Ex-WWE Star Muhammad Hassan Breaks Silence on Controversial Angle with The Undertaker
Former WWE Superstar Muhammad Hassan has shed new light on one of the maximum arguable storylines in WWE history—his 2005 angle with The Undertaker. In a YouTube interview with fellow former Superstar Maven Huffman, Hassan, whose real call is Marc Copani, discussed the backlash that observed the infamous SmackDown phase, which eerily coincided with the devastating 7/7 London bombings.
Hassan’s person became one of the maximum polarizing figures in WWE whilst he debuted on Raw in December 2004. As a Jordanian-Palestinian heel, Hassan’s persona targeted on his grievances over the discrimination faced by Arab-Americans post-11th of September, tapping into actual-global anxieties and cultural tensions. He fast have become a hated determine, drawing boos from the crowd as he engaged in excessive-profile feuds with WWE legends like Sgt. Slaughter and Chris Jericho. But it turned into his involvement with The Undertaker in July 2005 that might cement his man or woman’s destiny—and ultimately end his profession in expert wrestling.
The Infamous SmackDown Segment
The debatable storyline unfolded after Hassan became drafted to SmackDown at some stage in the 2005 WWE Draft. On the July 7 episode, which was taped simply days in advance, Hassan summoned five masked guys to attack The Undertaker. Armed with clubs and piano cord, these guys brutally assaulted the Deadman, culminating in Hassan’s accomplice, Daivari, being performed of the ring as though a martyr. The symbolism changed into unmistakable, and it struck a chord—even though not the one WWE intended.
Hours earlier than the episode aired, a sequence of terrorist bombings devastated London, killing 52 harmless people and injuring more than seven hundred others. The timing couldn’t were worse. Rather than pulling the segment, WWE aired it in full, with only a brief disclaimer stating that the footage might be sensitive to some viewers. The fallout was immediate and severe. Fans, media outlets, and even sponsors were quick to condemn the storyline, and WWE found itself at the center of a firestorm of controversy.
Hassan reflected on this moment in his interview with Maven, describing how the segment and its aftermath turned his life upside down:
“It was filmed on a Tuesday. The London bombings happened on Thursday morning, and SmackDown was set to air that same night,” Hassan explained. “WWE made the decision to air it in its entirety, with me acting like a Muslim martyr being carried out of the ring. The backlash was immediate. It reached my hometown in Syracuse, where no one even knew I was from, and it was featured in Time magazine. It was everywhere.”
The Beginning of the End
The segment’s unlucky timing and insensitivity closer to actual-world occasions sealed Hassan’s destiny in WWE. The heat from the media, enthusiasts, and sponsors turned into too much for the agency to deal with. Despite being a rising famous person, WWE selected to section out the person entirely.
Hassan did get one final suit—a pay-in keeping with-view bout in opposition to The Undertaker at the Great American Bash on July 24, 2005. But even that match changed into tainted with the aid of the debate swirling round his man or woman. By September 21, 2005, Hassan changed into formally released from his WWE agreement, bringing an abrupt cease to his wrestling profession.
In his interview, Hassan also shared the moment he knew his time in WWE was over. He recalled a phone name with WWE professional John Laurinaitis, who bluntly recommended him against shopping a house because of the unsure future of his career. That verbal exchange, consistent with Hassan, became the writing on the wall:
“I was getting ready to buy a house, and John Laurinaitis called me and told me, ‘Don’t go through with it.’ That’s when I knew it was over.”
Reflecting on the Legacy of the Controversy
Hassan’s WWE run is frequently remembered as one of the maximum notorious chapters in the organization’s records. While WWE has when you consider that tackled debatable angles, none have stirred as a whole lot outrage because the storyline concerning Hassan and The Undertaker. The timing of the London bombings made the attitude specifically hard to justify, and WWE’s decision to air the footage notwithstanding the tragic events raised critical questions about the organization’s judgment on the time.
For Hassan, the talk had far-achieving effects. His wrestling career became correctly destroyed, and his call have become synonymous with one in every of WWE’s biggest missteps. Yet, in his verbal exchange with Maven, Hassan didn’t express bitterness. Instead, he focused at the unique demanding situations of portraying a man or woman so carefully tied to global activities and cultural sensitivities.
“It wasn’t just about me as a wrestler,” Hassan said. “It was about the world we were living in. And sometimes, wrestling reflects that, whether we want it to or not.”
Today, Marc Copani has moved on from wrestling and forged a new path in life. However, the legacy of Muhammad Hassan will forever remain a reminder of the risks and responsibilities that come with creating storylines in the wrestling world—and the real-life consequences they can sometimes have.
H/T: Fightful for the above transcription.
