UPN Bans Hassan Permanently

[Guest Deadbolt]

Probably the best scenario at this point would be a Orton v. Taker v. Batista three way match for the title at SummerSlam,

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Right and I don't think that would cheapen the Taker victory (if he wins tomorrow.) like some people might say. Sure Taker winning should technically make him the only contender but winning gives him his spot in the match and some other reason can give Orton's his. It would be no different than Benoit getting his WM shot at Triple H because of winning the rumble and HBK then getting into the match based on a different way. Another example is somoene winning TE and the "losers" still finding a way into WWE. So I'd have no problem with Orton getting into the match which could then postpone a Taker/Orton rematch and a one on one Orton/Batista match, therefore giving us (me at least) something to look forward to.

[Downhome]

I'd rather the three-way to be on one of the other minor PPVs, not the second biggest PPV of the year.

[Precious Roy]

Lol they could still have Hassan beat Taker and not have him show up on Smackdown. Might as well go all out if they're gonna scrap it and have Hassan be on some Bin Laden shit. Have Daivari come out and explain that he's hiding out in some caves, preparing himself for his match for the World title, and have Batista get randomly attacked from time to time, and have it implied that it's by the "terrorists". It'll give them more time to try and work something out with UPN instead of just scrapping all their plans altogether and if an agreement can't be made during that time that the Hassan character WILL be toned down

 

How does taking Hassan off TV and replacing him with stepped up terrorist innuendo buy them time with UPN? Isn't that exactly what UPN doesn't want?

[RedJed]

I'd rather the three-way to be on one of the other minor PPVs, not the second biggest PPV of the year.

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I would too but what else is there to do with Batista if there is no Hassan? Taker/Batista would be fun to watch, but it's tough for them to pencil that in since it could deflate Batista down to size a little bit potentially if put in the ring with another face, and especially since its in his hometown they want a large pop from the crowd. Orton/Batista would be ok but leaves Taker out in the cold, and the natural opponent for him right now is Orton.

 

The only other option would be to either have JBL win tomorrow or else have that match be some kind of screwy no desicion, leading to a rematch at SummerSlam. I dont think that is a very good idea particularly, in fact that is more of a chance of ruining Batista than a Taker/Batista match would be. One thing is certain, Batista shouldnt be losing either tomorrow or at SummerSlam.

 

What they would be doing is almost exactly what the writers did for the WWE title match at SummerSlam 2000 with Rock v. Angle v. HHH in a way. Rock, the champion, was kind of the odd man out in the deal with Angle and HHH feuding - they had nothing else to do with Rock, so they put him into a three way with them. By that notion it kept the Angle/HHH feud going steady.

[Guest Trecko]

Lol they could still have Hassan beat Taker and not have him show up on Smackdown. Might as well go all out if they're gonna scrap it and have Hassan be on some Bin Laden shit. Have Daivari come out and explain that he's hiding out in some caves, preparing himself for his match for the World title, and have Batista get randomly attacked from time to time, and have it implied that it's by the "terrorists". It'll give them more time to try and work something out with UPN instead of just scrapping all their plans altogether and if an agreement can't be made during that time that the Hassan character WILL be toned down

 

How does taking Hassan off TV and replacing him with stepped up terrorist innuendo buy them time with UPN? Isn't that exactly what UPN doesn't want?

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They said they no longer want the Hassan character on the show. It seems to have been implied that Daivari can and will be allowed, judging from other reports. Having him give a reason for Hassan not being on the shows and having Batista be attacked at random without ever flat out saying or showing WHO would be enough to at least keep the character alive and in mind long enough for WWE to try and negotiate with UPN, and it would be a means of not just throwing away what could've been at least a month worth of storylines in one shot. It was mostly a bs idea for my own humor to be honest, but some variation of it probably should be enough to give them time to try and let things die down and work things out with UPN to allow him back in some capacity. That's assuming, of course, that they actually WANT to do that.

[Dangerous A]

I'd rather the three-way to be on one of the other minor PPVs, not the second biggest PPV of the year.

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WWE has no problems doing 3 ways, no matter how big the PPV.

 

In 1999 @ Summerslam, they ran HHH v Austin v Foley as the main event and last year @ WMXX, they had HHH v HBK v Benoit as the main event on THE biggest show of the year.

[haws bah gawd]

I agree with whoever said they should call him by his real name. Why not just use his actual last name? Magnus would pass fine as a ring name. It has a good sound to it. They could just push him without a race card gimmick, and Im sure he would get over, and not get the cheap heat he had been getting. He has a good look to him, and has really good mic skills, so Im sure it could work for him.

[Downhome]

WWE has no problems doing 3 ways, no matter how big the PPV.

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Oh I know that WWE doesn't give a shit (wtf was up with the ME of WM2000?). I'm just saying that I don't like stuff like that, for the most part, on the big shows for the main titles.

[cabbageboy]

You know, I almost thought they should just do a lame no decision tomorrow in the title match and do a real blowoff at SS for Batista/JBL...it's like the feud has just sorta started and now is going to end 2 weeks later. Thing is, I'm absolutely sick of god damn Bradshaw main eventing, but when faced with the prospects of Hassan winning the title I guess I'll put up with more JBL.

 

When in doubt, don't do shit. Jobbing Batista with little clear idea of where to go next is a horrible idea. In my opinion Batista shouldn't be jobbing to ANYONE on Smackdown at the moment....bring in Brock, keep those two dominant but apart, and build that for WM.

[Downhome]

I could see it ending in a DQ. I wouldn't really like that, but I could see it happening.

