The performer behind the controversial Muhammad Hassan character from 2004-05 is returning to professional wrestling. 36-year-old, Marc Copani, made his return to the ring over the weekend, once again wrestling as the Hassan character. It was his first match in nearly 13 years.
Hassan defeated Papadon at the Dynasty King of Thrones event this Saturday.
In 2004, Hassan along with his ally, Khosrow (Shawn) Daivari, debuted on WWE programming in late 2004. Several vignettes were shown featuring Hassan and Daivari talking about the discrimination they receive as a result of stereotypes and prejudices.
At WrestleMania 21, Hassan and Daivari were involved in a segment with Hulk Hogan which led to the pair feuding with Hogan and Shawn Michaels.
The peak and beginning of the end to the storyline occurred on a taped episode of Smackdown from July 4th, 2005. Hassan was building towards a match at the Great American Bash with the Undertaker at the time. Undertaker defeated Daivari on this episode of Smackdown. During the match, however, Hassan appeared on the entrance ramp and gestured as if he was praying. Several men dressed in ski-masks then came out and attacked Undertaker. The men then lifted Daivari up over their heads and led him out of the arena while Hassan gave Taker the Camel Clutch in the ring.
The London Bombings took place 3 days after the tapings but before the Smackdown episode aired. Afterward, UPN put pressure on WWE to remove the Hassan character from their programming. Copani was released in 2005 and subsequently retired. This weekend was the first time Hassan wrestled a pro-match since losing to the Undertaker at the Great American Bash in 2005. It has since been revealed that WWE wanted to push the character to the moon. Had UPN not put pressure on WWE to drop the character, Hassan was planned to win the WWE Championship.
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