WWE/Iraq Update: Cena & Batista Check In, Lilian Garcia Ribbed

WWE World Heavyweight Champion John Cena has a blog checking in from Iraq. "I keep coming back here because I have a soft spot for the Armed Forces. It's the most important day on our calendar," Cena wrote. "During Tribute to the Troops, the troops are the stars! That is what makes it all worth it. It also means a lot to me coming to the Middle East this year as World Heavyweight Champion. It's going to be pretty cool. We offer the troops the opportunity to let their hair down, and have fun, and just enjoy the show."

Batista has a blog on the WWE Universe site talking about his trip to Iraq. He said he had been asking to come on the tour for years, but it never seemed to work out. "This year the scheduling finally worked out with me being on Raw and all now," Batista wrote. Batista also added that it's his pleasure to meet the servicemen, not theirs. "I am going be as much of a fan as the servicemen and women will be come show day! They have been so excited to see us so far, but they need to understand we are just as humbled and excited to spend time with them as they are with us," Batista wrote. "It's not their pleasure, it is ours!"

Joey Styles has a blog on the WWE Universe talking about two unwritten rules regarding the plane ride from the United States to Europe prior to reaching Iraq for the "Tribute to the Troops" tour. According to Styles, the first unwritten rule is "what happens on the plane stays on the plane." Although, Styles broke the first rule by informing readers of the consequences of the second unwritten rule, which is to not sleep on the first leg of the trip to Europe (before they arrived in Iraq, the WWE crew had to stop in Germany). Some of the WWE performers try to hide among the various cargo on the giant C-17 cargo plane the WWE crew takes to Iraq in order to get some sleep, but Styles said ring announcer Lilian Garcia broke the no-sleep rule and was caught in the act. "Lilian was unfortunately and unceremoniously awakened by a bucket of ice water being poured over her head," Styles wrote. "As JBL said, 'She looked so hot, we had to cool her off.'" Styles said JBL was not behind the ice bucket wake-up call, and that he will not reveal the actual person behind the "heinous act." However, Styles said "pirated video footage" may appear on John Morrison and The Miz's "Dirt Sheet" on WWE.com.