10 times WWE changed a Superstar's nationality

#1 Muhammad Hassan

Remember him?

Now, there was simply no-one else to put at number one. From the sublime Kofi Kingston at number two to perhaps the most controversial character in WWE history - Muhammad Hassan.

Hassan played the role perfectly, but it really didn't go down well with anyone at all due to a spate of terrorist attacks and Hassan's character being a bit too close to the knuckle, referencing the 9/11 terrorist attacks in their promos and speaking about anti-Arab prejudice.

Hassan, though, was born in Syracuse, New York, as Mark Copani - but was given Arab roots by the WWE and no-one would have suspected any different due to some incredible character work.

WWE, though, ditched the character after only one year, after some pretty controversial booking decisions. One saw Hassan "pray" on the ramp, summoning five masked men in black shirts, ski masks and camouflage bottoms, armed with clubs and piano wire - who would attack The Undertaker.

This segment was incredibly controversial!

This happened days before the London bombings and the scene was removed from the Australian and European broadcasts, while the US press would criticize the scene heavily.

Hassan's character would continue to argue that he was being unfairly portrayed as a terrorist and, in character, refer to real-life media coverage of the storyline, even mentioning one journalist by name and quoting his comments.

UPN would then pressure WWE to keep Hassan off of television, and he was since written off of television. Shortly after, Copani was released and subsequently retired, but it has since emerged that he was set to win the World Heavyweight Championship and break Randy Orton's record as the youngest ever world champion.

Hassan will go down as one of the WWE superstars with the worst luck on offer.

---

Do you remember all of these characters? Do any others spring to mind? Let us know in the comments.