In WWE land, Arabs are Persians

[Guest player]

Here I am watching RAW with my friends, one of whom is Persian, and when Mohammed Hassan's segment comes on and the manager, Khosro, starts speaking, he goes, "What the FUCK?...he's speaking Farsi, which is the main Persian dialect.." He understood everything, too. Apparently, the guy talked about how America was treating them bad and being mean to them (more or less). But what really miffed the guy was that WWE doesn't know the difference between Persians and Arabs.

 

I have to agree with my friend. WWE = fucktards.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

This gimmick... OFFENSIVE?

 

No, no, no, no, no... this can't be right.

 

The thought did occur to me while he was speaking that he wasn't speaking Arabic at all, but I just figured he was making it up.

[Guest Danny Dubya v 2.0]

In any case, this is among the lamest things the WWE's attempted this year. As if there wasn't already enough stereotyped gimmicks and redneck-encouraging shit amuck. It would've been better if they brought in Arab wrestlers without the gimmicks, but played on their ethnicity in a later angle without them turning all nationalistic.

[1234-5678 0]

Bring in Sid to powerbomb them. You know..........for the sake of patriotism!

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

In any case, this is among the lamest things the WWE's attempted this year. As if there wasn't already enough stereotyped gimmicks and redneck-encouraging shit amuck. It would've been better if they brought in Arab wrestlers without the gimmicks, but played on their ethnicity in a later angle without them turning all nationalistic.

That's what the WWE is trying to do... or at least it's what they're appearing to try and do. But much like saying "HHH is not on RAW" all night on RAW, saying "Please don't hate me because I am Arabic" is planting things in the fans' minds. The WWE isn't very good with subtle; they're too busy spelling everything out. For serious, I was actually thinking -jokingly- that they'd give him a translator ala Berlyn in WCW - they did it the other way around but still, it's a heat device and they did it right off the bat. Like Simon Dean and him calling the fans fat. Rather than a legitimate desire to help people lose weight, they just made him an asshole. I hate when the WWE does their "BOO ME NOW!" or "CHEER ME NOW!" spots. It's all so forced.

 

Which is not to say that I totally hated the Hussan segment. I liked how they entered the shot and turned around to cut the promo, almost statesman like. Hussan has a great look, but it's not necessarily unique to the WWE, physique-wise. He had a good amount of poise and projected the words well. The manager had a good look to him as well - almost like the Arabic Harvey Whippleman... or should I say Persian... I really hope they don't do the obvious thing with him and put him with JR and the King to announce Hassans matches.

 

I don't think I like where this is going, though. The message the WWE looks to be giving is "Being Different is Bad". When ever Hassan has his prayer, the fans will boo and his opponent will be like "what the fuck?" and JR and the King will reluctantly say things like "we _have to_ respect his religion and beliefs" while they roll their eyes. Rather than, say, having a face wrestler go up to Hassan and say "Hey man, I think it's cool to see an Arabic wrestler in the WWE. There's a lot of bad vibes goin around the world right now and it's good to see a positive side to Islam. I wouldn't mind learning some things from you, to help my understanding... if the fans boo you, shake it off man, this is the WWE, you gotta earn respect here. But whatever happens, don't be ashamed of who you are". But that would be silly and wouldn't get heat. "Derka derka derka, Muhammad Jihad" BOOOOOOOO! "I guess the WWE fans have the right to voice their opinion too, eh King?" "That's what bein American is all about!"

[Guest LooneyTune]

I guess that Tiger Ali Singh guy wasn't offensive? Pfft...name ONE nationality or stereotype EVER and try and tell me WWE hasn't done it at least once.

 

Edit: to WWE, Arabs all speak the same language.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

Inuit? (Does that count??)

[Lord of The Curry 0]

In any case, this is among the lamest things the WWE's attempted this year. As if there wasn't already enough stereotyped gimmicks and redneck-encouraging shit amuck. It would've been better if they brought in Arab wrestlers without the gimmicks, but played on their ethnicity in a later angle without them turning all nationalistic.

That's what the WWE is trying to do... or at least it's what they're appearing to try and do. But much like saying "HHH is not on RAW" all night on RAW, saying "Please don't hate me because I am Arabic" is planting things in the fans' minds. The WWE isn't very good with subtle; they're too busy spelling everything out. For serious, I was actually thinking -jokingly- that they'd give him a translator ala Berlyn in WCW - they did it the other way around but still, it's a heat device and they did it right off the bat. Like Simon Dean and him calling the fans fat. Rather than a legitimate desire to help people lose weight, they just made him an asshole. I hate when the WWE does their "BOO ME NOW!" or "CHEER ME NOW!" spots. It's all so forced.

