WWE Tribute to the Troops 2014 Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights

Every December, World Wrestling Entertainment holds its annual Tribute to the Troops special event in hopes of repaying, even in the slightest, the men and women of the United States armed forces for their service with a night of sports and entertainment.

Wednesday night, the 2014 edition of the show hit the airwaves as part of WWE Week on USA Network. The show was headlined by a huge eight-man tag team match pitting John Cena, Dolph Ziggler, Ryback and Erick Rowan against Seth Rollins, Big Show, Luke Harper and Kane. Hulk Hogan made a special appearance, and Dean Ambrose and Bray Wyatt continued their rivalry with a very special Boot Camp match presided over by Hall of Famer Sgt. Slaughter.

What did or did not happen had little effect on WWE storytelling. What mattered was that the troops in attendance were entertained.

Judging by their reaction to the night's festivities, they enjoyed the show.

With the show in the books, here is a recap of WWE's latest effort to give back to those who have given so much.

This was Tribute to the Troops 2014.

Hulk Hogan Promo

"Real American" fittingly kicked off this year's broadcast as Hulk Hogan made his way to the ring, greeting the troops and thanking them for everything they have done and will continue to do to ensure the safety of the United States.

WWE tag team champions The Miz and Damien Mizdow interrupted, with the former discussing his role in The Marine film franchise. Miz compared himself to the soldiers in attendance, drawing out John Cena, who disagreed with his longtime rival.

This led to Cena disposing of Miz over the top rope. Mizdow mimicked the entire ordeal and sent himself flying to the arena floor.

Seth Rollins, Kane, Luke Harper and Big Show made their way to the ring, along with Joey Mercury and Jamie Noble, before attacking Cena and Hogan. This led to Dolph Ziggler, Ryback and Erick Rowan hitting the ring and making the save, setting up the night's main event.

Highlights and Quotes

"I just want to apologize for The Miz." -John Cena

"When I think strong, I think of the armed forces. When I think of The Miz, I think of something metrosexual." -Cena

Grade

B

Analysis

For the opening segment of a show like Tribute to the Troops, this was about as good as it could be. Hulk Hogan added star power and credibility, The Miz and Damien Mizdow made for some great fun, and John Cena put a great big bow on the entire ordeal as the face of today's program.

The arrival of the heels set up the main event and gave fans a reason to stay tuned.

A great way to kick things off on the most patriotic evening of the year.

The Usos vs. Gold and Stardust

Credit: WWE.com

The first match was a high-energy affair between the MVPs of the WWE tag team division in 2014, Jimmy and Jey Uso, and Gold and Stardust.

The Usos were hot to start, taking clear control heading into the break as Stardust laid prone on the arena floor.

Later, the heels worked over Jey, taunting Jimmy and allowing for some double-teaming while the official admonished him.

Eventually, Jimmy got the hot tag, and the brothers did what they do best, mounting an energetic comeback, delivering a double superkick and finishing with a double top-rope splash for the pinfall victory.

Result

The Usos defeated Gold and Stardust.

Highlights and Quotes

"I don't think President Eisenhower ever saw anything like Stardust." -JBL

Grade

C

Analysis

WWE has presented the same tag matches so many times on its weekly TV programs that they eventually lose their effect on the audience. Though The Usos, Goldust and Stardust are immensely talented performers, their matches have become stale.

Still, the fans enjoyed the action, and it was a spirited opener.

Santa's Little Helper Battle Royal

As is typically the case with WWE's Christmas-themed shows, the Divas did battle in a Santa's Little Helper match. Rather than a generic tag team match, they fought in a generic Battle Royal, with the winner receiving nothing of note.

Emma was dumped early, while Brie and Nikki Bella worked together to eliminate some of their foes, including Alicia Fox and a mistletoe-offering Paige.

In the end, the crafty technician Natalya was responsible for the eliminations of the Bella Twins, and Naomi scored the win by baseball-sliding the third-generation Diva to the floor.

Result

Naomi won the Santa's Little Helper Battle Royal.

Highlights and Quotes

"This is gonna be a masterpiece." -JBL, at his sarcastic best

Grade

D

Analysis

If you have seen one of these holiday-themed Divas matches, you have seen them all. Still, it was nice to see a story throughout. The Bellas teamed up only to be ousted by a much smarter and more talented wrestler.

Paige, as usual, was a bright spot of the match, as was the booking of Summer Rae and Rosa Mendes' mini dance-off in the middle of the match. Otherwise, there was nothing much going on here.

