A holiday-themed episode for a long-running television series is as inevitable as taxes, or the “Electric Slide” at a wedding reception. In the case of SmackDown’s 227th broadcast, however, the halls were decked not in the traditional Yuletide colors of red, silver and gold, but in a sea of muted khaki fatigues. From a ring set up outside Camp Victory in Baghdad, home of the combined Joint Task Force 7, WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon had one important thing to say to more than 5,000 U.S. troops: “Thank you.” And with that, the December 25, 2003 edition of SmackDown launched WWE’s first-ever “Christmas in Iraq.”

This was far more than two historic hours of WWE television; for WWE’s Chairman and Superstars, it was a sincere honor to deliver a holiday-cut slice of Americana to the homesick troops serving their country in Operation: Iraqi Freedom. More important, for the men and women sacrificing their freedoms in order to defend others’, introducing the Superstars to their very dangerous world provided a much-need diversion for everyone involved.

Needless to say, the gift of giving was in full effect on this very special SmackDown. Disguised as Jolly Ol’ St. Nick, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin jingled Mr. McMahon’s bells with a Christmas Stunner. The APA (Faarooq and a flak-jacketed JBL) pounded away at Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas. Rikishi squashed the man-beast Rhyno, while Eddie Guerrero lied, cheated and stole his way to victory over Chris Benoit. Armed Forces men nominated Diva Torrie Wilson as their favorite stocking stuffer in a Santa’s Little Helper Contest. And shortly after freestyling a heartfelt message intended solely for the troops, John Cena gave then-United States Champion Big Show an exclusively monumental FU.

After that last match, Stone Cold came out to share Stunners with both Cena and Show, then demanded that Mr. McMahon and the other WWE Superstars return to the ring. Not so he could stomp mudholes in either the naughty or the nice—besides, he was having more fun repeatedly Stunning the glazed-over Big Show—but so they could properly salute the troops. “Thank you very much for everything that you men and women do for us,” he declared. “We love you to death, and that’s the bottom line, ’cause Stone Cold said so!”

Truly, this “Christmas in Iraq” was unforgettable for everyone involved, and worthy of ranking as WWE.com’s No. 10 Most Memorable Moment in SmackDown History. Hopefully, however, it’s an overseas holiday tradition that will end for the U.S. troops sooner rather than later.