10 Plain Wrong Wrestling Myths Perpetuated By The IWC
9. WWE Should Bring Back Muhammad Hassan
This myth has gained an inordinate amount of traction in recent years.
As soon as the brand extension was announced a couple of months ago, the clamour for his return grew exponentially. It's likely that Hassan symbolises to a large portion of the fanbase that controversy = intrigue, and WWE would be a more interesting place with him back in it.
But how true is that?
The character was abhorrent, made all the worse by WWE's bait and switch. He wasn't a terrorist sympathiser - until he was. The (sought-for) crowd reactions had radicalised him, which was WWE's transparent attempt at putting a subversive spin on things. They thought they couldn't get away with booking him as a terrorist from the off - no more than they could by the end, as it happens.
He was over. There's no arguing that. But what do you want from wrestling? Do you want to boo at a picture of Vladimir Putin, something you can do when opening a newspaper - or do you want to react in a genuine, lasting way to somebody who is putting their own stamp on their own performance?
Putting politics aside, how many memorable or entertaining Hassan matches can you name off the top of your head? The man was average at best in the ring.
His release was unfair, granted. He ultimately paid the price for the regressive ineptitude of the creative team. Hassan however has since retired from wrestling altogether. It's not as if he has the drive and determination to prove WWE wrong.
Why not create buzz for a talent who is genuinely working hard to get back into the fold?