Here is the rewritten content in my own words:
—
1. Marc Copani received his training at OVW under the guidance of Jim Cornette. Initially an athlete, Copani entered professional wrestling as a heel character named Mark Magnus in OVW, WWE’s developmental system. He climbed the ranks to become the OVW champion, thanks to Cornette’s booking. Cornette recalls that within two years, Copani went from being one of the lowest wrestlers to a main event star in OVW, until WWE called him with a new idea: they wanted him to portray an Arab character.
2. Muhammad Hassan’s character was born out of post-9/11 anti-Arab sentiments. His manager was Sean Daivari, who spoke Persian. The concept was Vince McMahon’s creation, reflecting the intense patriotism at WWE after 9/11. Hassan was presented initially in an exaggerated manner but later evolved into a more serious figure representing an American facing discrimination. His infamous debut segment on December 14th, 2004, where he suspended Mick Foley and criticized the military, drew massive heat from the fans, exactly as WWE intended. This character sparked deep controversy, as commentator Jean Snitzky said, “People didn’t just hate him. They wanted to kill him.”
3. Muhammad Hassan remained in character constantly, which led to real-life challenges. In 2004, during WWE’s show in Iraq amid ongoing wars, Hassan’s character highlighted hypocrisy and prejudice, but American audiences weren’t receptive. WWE pushed Copani to stick religiously to the role, causing fear among some fans. He experienced firsthand the biases reflected in his storyline. Additionally, a backstage incident with Eddie Guerrero over the camel clutch finisher escalated until Kurt Angle intervened, resulting in a costly but reconciliatory resolution.
4. The London terrorist bombings led to the end of Marc Copani’s wrestling career. Muhammad Hassan had moments sharing the ring with Hogan and had become a darker, more radical character resembling a terrorist. Despite internal discontent with how the gimmick evolved, plans were underway to make Hassan a world champion. However, after the July 7, 2005 attacks in London, the scheduled SmackDown episode featuring Hassan aired with warnings, but the content, including attacks on The Undertaker and Hassan shouting “Praise Allah,” crossed a significant line. Pressure from networks, sponsors, and Arab groups forced WWE to retire the character. Hassan’s final match was a loss to The Undertaker at The Great American Bash, and he never appeared again. Copani later pursued education, becoming a teacher and principal, reflecting proudly on fulfilling his wrestling dream despite the hardships.
—
Fan Take: This story is a critical piece of WWE history, showing how wrestling storylines can intersect with real-world events and sentiments, sometimes with controversial and lasting consequences. For WWE fans, it’s a reminder of the delicate balance between entertainment and sensitivity, and how the industry evolves through lessons learned from such impactful characters and narratives.
