10 Most Offensive WWE Moments Ever

The Muhammad Hassan character had every opportunity to be a brave step forward for the wrestling industry in the portrayal of Arab-Americans in the post-script of the September 11th 2001 attacks.

The nuanced gimmick called for Hassan to appeal to fans not to revert to many in-built stereotypes they may have held, which in turn came off as smug and condescending and made him a heel by personality rather than ethnicity.

Sadly, WWE couldn't help themselves, and the character rapidly became the latest in a long line of angry foreigners ready to use the company as a vehicle for anti-American diatribes.

In July 2005 he was rumoured to be a contender for World Champion Dave Batista following several dire 'USA: LOVE IT, OR LEAVE IT!' feuds, but a distasteful and horrendously timed segment with The Undertaker finished the dated persona for good.

Following a beatdown of Hassan cohort Daivari by 'The Deadman', a gang of masked assailants struck at the praying Hassan's behest, garotting him with piano wire before carrying "martyr" Daivari out on their shoulders.

Taped on July 4th, the segment inexplicably aired in full on international (though not British) broadcasts on July 8th despite the London 7/7 bombings killing 56 and injured hundreds more. Networks forced WWE to hit the panic button on the character.

Hassan's WWE career (in real and storyline terms) was appropriately laid to rest by The Undertaker at the 'Great American Bash' later that month.