“So anything I can do to give back to them or just to make sure I can go face-to-face and tell them thank you for all they do. They sacrifice so much. They’re at sea or at service overseas for great chunks of the year or years on end. Their families are home waiting for them.

“That sacrifice they make for us. It’s a great opportunity for me to tell them thank you.”

WWE conducted its stellar brand of sports entertainment at the Norfolk Scope in Norfolk, Va.

“The Sailors and the Marines here in the Hampton Roads area and their families were absolutely delighted to have the opportunity to meet the members of WWE and to be able to show them around the bases when they toured the bases and then to attend the main event downtown at the Norfolk Scope,” U.S. Rear Admiral Alexander said. “So it was a real treat for us to be able to host this group of wonderful people, and we look forward to doing it again whenever they’re ready.”

He added: “Whether you’re at home or you’re deployed, it’s always nice to have somebody stop, who doesn’t really have to, frankly, but have somebody stop and say, ‘Hey thanks for what you do. We recognize you make some sacrifices, and we appreciate that.’

“And so we’re grateful to WWE for taking the time to come down and spend some time with us here in Hampton Roads and for making us the subject of the 10th Tribute to the Troops.”

Sheamus teamed with Randy Orton against Big Show and Dolph Ziggler during “WWE Tribute To The Troops.”

“It was exciting, and we wanted to make sure that all the Naval Officers, Marines, everyone in the arena, everyone from Norfolk got the best show they possibly could get,” Sheamus said, “and that’s what we did. We went out there and gave them everything we had, as much as they deserve.”

Sheamus is a former two-time WWE champ as well as a World champ, U.S. champ, King of the Ring and Royal Rumble winner.

“I think they [troops] were the stars that night, too, because they were into every single minute of [the show], and they were an absolute joy to perform in front of,” Sheamus said. “With the crowd behind you like that, it makes our job that much easier and that much better.

“I always remember, hearing back in Ireland, America is the land of opportunity, and that’s exactly what it has been for me.”

• WWE offers free tickets to WWE shows for military personnel throughout the year.

• WWE, USA Network and NBC will honor the United States Armed Forces with its 10th annual holiday special, “WWE Tribute To The Troops,” presented by Slim Jim.

The holiday extravaganza will air on USA Network as a two-hour television special starting at 9 p.m. EST Wednesday, Dec.19 and on NBC as a one-hour television special at 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22.

“WWE Tribute To The Troops” has become a holiday tradition and is one of TV’s most patriotic and heartwarming shows.

U.S. Rear Admiral Alexander said: “The opportunity to sort of showcase our folks I think is a tremendous opportunity and to reaffirm for Americans what quality young men and women we have serving in our Armed Forces today as exemplified in this show by our Sailors.”