10 WWE Wrestlers PROMISED Titles (That Never Got Them)
8. Muhammad Hassan - World Heavyweight Championship
Despite being on WWE television for less than a calendar year, Muhammad Hassan’s controversial character saw him rise to notoriety. He was featured in segments alongside some of the biggest names in the business such as Hogan, Stone Cold and The Undertaker which isn’t a privilege that every rookie gets.
It was going to get even bigger however. With SummerSlam looming that August, Vince wanted a heel for babyface World Heavyweight Champion Batista to drop the belt to and at the time there was no one attracting more heat than Hassan. Considering the event was to be held in Washington, D.C. - not only the nation’s capitol but also Batista’s home city - it seemed like the perfect hotplate for a huge crowd reaction.
However, Hassan’s western-critical character jumped the shark when, after losing a number one contendership match to the Undertaker, he seemed to pray for the arrival of masked ne'er do wells. Unfortunately, this segment infamously aired on the evening of a real terrorist attack in London which drew mass controversy to the company. The long and short of which saw Hassan’s character written off TV and led to his eventual release.
Despite the fact that it didn’t happen, it’s plain to see that Hassan as WWE Champion was the direction the company had been heading.