WWE Gimmicks That FAILED The HARDEST Every Year (1985-2025)

21. Muhammad Hassan (2005)

Technically, Muhammad Hassan debuted on TV in late-2004, but it's really 2005 that's remembered for his worst/most offensive moments. Poor Marc Copani was keenly aware that he was race-baiting his way to WWE's main roster at the time. He said as much on VICE's 'Dark Side Of The Ring' episode, but the developmental hopeful was only doing as he was instructed and trying to impress the right people.

Those "right people" abandoned him once heat poured in from TV stations and fans unhappy with his portrayal as an enraged Arab-American who thought his culture had been unfairly generalised in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks. WWE played on pure xenophobia throughout Hassan's run, but it was actually the July '05 bombing in London that'd end his run.

Footage of Muhammad and several hooded men choking The Undertaker with piano wire then symbolically carrying him out aired on the same day as the attacks. UPN put full blame at WWE's door, and they demanded that the Hassan character be removed from broadcasts. Vince McMahon's group complied, so Muhammad was written out with a loss to 'Taker at the Great American Bash PPV and was never seen again.

At least until Copani bared his soul on 'Dark Side'.

WWE had hoped to turn Hassan into one of the most hated heels of his generation, and he was apparently going to win the old World Heavyweight Title from Batista at SummerSlam 2005. Those plans were shelved and he was taken off TV instead. There's no denying that the gimmick just shouldn't have happened. It was a bad idea from minute one.