WWE Tribute to the Troops with Cody Rhodes and George Wallace

WWE Tribute to the Troops with Cody Rhodes and George Wallace

NBC joins forces with the WWE to honor the United States Armed Forces with the fourth annual holiday telecast of WWE Tribute to the Troops, which features wrestler Cody Rhodes and comedian George Wallace along with a slew of other stars. This year, WWE’s biggest Superstars, Divas and special guest stars, will travel to Fort Bragg, North Carolina for the hour-long special airing Saturday,
On WWE Tribute to the Troops, Grammy Award winning R&B Mary J. Blige, rockers Nickelback, comedian George Wallace, and WWE’s biggest Superstars and Divas entertain Fort Bragg military personnel and their families at the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville, NC.
Miss USA, Alyssa Campanella will make a special appearance along with Extra’s Maria Menounos, who will lace up her boots and step into the ring for a special Diva’s match.
WWE Tribute to the Troops will also include messages of encouragement and thanks from various celebrities such as Matthew McConaughey, Hugh Jackman, The Muppets, Robin Williams, Bradley Cooper and Nicole Kidman among others.
Ahead of this year’s WWE Tribute to the Troops on NBC, The Deadbolt spent a few minutes with wrestler Cody Rhodes and comedian George Wallace to get their thoughts on taking part in the special event and what it means to give back to the troops with the WWE.
THE DEADBOLT: Can you both talk about why it was important for you to be a part of the WWE Tribute to the Troops this year?
CODY RHODES: I was extremely excited and it was very important. It’s a huge undertaking that the WWE does every year, to show these men and women how important they are to all of us by beaming it across the television sets that we’re rooting for you, and what we do is what they fight for. It was just an unbelievably important experience.
GEORGE WALLACE: As for George Wallace, the new Mr. Vegas, I just thought it was awesome for the WWE to have such a presentation to give back to the troops who give so much to us. That is our purpose in life. Our purpose on Earth is to give back. Personally, just being invited to the show to give some laughs to the troops was just awesome. I choked up a few times just to see those service men and women out there. It’s just wonderful to give back and to make them happy and make them laugh.
I told jokes but Cody, Mark Henry and all of the stars there, they gave relaxation and comfort. It’s just nice to have entertainment they can give back to the community. So many people watch the WWE and it’s just wonderful to give back.
What I did for my part, for the next year, all of the troops across American and across the world, when you come to Las Vegas, you’re invited to the George Wallace Show at the fabulous Flamingo for free! So that’s what I can do to give back. If you come to Las Vegas, you’re in my show for free.
THE DEADBOLT: What was it like for you guys to hang out with Mary J. Blige and Nickelback?
RHODES: I have to say that Mary J. and Nickelback are class acts. It was great to see that during the day everyone did sound checks. We even got to see George. I thought it would be just a quick, “Here’s what I might do. Here’s what I might sing,” type of thing. But no, it was like an intimate concert – stand-up comedy for the WWE.
It was just a class act. They didn’t pull anything and knocked it out of the park. I was very impressed, Mary J. especially. She’s got it.
WALLACE: Cody, you don’t know this but Mary J. and I did promo this morning and I was still with her. She is a beautiful lady with a beautiful spirit and not just the music. Well, the music is great, but she has a beautiful spirit and is a beautiful, kind lady. I just love her. For her to do this on the show was just awesome.
I can’t tell you how the troops were at Fort Bragg, how appreciative they were. I mean, walking in, walking out, they just showed me love when I hit the property and when I was leaving the property. Even at the airport, it was just great. It was a great environment.