Undisputed Tag Team Champion Sami Zayn might be probably the most standard WWE superstars. His character is relatable to followers as a goofy, fun-loving, but devoted wrestler. However, whereas working within the indies, Zayn thought that his WWE profession can be very totally different.
While speaking on Inside The Ropes, Zayn revealed that he at all times thought that if he ever made it to WWE, he would play the position of a terrorist and have a personality much like that. He stated, “That was just the perception and the portrayal of Arabs and Muslims on television. Never mind WWE, just in the media. It was always sort of a thing in the back of my head [that] I’d love to change that one day.”
Sami Zayn additionally stated that, being Muslim, followers have at all times had a unfavorable picture of the faith whereas watching the product. He aimed to vary views as one of many high abilities on the roster. Fortunately, Zayn was profitable in doing so, as he turned the primary Muslim and Syrian-descent famous person to essential occasion WrestleMania in any capability.
WWE has additionally helped Sami Zayn with the portrayal of Arabs and Muslims in a greater approach via their latest excursions to the Middle East. Sami Zayn turned the primary Syrian to seem on WWE programming in Saudi Arabia after establishing diplomatic relations between the 2 nations. The Champion additionally visited the sacred Mecca, because the journey was lined by the WWE documentary crew. Zayn referred to the journey as an enriching expertise.
Multiple occasions when WWE used the terrorist angle of their programming
The Undertaker choked by Muhammad Hassan (by way of Twitter)Portraying Middle Eastern wrestlers as heels shouldn’t be new to WWE. The development might be seen for over 4 many years, as The Iron Sheikh was probably the most hated heels within the business in the course of the Nineteen Eighties. His character as an Iraqi sympathizer in the course of the Gulf War received numerous warmth from the followers as he feuded towards The American Hero Hulk Hogan.
In late 2004 and 2005, Muhammed Hassan debuted on WWE programming and began attacking WWE Superstars. His character was an Arab-American who hated Americans and was accompanied by a gaggle of terrorists. Unfortunately, the section when Hassan and his group attacked The Undertaker coincided with the London bombing, which killed a number of folks.
The community instantly canceled Hassan’s character, and the storyline was scrapped instantly. Due to the fan backlash, the wrestler taking part in the character of Muhammad Hassan, Marc Copani, retired from wrestling. He solely returned for one match in 2019, which was over 15 years after his run within the WWE.