 

I will be pulling for JBL myself though. I started out a huge Batista fan, but his feud with HHH really soured me on the guy, what with them having no chemistry at all with one another. Then now that he's on SD, I loved his debut and all, but I am having trouble totally accepting him as a champion all of a sudden. That horrible promo he had at the end of SD didn't help matters either. That was some of my least favorite mic work ever, I just couldn't stand it.

 

I'm sure I'll come back around, but it's going to take something major. I know I'm in the minority on this one, but there you go.

[iggymcfly]

I like the three-way idea. The thing that ws really bothering me about the whole situation was that Orton would be left out in the cold, and now that can be remedied.

 

The best way to set things up would be for Teddy Long to come out next Thursday, and announce that Taker will get his title shot the following week on Smackdown. Then after about 6 or 7 minutes of high speed action, Orton can come out, give RKOs to both men, and set up a three-way match for Summerslam.

[Team Angle Pusher]

I loved Batista towards WrestleMania and him winning the belt. I didn't like him until Vengeance when he had the HIAC match against Triple H because then he finally got my respect and he deserves to be World Champion now.

 

I can also see JBL beating Batista tonight, leading to a rematch or they could do the elimination chamber at Summerslam with Smackdown!

[Dandy]

I agree with whoever said they should call him by his real name.  Why not just use his actual last name?  Magnus would pass fine as a ring name.  It has a good sound to it.  They could just push him without a race card gimmick, and Im sure he would get over, and not get the cheap heat he had been getting.  He has a good look to him, and has really good mic skills, so Im sure it could work for him.

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Copani is his actual last name. Magnus was his ring name before adopting the Muhammed Hassan gimmick. I agree, though, "Mark Magnus" is a good enough name.

 

The only thing is how easily he will be recognized because of his tattoos, face, build, moveset, etc. This is really unfortunate for such a young wrestler with some potential.

[Lt. Al Giardello]

They should try to trade Muhammad Hassan to RAW, I thought he was one of the most interesting characters in awhile. Plus he can cut a good promo.

[Lord of The Curry]

Shouting a lot and constant cracking of the voice do not a good promo make.

[Lt. Al Giardello]

Shouting a lot and constant cracking of the voice do not a good promo make.

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But he is able to control the crowd.

[RavishingRickRudo]

With cheap heat. Not exactly the hardest thing to do.

 

They should put him under a mask and call him "The Happy Arab", where he goes around hugging people, filling their cars with free gas, "terrorizing" them with flowers and candy.

[Guest Brian]

Or they could just send him back down to OVW, where he deserves to be.

[King Cucaracha]

They could have Hassan come out, call out for a bunch of masked men to run out and sing "Good Morning Starshine".

[The Mandarin]

They should put him under a mask and call him "The Happy Arab", where he goes around hugging people, filling their cars with free gas, "terrorizing" them with flowers and candy.

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That is the fucking greatest thing ever.

 

Expand on this idea, please.

[Guest Brian]

"terrorizing" them with flowers and candy.

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That's like a mixture of what was supposed to/did happen in Iraq.

[Precious Roy]

Shouting a lot and constant cracking of the voice do not a good promo make.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

But he is able to control the crowd.

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It's pavlovian response, not anything special about what Hassan does. Would you credit La Resistance with "controling the crowd" as well?

[Celtic Guardian]

Lol they could still have Hassan beat Taker and not have him show up on Smackdown. Might as well go all out if they're gonna scrap it and have Hassan be on some Bin Laden shit.

 

Undertaker defeating Hassan tonight just seems all too easy, all too predictable somehow. Pro wrestling is a game of misdirection. I just don't trust these leaks about Hassan being pulled.

[Lord of The Curry]

Perhaps you'll trust the official statement WWE posted on their site a few days back.

[Celtic Guardian]

Perhaps you'll trust the official statement WWE posted on their site a few days back.

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The official WWE statement never definitively claimed that the Hassan character would be pulled. Only the unofficial leaks on wrestling and mainstream media sites have made that claim.

 

Look, Vince McMahon has had some hours now to think things through. His natural instinct is to be spiteful, not contrite towards his critics. I simply won't trust him to step down off the Hassan precipice until if/when Hassan is down and buried.

[Hunter's Torn Quad]

The network carrying one of Vince's own shows has flat out told Vince that Hassan is never to appear on Smackdown again. It's either scrap the character completely, keep him on UPN, or move him to Raw. Given that Spike are not going to want the negative press that UPN got, and that keeping him on Smackdown would give UPN grounds to simply pull the plug on the show, which do you think is most likely to happen?

[Lord of The Curry]

Well, he's not sure, you see. Because this could still be a work.

[Hunter's Torn Quad]

Well, he's not sure, you see. Because this could still be a work.

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The negative press isn't a work. The statement from UPN banning Hassan from Smackdown isn't a work. Call it a hunch, but I'm guessing this situation isn't a work. But I guess the media coming down on WWE and UPN could be going along with Vince for one big mega work.

[Team Angle Pusher]

If it's a work I would enjoy it. That means Hassan will be the WWE Champion after Summerslam.

[Celtic Guardian]

Well, he's not sure, you see. Because this could still be a work.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The negative press isn't a work. The statement from UPN banning Hassan from Smackdown isn't a work. Call it a hunch, but I'm guessing this situation isn't a work. But I guess the media coming down on WWE and UPN could be going along with Vince for one big mega work.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Even if UPN's declared position is real, Hassan could survive as a PPV/internet-only character for two plus months or so until Raw gets moved to USA. There used to be a time in the pre-Raw days when a World champion would rarely appear at the television tapings anyway.

 

Besides, WWE gets paid a flat fee nowadays for the Smackdown rights, UPN has to try to make money from Smackdown ads based on the ratings. If the ratings go down because a title feud gets pulled off weekly television, UPN would take the short-term hit.