On Day 2 of Tribute to the Troops, The Big Show spoke to Joey Styles about his visit to the Middle East:

JOEY: So Big Show, you were here with Tribute To The Troops two years ago. What changed?

BIG SHOW: I was in Afghanistan two years ago, and I came over to Iraq the first time we came over when we started Tribute to the Troops. I’ve seen a dramatic change here in Baghdad, especially in the attitude of the soldiers.

[Escort-wise], the intensity level isn’t as strict as it was because they’ve done a good job over here. They’re starting to bring about an infrastructure. You can see where these people that were beaten down and persecuted and run into the ground by Saddam Hussein … you see now they are starting to pick themselves up and starting to get themselves back together.

You have to be absolutely blind to not see the positive changes the U.S. military has made, especially here in Baghdad.

JOEY:  How does it make you feel when the face of the servicepeople light up to meet you and marvel at your size?

SHOW: It’s humbling … Just by meeting someone, I can make their day. For me, it’s very flattering to say thank you for all the great work those people do. You know, it’s amazing to see how confident and how incredible these young people are over here.

Their skills, their pride in their country, their pride in themselves and their units … I’m so hyped to be over here. You’d have to beat me with a stick to keep me out of here.

Editor's Note: The preceeding was relayed from e-mail message reports from the WWE's Tribute to the Troops mission. Names of the bases visited have been omitted at the request of the U.S. Army, so as not to divulge WWE's location in Iraq.

For complete coverage of Tribute to the Troops, visit the Tribute section on WWE.com. Also, Leave your holiday messages for the troops in the Forums on WWE Universe.

WWE's Tribute to the Troops special airs Saturday, Dec. 20, at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.