After waking up this morning in one of Saddam's palaces and having breakfast with the troops, Randy Orton, Chris Jericho, Big Show and I flew on Blackhawk choppers from our home base to four FOBs (or Forward Operating Bases) in the "Green Zone" (or the International Zone, or "IZ" in Baghdad.
Yesterday, 1,023 new members of the Iraqi Police (or "IP") graduated from training. What made this event significant is that these new IP members were trained by IP members, not the U.S. Military. Just a year ago, Iraqis training other Iraqis to secure their own country was inconceivable.
A great deal of the security forces here in Baghdad are Ugandan and Peruvians. The Peruvians seem more at ease while the Ugandans look ready for action at all times.
The Superstars pointed out that since they were here last year, Baghdad is amazingly more secure. The new U.S. Embassy is complete, and it is massive. In fact, it is the single largest embassy in the world.
Some other observations about the tour:
Somehow, between meeting our soldiers and having lunch, Randy Orton squeezed in an intense 30-minute weight-training workout. Orton is a machine and I pity his opponents.
Spending all day with Big Show gives one a true appreciation for how massive he truly is. Big Show may not be of the human species.
Chris Jericho maintains his rock star aura and cocky demeanor at all times, even when profusely thanking our men and women in uniform. It must be very self-assuring to feel that you are the most talented person in your chosen profession ... and probably be correct.
As we board the Blackhawks to return to home base, all I can think about is the modesty of the hardest working people I have ever met, the members of the United States military.
Ask any of these selfless people to finish the sentence, "A soldier is..." and they all have the same answer. "A soldier is someone who does their job and puts their country ahead of themselves."
God bless the United States military!
Editor's Note: The preceeding was relayed from text 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.
Hi everyone, this is Joey Styles aboard a C-17 at Andrews Air Force Base in our nation’s capital, getting ready to head over to Germany first, before heading to our destination.
I’m joined by another first-timer here for Tribute to the Troops, one-half of the “greatest tag team of the 21st Century” ….
THE MIZ: Now tilt your head when you say that…
JOEY: Tilt my head?
THE MIZ: A little to the left… that’s how you say it …
JOEY: “…The GREATEST Tag Team of the 21st Century!!”
THE MIZ: This is my first trip to Iraq. I’m finally going to grace my presence to Iraq, in support of all the troops … and them in support of me. I’m so good looking,
I feel like the women have not had a nice-looking gentlemen like The Miz come over to Iraq to see them and shake their hands and hug them. I mean, smell me… I smell like “hombre”, the cologne of REAL men.
JOEY: Well, I smell something…
THE MIZ: It smells absolutely fantastic … Imagine these women when the Chick Magnet comes in. They’ve seen guys in their gear all the time. Then they are seeing me in my Coach coats and my $200 jeans, and they’ll be like “Oh my God! This is the most amazing thing ever!” I’m excited… the ladies are excited!
(interruption...)
THE MIZ: Oh, and we’re heading over to Iraq right now and gas is $2 a gallon. When we get back, mark my words, 99 cents a gallon!
Editor's Note: The preceeding was transcribed from audio reports from the WWE's Tribute to the Troops mission. 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.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008, 11:22 AM EST
[General]
I thought I would take a moment to retort JBL's blog from earlier this week.
1.) JBL criticized my haircut and claimed his hair is always perfect.
Actually John, your hair has been a bit out of place every time you take World Champion, CM Punk's Go To Sleep to the chin...which seems to be every time you step in the ring with him. Due to the unique nature of the Scramble Match this Sunday at Unforgiven, I predict you will feel the GTS at least three times...nighty night.
2.) JBL claimed I am cheap.
Guilty but we can't all marry money. JBL being married to Meredith Whitney is the tenth wonder of the World. Of course, the eight was WWE Hall of Famer, Andre The Giant and the ninth is another WWE marriage which involves an overachiever which I dare not mention lest I want to be wished the best in my future endeavors before my contract expires in two years and three months.
3.) JBL claimed I am a fan of his new, soon to be released energy drink.
True. I am happy to share with the world that I happily consume this product almost daily and NEVER workout without taking.
In all seriousness, JBL should be praised for balancing his three careers; WWE Main Eventer, FOX News contributior and CEO of Layfield Energy...only in America.
"World Wrestling Entertainment has come to terms on the release of ECW Superstar Stevie Richards. WWE wishes him the best in all his future endeavors."
In my seven and a half years with the Original ECW and 2 and a half here at WWE, I have read these announcements at least one hundred times. I think we all become somewhat callous to these announcments because people being fired from their places of employement are common occurances and just an everyday part of doing business.
However, Stevie Richards and I have been friends for over fifteen years and I and followed his painful quest to continue his dream of wrestling for a living through a broken neck and subsequent throat surgeries to repair a severed vocal cord as a result of the initial fusion of the vertebrae in his neck. In fact, earlier this year I interviewed Stevie on television about his painful surgeries and love of wrestling which kept him from retiring despite doctors' reccomendations.
As I finish my blog for this week, I know that if ECW Original, Stevie Richards decides his future endeavors will include continuing to wrestle, then it shall be.
August 15, 2008