Ex-WWE Star Recalls Controversial Angle With The Undertaker
Former WWE Superstar Muhammad Hassan has shared details behind a controversial 2005 angle with The Undertaker.
Muhammad Hassan made an immediate impression on WWE after debuting on Raw in December 2004 as a villainous character of Jordanian-Palestinian descent who was bemoaning treatment of his countrymen in the US following the 9/11 terrorist attacks whilst also claiming to be held back in WWE due to prejudice.
Hassan would go on to battle the likes of Sgt Slaughter and Chris Jericho in his first few months with the company, as well as participating in an in-ring segment with legendary American hero Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania 21 on 3rd April 2005.
A switch to SmackDown followed in the 2005 WWE Draft, with Hassan summonning five men to attack The Undertaker with clubs and piano wire before the carried away Hassan’s sidekick, Daivari. The show was taped on 4th July 2005, but aired three days later.
The angle became infamous after 52 innocent people were killed in the London terrorist attacks on 7/7/2005. 784 people were also injured in the horrific incident. Rather than scrapping the pre-taped angle from SmackDown, WWE aired the footage in it’s entirety, which drew criticism from viewers and sponsors alike.
Speaking recently in a YouTube interview with fellow former Superstar Maven Huffman, Hassan (real name Marc Copani) revealed details behind the angle, with the backlash ultimately leading to the company deciding to shelve the character:
“So this was filmed on a Tuesday. The London bombing happened I believe on a Thursday morning, SmackDown was set to go on air Thursday evening.
They made the decision to air it in its entirety with this match with Shawn acting like the Muslim martyr being carried out of the ring with a [text] at the bottom in England talking about, you know, this may be sensitive to some viewers.
When this happened on SmackDown, it reached, it was in the local newspaper in Syracuse and no one even knew that I was from Syracuse. It was in Time Magazine, it was everywhere.”
Hassan would go on to have a pay-per-view bout against The Undertaker at Great American Bash on 24th July 2005, but was written off tv following the bout and ultimately released by the company on 21st September 2005.
Ex-WWE Star Explains Moment He Knew He Would Be Released
Former WWE Superstar Muhammad Hussan has detailed the exact moment he knew he would be released from the company following the controversial angle.
H/T: Fightful for the above transcription.