 

Which is not to say that I totally hated the Hussan segment. I liked how they entered the shot and turned around to cut the promo, almost statesman like. Hussan has a great look, but it's not necessarily unique to the WWE, physique-wise. He had a good amount of poise and projected the words well. The manager had a good look to him as well - almost like the Arabic Harvey Whippleman... or should I say Persian... I really hope they don't do the obvious thing with him and put him with JR and the King to announce Hassans matches.

 

I don't think I like where this is going, though. The message the WWE looks to be giving is "Being Different is Bad". When ever Hassan has his prayer, the fans will boo and his opponent will be like "what the fuck?" and JR and the King will reluctantly say things like "we _have to_ respect his religion and beliefs" while they roll their eyes. Rather than, say, having a face wrestler go up to Hassan and say "Hey man, I think it's cool to see an Arabic wrestler in the WWE. There's a lot of bad vibes goin around the world right now and it's good to see a positive side to Islam. I wouldn't mind learning some things from you, to help my understanding... if the fans boo you, shake it off man, this is the WWE, you gotta earn respect here. But whatever happens, don't be ashamed of who you are". But that would be silly and wouldn't get heat. "Derka derka derka, Muhammad Jihad" BOOOOOOOO! "I guess the WWE fans have the right to voice their opinion too, eh King?" "That's what bein American is all about!"

If Hussan goes around putting Jihad's on people this gimmick could be money.

[Guest combat_rock]

In case anyone didn't read the other thread on this, this doesn't directly go against what wwe parents said, but it does cleverly work around it to still make them heels. You know, so once parents read that, they can be sure they're kids aren't watching a program written by a bunch of nationalistic assholes. That way they can still be sold Jakks Pacific figures of Goldberg... Whatever.

 

Honestly, I'm still holding out hope that the heat generating gimmicks were an exception to the rule here. I remember reading an article on Diavari in Pro Wrestling Illustrated (or one of their sister mags) that had him saying that he didn't want to be a stereotypical evil middle easterner.

[Scroby 0]

Honestly, if your friend was pist off because WWE is pulling this gimmick outta the bag of the early 90's, then he shouldn't be watching WWE. WWE does way more shit worse then that gimmick to piss off people.

 

 

Bring in Sid to powerbomb them. You know..........for the sake of patriotism!

 

You know when the WWE had Sid as Sid Justice, they had his birthday as July 4th. I just thought that tied in nicely with your comment.

[King Cucaracha 0]

Inuit? (Does that count??)

I have no idea how that'd go, but it'd be entertaining to say the least.

 

Oh, and the WWE have never done the drunken Irishman stereotype. And likely never will.

[Guest combat_rock]

Inuit? (Does that count??)

I have no idea how that'd go, but it'd be entertaining to say the least.

 

Oh, and the WWE have never done the drunken Irishman stereotype. And likely never will.

I'd mark out for that, but only if they gave them entrance music by the Dropkick Murphys.

[Guest player]

Well, according to my Western Civilization classes, Persians are Indo-European with blood ties to Russia and other Slavic nations. In addition, according to my professor, Persians are the original (white) Aryan race with no influence from the Arabs, other than the alphabet. It's kind of like saying Spaniards and Americans are the same because they both use the Latin alphabet. It was this ignorance that really boggled my friend's mind.

[Ultra Violence 0]

Farsi is apparently the main language spoken in Iran.... I know a couple of iranians who both speak it as their first language and to the common observer they look arabic....

[Guest LooneyTune]

Calling McMahon an idiot when it comes to common knowledge isn't new. It's his weird storylines like "A Human Monster who was almost burned alive feuding with his brother that happens to be a zombie who has 5000 tattoos" is an example of his succesful thinking.

[1234-5678 0]

Inuit? (Does that count??)

I have no idea how that'd go, but it'd be entertaining to say the least.

 

Oh, and the WWE have never done the drunken Irishman stereotype. And likely never will.

I'd mark out for that, but only if they gave them entrance music by the Dropkick Murphys.

And only if I play the gimmick.

[nl5xsk1 0]

While I do agree that it's offensive, I like the different angle that they're using on this gimmick. It's not "evil, American-hating foreigner version 985" but instead a guy that doesn't hate America but hates what Americans think of his people. It's still offensive, yes, but at least it's different. Points for creativity.

[ChrisMWaters 0]

Oh, and the WWE have never done the drunken Irishman stereotype. And likely never will.

We sorta had it...except with crazy insted of drunken.

 

That was in the form of Ken Shamrock.

[The Czech Republic 0]

Well, according to my Western Civilization classes, Persians are Indo-European with blood ties to Russia and other Slavic nations. In addition, according to my professor, Persians are the original (white) Aryan race with no influence from the Arabs, other than the alphabet. It's kind of like saying Spaniards and Americans are the same because they both use the Latin alphabet. It was this ignorance that really boggled my friend's mind.

