For the first time since its 2003 debut, WWE’s annual Tribute to the Troops event has been shelved—perhaps permanently.
The long-running show, a WWE staple to honor military personnel, appears to have been quietly canceled. The news was broken by wrestling insider Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, who hinted that the event might not be returning anytime soon due to scheduling conflicts and shifting priorities under WWE’s new leadership.
Why the Cancellation?
Meltzer noted that as the year progressed, the lack of any announcement or taping plans for Tribute to the Troops raised questions.
“No more. It’s done. Obviously, the year being up, I think in the last month people were kind of asking when they’re taping it. It just was not being taped. They had too many other things going on. I don’t know if it’s done for good, but this is the first year that they haven’t done anything with that.”
The cancellation aligns with WWE’s packed calendar. The company recently revived Saturday Night’s Main Event as a regular feature and is preparing for WWE Raw’s move to Netflix in January 2025. Meanwhile, Tribute’s previous network home, Fox, is no longer in the WWE broadcast lineup following the company’s merger with Endeavor under TKO Group Holdings.
A McMahon Legacy Shelved?
The idea for Tribute to the Troops was reportedly spearheaded by Vince McMahon, with John Bradshaw Layfield playing a significant role in its execution. However, WWE’s new leadership—Nick Khan, Paul Levesque (Triple H), and Endeavor executives—have shifted priorities. With McMahon no longer steering the ship, it seems some of his hallmark traditions are being left behind.
Will Tribute Return?
While it’s unclear if Tribute to the Troops is gone for good, the event’s cancellation marks the end of an era for WWE. As the company focuses on new ventures and partnerships, the absence of this beloved tribute event leaves a void for fans who appreciated WWE’s salute to the armed forces.