Boot Camp Match: Dean Ambrose vs. Bray Wyatt

The only match announced ahead of time was the Boot Camp match between Bray Wyatt and Dean Ambrose. A rematch from Sunday's Tables, Ladders and Chairs match, fans were understandably expecting a certain level of violence and chaos.

To an extent, they got it.

Sgt. Slaughter introduced the match, and he sat at ringside and watched as the competitors battered each other with weapons, including military-themed plunder and the more traditional chairs and tables.

Wyatt utilized a kendo stick to take control midway through, but Ambrose fought back, plastering the Eater of Worlds with a vicious clothesline. From there, he used a steel-tipped boot given to him by Slaughter to blast Wyatt and score the pinfall victory.

Result

Dean Ambrose pinned Bray Wyatt.

Highlights and Quotes

"The only thing that limits you here is your imagination." -JBL with a great line

"This is going to end like big family get-togethers after dinner: in mayhem!" -JBL

Grade

B

Analysis

The best Tribute to the Troops shows often played on the military theme and featured a fun gimmick match between two stars with an ongoing rivalry.

That is exactly what Wednesday's match between Bray Wyatt and Dean Ambrose was, as they beat each other with weapons and kept the fans entertained despite not taking nearly the risks or dealing out anything close to the punishment they endured at TLC.

The involvement of Sgt. Slaughter was great fun and fit perfectly with the environment. Why Sarge has not been better utilized over the years during this particular show is a mystery. He is a natural fit.

Rusev and Lana Promo

United States champion Rusev and social ambassador Lana were in the ring for a promo following the break. As one would expect, they were greeted with a loud chorus of boos.

Lana ran down the crowd, while Rusev claimed to have crushed every American hero put before him.

This brought about the playing of "Rise of the Valkyries" and the arrival of Daniel Bryan, who made his way to the ring to a huge ovation from the WWE Universe. "Yes!" chants rained down on Rusev and Lana as Bryan grabbed a microphone.

Bryan warned Rusev that the United States does not back down, and if he confronts one American, he confronts all of them.

Bryan questioned Rusev's willingness to take on a fight with a building full of real Americans. Soldiers hopped onto the ring apron, and The Bulgarian Brute and his Ravishing Russian manager retreated.

Highlights and Quotes

"I know intelligence isn't your strong suit, but you really want to do this now?" -Bryan

Grade

A

Analysis

Anyone worried that Daniel Bryan would somehow lose his popularity during his long hiatus due to injury can rest assured that most certainly will not be the case. I mean, did you hear that pop?

This was a perfect segment. Rusev is the anti-American heel who got great cheap heat along with Lana, while Bryan looks like the conquering hero who spoke on behalf of the country, summoned its strength and sent the Russian running scared.

On a side note, Bryan vs. Rusev is definitely a match worth revisiting in the future whenever the bearded former WWE champion is cleared to return.

Eight-Man Tag Team Match

The product of the night's opening segment, John Cena, Dolph Ziggler, Ryback and Erick Rowan battled Seth Rollins, Kane, Big Show and Luke Harper in the main event.

The heels took control of the bout by isolating Ziggler and battering The Showoff. As the IC champion does perfectly, he took a tremendous beating but kept fans invested with his ability to create sympathy.

That Rollins and company did an excellent job of taunting the babyfaces while picking Ziggler apart only made matters that much more heated.

Ziggler made the hot tag to Cena, who exploded into the match. Chaos rained supreme, but in the end, the 15-time heavyweight champion delivered a huge Attitude Adjustment to Harper, who fell onto Big Show. He then pinned the former Wyatt Family member to secure the win.

Hulk Hogan joined Cena in celebrating with the troops to end the night.

Result

John Cena, Dolph Ziggler, Erick Rowan and Ryback defeated Kane, Big Show, Luke Harper and Seth Rollins.

Highlights and Quotes

"Kane? He actually Tombstoned The Bunny." -Michael Cole

"Big Show is kind of in the rebirth of his career." -So says Cole

Grade

B

Analysis

WWE does the multiman tag matches so well at this point that even when the Superstars involved sleepwalk through them, or move only at half-speed, the matches are still incredibly entertaining.

This one followed the formula to a tee, with Ziggler playing the face in peril, while Cena's Superman comeback popped the crowd and helped send the fans home happy.

Hulk Hogan waving Old Glory and standing tall with Cena to close out the show was the perfect cap on a family-friendly evening.