You're absolutely right. The word "Iran" actually comes from "Aryan." I discussed the fallacy of a guy with a clearly Persian name being called an Arab (which I'm sure they must LOVE) with Rando and Quik last night. Oh well. I don't expect WWE to know these things.

[Guest netslob]

I guess that Tiger Ali Singh guy wasn't offensive? Pfft...name ONE nationality or stereotype EVER and try and tell me WWE hasn't done it at least once.

how about a miserly Jew character? they ever done that?

[AndrewTS 0]

Here I am watching RAW with my friends, one of whom is Persian, and when Mohammed Hassan's segment comes on and the manager, Khosro, starts speaking, he goes, "What the FUCK?...he's speaking Farsi, which is the main Persian dialect.."

Doesn't surprise me all that much. I know "Hussein" (Hassan's OVW name, unless those earlier reports were wrong) is a Persian name, and from what I've gathered you won't find many Moslems among them.

 

Well, according to my Western Civilization classes, Persians are Indo-European with blood ties to Russia and other Slavic nations. In addition, according to my professor, Persians are the original (white) Aryan race with no influence from the Arabs, other than the alphabet. It's kind of like saying Spaniards and Americans are the same because they both use the Latin alphabet. It was this ignorance that really boggled my friend's mind.

 

So basically Persians are just crackas who live in the Middle East region.

 

He understood everything, too. Apparently, the guy talked about how America was treating them bad and being mean to them (more or less). But what really miffed the guy was that WWE doesn't know the difference between Persians and Arabs.

 

I have to agree with my friend. WWE = fucktards.

 

This is surprising? Remember the way WWF treated the last Iraq war?

 

Do you actually expect them to have done even 5 minutes of research on a gimmick before going ahead with it?

 

WWE thinks they're PC and enlightened if Hassan doesn't run screaming at the ring brandishing a sword, wearing a turban, and yelling.

 

I guess that Tiger Ali Singh guy wasn't offensive?

 

Not really, he just sucked.

 

how about a miserly Jew character? they ever done that?

 

Come on now, it's perfectly okay to mock blacks, Asians, the mentally ill, the handicapped, overweight people, Arabs, etc, but I don't think WWE would do anything like that.

[Guest netslob]

how about a miserly Jew character? they ever done that?

 

Come on now, it's perfectly okay to mock blacks, Asians, the mentally ill, the handicapped, overweight people, Arabs, etc, but I don't think WWE would do anything like that.

yeah, maybe your right...that would be going too far.

[AndrewTS 0]

how about a miserly Jew character? they ever done that?

 

Come on now, it's perfectly okay to mock blacks, Asians, the mentally ill, the handicapped, overweight people, Arabs, etc, but I don't think WWE would do anything like that.

yeah, maybe your right...that would be going too far.

Even Parker/Stone tread lightly, only going for some mild Jewish stereotypes most of the time.

 

Oh, and I forgot Mexicans. It's okay to make fun of Mexicans, even if they're actually Texans, in WWE-Land.

[Guest Dynamite Kido]

I swear to god if they do some angle where this Hassan guy fly's something into the Titan Tron and blowing it up.....................I'll never watch WWE again. EVER....

[razazteca 0]

Hey now you don't want to mess with the Jews since they know the tax laws, own the banks and own the media......Why do you think WWE gave the title to Goldberg for a short reign.

[The Amazing Rando 0]

I guess that Tiger Ali Singh guy wasn't offensive? Pfft...name ONE nationality or stereotype EVER and try and tell me WWE hasn't done it at least once.

how about a miserly Jew character? they ever done that?

Barry Horowitz ... he was somewhat miserly.

[Vyce 0]

I guess that Tiger Ali Singh guy wasn't offensive? Pfft...name ONE nationality or stereotype EVER and try and tell me WWE hasn't done it at least once.

how about a miserly Jew character? they ever done that?

Somebody get Barry Horowitz on the phone, STAT. We have the perfect gimmick for him.

 

He could haggle with Bischoff (or Long) about how much money he's getting in his contract and refuse to work on Shabbas. It'll be GOLD.

 

And if they bring him in as a face, they have an instant feud in the making between him & HEIDENREICH~!

[bobobrazil1984 0]

bahahahaha how lame. I am glad I stopped watching this company.

[Enigma 0]

This is all designed to get American superstars Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho over, of course.

[nl5xsk1 0]

how about a miserly Jew character? they ever done that?

 

Come on now, it's perfectly okay to mock blacks, Asians, the mentally ill, the handicapped, overweight people, Arabs, etc, but I don't think WWE would do anything like that.

yeah, maybe your right...that would be going too far.

There hasn't been an out-and-out Jewish character yet, but between the Hollycaust and the Final Solution, the WWE & WCW never shied away from offensive anti-semitic words or names.