Ahead of tonight’s WWE Tribute to the Troops special, WWE stars Dolph Ziggler and Charlotte Flair spoke with Scott Fishman of TV Insider, and below are some interview highlights:

Dolph Ziggler on the importance of WWE Tribute to the Troops:

“We see kids and adults going to shows, but when we actually have the chance to say thank you to these brave men and women who are constantly putting their lives on the line, there is mutual respect there,” he said. “But it’s the least we can do for them. We get a chance to see them, high-five, shake hands, hug. It’s truly rewarding…

“You watch it go from almost an experimental stage with the idea of doing something special for the troops. Now it becomes a thing where we are getting prepared a couple of months out. We find out we are setting up a ring just to the side of an aircraft carrier and having a schedule for the day, broken off into groups. It has become part of our routine and runs on a tight schedule. The first couple of years you aren’t sure what is going to happen. It becomes this institution you look forward to now.”

Charlotte Flair on her past tour of Afghanistan for Tribute to the Troops:

“It was an experience of a lifetime,” she said. “Just being on base, literally a week-and-a-half after the bombing had happened. Morale was down. Just to know that we were able to give them some kind of joy and mix up the monotony of their daily life. It was hard not to tear up, but you don’t want to tear up in front of them. They are gone from their families for a year or more. And just to hear the noises at night. Hearing the bombs coming over. It’s crazy. They are always in danger to protect what we often times take for granted every single day.”