Servicemembers overseas get free wrestling broadcast Published July 21, 2005 WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- World Wrestling Entertainment will offer its July 24 pay-per-view special, "SmackDown! The Great American Bash," free for broadcast on American Forces Network as a way of thanking servicemembers and their families for their service to America.The program will be broadcast from Buffalo, N.Y., and will be available to servicemembers and Defense Department civilians stationed in more than 177 countries and U.S. territories, according to a WWE news release."While our men and women of the armed forces are serving throughout the world, we know they are away from their homes and their families,” said Kevin Dunn, WWE executive vice president of television production. “So we are pleased to provide them with a little piece of home as a token of our thanks for all they are doing during this challenging time.""For over 60 years, AFN has been dedicated to bringing our military men and women serving overseas the most popular American broadcasts," said Larry Marotta, an AFN television chief. "Our wrestling fans will be able to enjoy even more WWE, and they'll be able see it free on AFN Spectrum almost as soon as they would if they were watching at home."WWE superstars were some of the first celebrities to visit wounded servicemembers as they returned from Iraq and Afghanistan. They have sent millions of dollars worth of T-shirts, videos and DVDs, promotional items, magazines and CDs to servicemembers on the front lines, WWE officials said.For the past two years, superstars also have performed a televised holiday special from Iraq, which was broadcast to troops around the globe."The armed forces have shown WWE great support during our base visits and hospital visits, so we look at this broadcast as one way we can honor all of them for their bravery and courage," Mr. Dunn said. (Courtesy of American Forces Press Service)