WWE AXES Tribute to the Troops and NXT LVL Up?: Reports

A source at WWE has confirmed that the company will no longer be hosting its yearly Tribute to the Troops specials, according to Dave Meltzer on the most recent episode of Wrestling Observer Radio.

WWE Pulls the Plug on Tribute to the Troops and NXT LVL Up

Meltzer pointed out Vince McMahon and WWE Hall of Famer John Bradshaw Layfield created Tribute to the Troops, which made its debut in December 2003. WWE broadcast the shows on Christmas after traveling to Baghdad, Iraq. Following 2009, the specials were filmed as stand-alone TV specials that aired on NBC and FOX after being relocated to different military installations across the US. In 2019, there was only one episode that was not broadcast on television. December 2023 was the last episode.

Additionally, the NXT Level Up show has been canceled, according to Fightful Select and Bodyslam.net. Last Thursday's NXT television tapings included the filming of the final episodes. The upcoming WWE LFG reality show, which is scheduled to premiere on A&E in early 2025, is rumored to take the place of NXT Level Up.

In February 2022, NXT Level Up made its debut on Peacock and the WWE Network on a Friday night at 10:00 p.m. ET. It took the place of 205 Live. Please take note that SmackDown will switch to a three-hour format starting on Friday, January 3 due to the cancellation of Level Up.

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This news marks a significant shift in WWE's programming strategy. The cancellation of Tribute to the Troops concludes a 20-year tradition of honoring the U.S. military, while the end of NXT Level Up signals a potential change in the developmental landscape. With SmackDown expanding to three hours to fill the vacated time slot, fans can expect a revamped Friday night experience on WWE.