him it would be an honor and although my mind was already made up about going, I told Steve that I would first have to check with my family and make sure they were OK with me traveling to an active military zone. While there is always an element of concern (or fear), my wife and I agreed that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity to give back. Of course the jokes began soon after that I would be the lone Canadian representative going to Iraq.
We flew on a military aircraft and from takeoff shenanigans filled the flight. The excitement level among everyone on board was high as the entire group was both stoked and a little nervous about going. Even the military personnel accompanying us were enjoying themselves getting to see the WWE superstars let their hair down and be themselves.
After a stop at Ramstein airbase in Germany for refueling, we were off to Baghdad. I don’t know if anyone other than JBL knew what to expect upon arrival. Landing in Baghdad, especially for military planes, is done with great care. As we began our approach to Baghdad, the plane started to bank left, and then right with all the interior lights on the plane turned off. It was descending in a zigzag kind of motion. I don’t know if anyone else in our group knew why but I sure didn’t. Once we were on the ground safely, I asked one of the servicemen on the plane why we descended in such a unusual manner. His reply was they land this way so that the enemy on the ground cannot zero in on planes with anti-aircraft weapons. As incredibly shocking as that statement was, it didn’t fully sink in until much later. When we disembarked from the plane, you couldn’t help but notice the military presence. It was astonishing and intimidating to see such a large armed presence of US military personnel, particularly for a Canadian.
The first thing they had us do was to put on camouflage flak jackets and helmets. Looking around at the faces of our crew, you could tell that they were uneasy. The soldiers assigned to guard us did their best to make us feel at ease and they succeeded for the most part, but there was just no way to fully shake that eerie feeling. The Big Show was the center of attention as there was no flak jacket large enough to fit him. Watching him trying to put one on eased the tension a little.
We then made our way to where we would be housed for the duration of our stay at Camp Victory. To our amazement we stayed in one of Saddam Hussein’s Palaces. Trust me, it sounds much more glamorous than it actually was. Even though there was marble and gold throughout the massive structure, all of the furniture had been removed leaving only the odd table, chair or vase which meant we all slept on cots. Well, almost all of us. There were two large beds, one in our room (the crew room) and one in the boy’s room. Rikishi and Steve Austin commandeered the bed in the boy’s quarters. They extended an invite to Big Show to join them but he declined. Show wandered into our room, saw the king sized bed and decided he would bunk with us. We all didn’t mind sharing our room that much despite the loud noises emanating from his direction followed by some giant snickering.
On the night before the big event, I experienced one of the coolest moments of my life. When the United States Army is stationed on foreign land, they abide by the laws of the country they are stationed in. For example, while in Iraq, the men and women of the U.S. military could not drink alcohol because it was illegal for Iraqi citizens at the time. Booze was available for civilians; you just had to go back to the airport to buy it. Ring announcer Tony Chimel and former WWE referee Brian Hebner got a ride to the airport and picked up two cases of Corona and some Cuban cigars. That evening, Chimel and I, flanked by an armed staff sergeant, stood outside of Saddam’s palace, sipping on a Corona and smoking a Cuban cigar while in the far distance we heard gun and mortar fire. It was a surreal moment that neither one of us will ever forget.
CLICK HERE for the rest of the blog talking the day of the show, last minute instructions they got and the trip home.
