Loss Posted July 21, 2005 Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 From 1Wrestling: UPN executives have reportedly made it clear to WWE that they don't want the Muhammed Hassan character on their network anymore. Hassan has been held off Smackdown the last two shows after the controversy that erupted when Hassan was involved in a segment that simulated terrorist activity. The segment aired the same night as the London Subway attacks two weeks ago, and prompted a flood of negative press. Considering Hassan is pencilled into face Batista at Summerslam, I find this hilarious. Looks like a decision they made finally had consequences to it. I feel bad for Hassan getting hung out to dry like this, but I think it's great that WWE is probably going to have to change a lot of their long term plans now because they screwed up so royally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Dog Posted July 21, 2005 Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 Good, I'm glad that such a horrible wrestler won't be getting the continued push. This is what you get for such horrible writing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sek69 Posted July 21, 2005 Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 Good, I'm glad that such a horrible wrestler won't be getting the continued push. This is what you get for such horrible writing. That's a fairly ignorant statement. You can argue about his push, but to say Hassan is a horrible wrestler is flat wrong. He's been hamstrung by his gimmick and by being forced to adapt to the WWE "Wrestling For Dummies" style. He's no Benoit to be sure, but he's far from horrible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Dog Posted July 21, 2005 Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 He's a terrible wrestler on top of having a terrible gimmick. The guy playing his manager is more competent in the ring than he is. This is a guy that has blown irish whips live on tv. Shelton Benjamin couldn't even drag a watchable match out of him. I'm glad to see him off of tv. Now maybe they can repackage Daivari and use him as a cruiserweight. Hassan can go rot in OVW for all I care. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loss Posted July 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 This is the public statement WWE issued last week that I hadn't seen until now. This is quite humorous. Statement on Last Thursday's WWE SmackDown! The acts of terrorism that occurred in London last week are untenable, and all freedom-loving people around the world have joined together to condemn them. It would have been better if this segment did not coincide with the events in London last week. Putting timing aside, we believe the segment added an interesting dimension to our exploration of the Mohammed Hassan character and the plight of Arab-Americans in this country. Essentially, Hassan called in some additional muscle in last week?s SmackDown! to beat on the Undertaker to give him an advantage in their #1 Contender match at the Great American Bash, a tactic used by other Superstars to gain a competitive advantage before a crucial match. Because these henchmen wore masks and camouflage pants, and because Hassan is of Arab descent, some viewers may have leapt to the conclusion that these henchmen are terrorists. They are not, as our viewers will learn in future episodes. Anyone who has followed the story of Mohammed Hassan knows that he is an American, born in Detroit, of Arab descent. He believes that since 9/11, he is being treated differently by his fellow Americans because of his Arab background. This has driven him to embrace his Arab roots, further estranging him from his fellow Americans. Many of the points Hassan raises have relevance to the prejudice of our society today. However, the way he goes about expressing these arguments is what turns people against him. Hassan is not a terrorist. Because he is dissatisfied with some aspects of America, and expresses those opinions, does not make him a terrorist. Because he chooses to wear some Arab clothing does not make him a terrorist. The men who assisted him last week may share the same feelings of disenfranchisement experienced by Hassan, they may wear masks, but that also does not make them terrorists. Who and what they are will be revealed in the near future. It is these stereotypical images that many people hold that we hope to debunk as part of Hassan?s story. Ultimately, our focus is to entertain our viewers by telling compelling stories with interesting characters who catch the public?s imagination. When we can, we believe it adds to the characters and storylines to connect with topical issues. If, through Hassan?s story, we raise the level of discussion on how Americans view their peers of Arab descent, than that is a welcome additional outcome. Suffice it to say that WWE believes that in America, no matter what our race, religious creed, ethnic backgrounds or opinions, we all share the common bond of being Americans. We should all be open to the beliefs of individual Americans, recognizing that it is this diversity upon which America is based. Through this storyline, we urge our viewers to keep an open mind on these issues and issues expressed by other Americans with which they might not agree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest EastCoastJ Posted July 21, 2005 Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 I'm glad to see him off of tv. Now maybe they can repackage Daivari and use him as a cruiserweight. Hassan can go rot in OVW for all I care. Or go right back to Raw, where I'm 100% certain Vince McMahon would send them rather than scrapping the Hassan character. Just because UPN doesn't want Hassan doesn't mean SpikeTV cares. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loss Posted July 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 I was thinking that might be a possibility too, although it may be Viacom that has a problem with it, in which case they're screwed. We'll see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slasher Posted July 21, 2005 Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 Vince has an ego. He'll continue running the Hassan angle. Hell, if he has to stay dark til Summerslam, Vince would do that, and still put the belt on Hassan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sek69 Posted July 21, 2005 Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 Its really funny to read the WWE statement, you can almost hear the Battle Hymn of the Republic in the background, especially towards the end. I love when WWE gets heat for something stupid, it's always because the viewer didn't interpret it properly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strummer Posted July 21, 2005 Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 from Keller, so take it with a grain of salt: UPN has told WWE it doesn't want Muhammad Hassan to be part of the program from this point forward. WWE creative is working on the situation, and the plan right now is to have Undertaker kill him off on Sunday. The backlash by sponsors or local affiliates must have been quite strong after the ill-timed terrorist-themed angle on the July 7 Smackdown. So I guess it's Taker v Batista at Summerslam. Have to think that program won't do Dave any favors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sek69 Posted July 21, 2005 Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 Kill him off like Paul Bearer? Too bad the Dudleys are gone.... "D-VON, GET THE CEMENT MIXER!" Guess we'll be seeing the debut of new WWE superstar Mark Mangus soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest KingPK Posted July 21, 2005 Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 Hassan/Batista probably would have been worse. I don't think I'd like Dave being the "rah rah USA" face. This is a mercy killing because the Hassan character was fucked six ways from Sunday with this controversy. He could go back to RAW, but Cena's squashed him already, so what's the point? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sek69 Posted July 21, 2005 Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 The biggest irony is that getting banned from UPN just confirms his whole gimmick. What I'm wondering is if this will make WWE second guess their ideas knowing that the network has veto power. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loss Posted July 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 They'd get equally bad publicity for having him switch shows like that. I think this Monday on RAW, they should bring HHH back and have him do something horribly offensive, resulting in Viacom demanding that HHH be taken off of television permanently. In fact, that would be a good solution to a lot of problems. I think it's worth sacrificing one show and trying to make it the most offensive two hours of programming of all time, featuring all my least favorites as prominently as possible. They may be onto something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest EastCoastJ Posted July 21, 2005 Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 I'm going to cry if The Undertaker just squashes Hassan. WWE has gotten so wreckless with people's careers. Say what you will about Magnus in the ring, but he's one hell of a talent in all other areas and I could easily see his career ruined by this terrible decision by WWE and these defining gimmicks that they cut the legs out from underneath their own talent with. They ruined Matt Morgan's career, they ruined Rico's career, they are on a fast track to ruining Nick Dinsmore's career. And the sad thing is, no guy who's spent three years in developmental making shit has any leverage on WWE at all, so they pretty much have to go along with any shitty gimmick they are given. It's sad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loss Posted July 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 Eugene wasn't a bad gimmick, it was just beaten into the ground far too quickly. They still need to have him do the heel turn admitting it was an act, which is the proper follow-up. Plus, it was Dinsmore's idea. People often forget that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rob Posted July 21, 2005 Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 I love how WWE.com tells the fans that if they thought a group of masked arabs who ritualisticly carried off their fallen "hero", that makes the fans prejudice for buying into the masked arabs = terrorists stereotype. I really don't miss this company at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Posted July 21, 2005 Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 I love how WWE.com tells the fans that if they thought a group of masked arabs who ritualisticly carried off their fallen "hero", that makes the fans prejudice for buying into the masked arabs = terrorists stereotype. I really don't miss this company at all. Agreed. I would love to see CJ or someone come in and point out the similarities between that angle and the beheading videos. I have, nor will ever see the beheading videos (or the angle for that matter), so I can not do it myself. As for Batista/Taker, I don't mind it much. Undertaker is a good enough wrestler and good with Batista's type of style. Besides, he is one of the most credible opponents WWE can use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest WidowsPeak Posted July 21, 2005 Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 WWE Statement Concerning Muhammad Hassan Due to the unfortunate terrorist attacks in London on Thursday, July 7, which coincided with our pre-produced WWE SmackDown! program, UPN has asked us to be sensitive to the usage of the Arab-American character, Muhammad Hassan. We have agreed with UPN, and have not had the character on SmackDown! since that date. It is uncertain as to whether or not the WWE will continue with this character beyond this Sunday?s Pay-Per-View, The Great American Bash. http://www.wwe.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Cam Chaos Posted July 21, 2005 Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 WWE pulled a bullshit publicity trick that has backfired on them and blame the distributor and the fans for not "getting" Hassan and his group of ski masked friends. Bullshit. I hope they get their comeuppance for this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sek69 Posted July 21, 2005 Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 WWE Statement Concerning Muhammad Hassan Due to the unfortunate terrorist attacks in London on Thursday, July 7, which coincided with our pre-produced WWE SmackDown! program, UPN has asked us to be sensitive to the usage of the Arab-American character, Muhammad Hassan. We have agreed with UPN, and have not had the character on SmackDown! since that date. It is uncertain as to whether or not the WWE will continue with this character beyond this Sunday’s Pay-Per-View, The Great American Bash. http://www.wwe.com I love it, they act like if there hadn't been an attack that day, it would have been okay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sek69 Posted July 22, 2005 Report Share Posted July 22, 2005 I noticed Hassan was still in the SD intro, I guess they didn't have enough time to edit it out before airing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Crucifixio Jones Posted July 22, 2005 Report Share Posted July 22, 2005 Hassan character to be dropped by Dave Meltzer [email protected] We've had confirmation that WWE is planning on dropping the Muhammad Hassan character due to all the negative publicity, so he won't be moving to Raw. Nothing to my knowledge has been said about the Daivari character, who at least earlier today, they wanted to keep. I actually liked the Hassan character but leave it to WWE to screw themselves with their stupid angles and "shock" tactics. Not to mention now they have to shelve a good talker and decent worker for a bit to repackage him. I wonder what Sass makes of all this. For years, Vince McMahon has drilled it into our heads that he's not in the rasslin' business at all; he's in the entertainment business. In the '80s, he coined the term "sports-entertainment" to describe his product. And just a few years ago, he re-named his company "World Wrestling Entertainment." And thus I say to Vince: if you're going to go through all that trouble, then you better make sure you work some of that "entertainment" stuff into your programming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest SweetMama Scaat Posted July 22, 2005 Report Share Posted July 22, 2005 Sucks for Hassan (whats his real name?) to get screwed like that. The best option is to move him back to Raw, with "a renewed vigor" and make his way back up the ladder. Though the WWE is crafty every once in a while, maybe theyll jus change his name and slighty tweak the character elements. Thus getting around UPNs edict. As long as they dont turn in him face and start calling him "M.H. Americana" or something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mike Campbell Posted July 22, 2005 Report Share Posted July 22, 2005 I think this actually speaks volumes about the state of wrestling today. Back in 1998-2000 when Vince was making money hand over fist, setting record buyrates, record ratings, selling out merchandise faster than he could make it. Does anyone think that USA or UPN would have stepped in and demaded some offensive character be removed from the show? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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