Post-9/11, terrorism naturally became a sensitive subject, not only in America but around the world. It was a topic writers in entertainment were best staying clear of, unless handled with extreme research and care. Watch Homeland, if you want to know how much attention to detail is required in order to deliver on the hard reality of terrorism, without upsetting an audience. However, WWE is not a writing team that I would trust to sensitively approach the subject. Initially, Muhammad Hassan wanted to fight a stereotype. Hoping to put an end to the view shared by small-minded people, that all Middle Eastern-American's were potential terrorists. Many people with a Middle-Eastern background had been victims of this particular stereotype and it would have been great to see the WWE help raise awareness on the matter. Naturally though, the company turned Muhammad Hassan into a terrorist. In a feud with The Undertaker, Hassan had a gang of men covered from head to toe in all black, including ski-masks to cover their faces, attack The Deadman. They beat and choked The Undertaker with clubs before carrying him out of the arena. The 7/7 London bombings happened days before that show was due to air and with no time to make changes to the taped episode, the company released their own version of a terrorist attack whilst everybody was still grieving. Due to the negative media onslaught the WWE received about Muhammad Hassan's actions, he was soon removed from the roster.
A wrestling enthusiast, currently educating the youth of Taiwan English; there are now a bunch of Asian kids running around with Yorkshire accents. Read about that trip and others at dragonstravel.com.
