WWE Terrorist Attack

www.variety.com/article/VR1117925769?categoryid=1011&cs=1&s=h&p=0


Recently, of those of you who watch wrestling, wwe's "Smackdown" aired a segment in which there was a live terrorist attack. I usually refrain from watching wrestling, as I think its just a bunch of greasy guys in thongs touching eachother, but I heard of this. And given the recent terrorist attacks in London, I was kind of appalled seeing something like this depicted on TV.

Kal-el said:

I usually refrain from watching wrestling

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That would be the correct response, in my estimation. There is no limit to the stunts these dirtbags will pull to get more publicity and shock value. We're talking about the same group that had a performer die after falling from his harness and their response was to chuck his carcass out of the ring and get right on with the show. To each his own, but I find it mind boggling that this shit is still popular.

I really hate that I'm going to defend anything to do with WWE, but it didn't really sound like a mock terrorist attack. Arabs, ski masks and choking have always been a part of their show. It's not like they performed a mock suicide bombing or mock beheading.

also this was filmed a few days before the london attacks

Because UPN refused to allow Hassan to appear on Thursday's SmackDown, the following response was taped for WWE.com:

I stand here tonight the only patriot left in America. I stand here tonight perhaps even a martyr against tyranny and injustice. Because the fact is I am an AMERICAN professional wrestler, but because of my heritage, because of my background, because of who my ancestors were, I'm labeled - we're labeled terrorists. Terrorists; I'm a terrorist! Well it must be true - it's gotta be true - because it's right here in black and white, in a reputable source, like the New York Post.

What, you don't believe me? Here it is: "Terrorist Wrestles After Bombing." I'm a terrorist - we're terrorists. We wrestled after a bombing. Well, Mr. Don Kaplan, (to Daivari) have you ever met Don Kaplan? Have you ever spoken to Don Kaplan? Have you ever called Don Kaplan on the phone? Well, I never have either. So, if Don Kaplan of the New York Post has never met us, how does Don Kaplan know we're terrorists? Don Kaplan also wrote that "Arabs in ski-masks carried Daivari out as a sacrifice last week." Arabs in SKI-MASKS...in SKI-MASKS...in a ski-mask. How does he know that they were Arabs?

The point is, because of articles like this, because of the fear that the media has put in all of you people, I have been denied my God-given right to pursue the profession of my choosing...to pursue the American Dream. I have been denied my basic rights as an American citizen. You know, as I look around this crowd and I look at all these faces looking at me in disgust, I think a lot of you have forgotten what this country was founded on. I think you have forgotten that your ancestors fought for their freedom. They gave their lives for their freedom - whether they be black, Irish-American, Italian-American, Jewish-American, Asian-American, they gave their lives for their freedom.

What's next? What's next? Because anytime anything goes wrong in this country, it's the Arabs. When a plane crashes, it's the Arabs. When a bomb goes off, it's the Arabs. The blackout two summers ago - it was the Arabs. Hurricane Dennis must be the Arabs.

You people say what you want. Because I have a right to be in here. I have a right to say what I want. And what I'm going to say, my name is Muhammad Hassan. I am an Arab-American and I am very proud of my heritage. But, as an American, my first amendment rights have been trampled. And, I stand here before all of you ashamed of my country.

I hate the current wrestling product in the fact thats its lost all resemblance to what it used to be, BUT i have to say they have always had "terrorists" and "bad russians, assasins, arabs" and lots of other characters all throughtout their history. Its a story! Most all of them are americans anyway, its just society has gotten so PC and wimped out that theyll blame everyone for everything thats not PC. In the 80s there was The Masked Assasins. In the 90s there was The Cuban Assasin. But we also had The Patriot and Sgt Slaughter to fight these "bad guys". Why didnt anyone complain about the americans?? Why, in 86 the evil russian Nikita Koloff turned "good" and teamed with Dusty Rhodes to fight off his evil uncle Ivan to be on the good side. Its a story for entertainment. It seems that wrestlers get blamed way to much for things. And yes, some have died in the ring, but football players have also died on the field and the game went on. You have to relize, they are just making a living same as you. Dont be so judgemental as to group them all as the same or low because they are wrestlers.

lee6 said:

I hate the current wrestling product in the fact thats its lost all resemblance to what it used to be, BUT i have to say they have always had "terrorists" and "bad russians, assasins, arabs" and lots of other characters all throughtout their history.

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True. I remember the Iron Sheik in the 1980s when I used to watch it.

And yes, some have died in the ring, but football players have also died on the field and the game went on. You have to relize, they are just making a living same as you. Dont be so judgemental as to group them all as the same or low because they are wrestlers.

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Yes, but football players have typically died from an overtraining episode causing cardiac arrest or unknown heriditary medical conditions in the normal course of the game. The incident I was referring to was a death caused by a ridiculous stunt all too common in the overdramatized theatrics in pro wrestling. Vince McMahon would have his wrestlers enter the ring via a free-fall from a plane if he could get it licensed.

penguinsfan wrote " The incident I was referring to was a death caused by a ridiculous stunt all too common in the overdramatized theatrics in pro wrestling. Vince McMahon would have his wrestlers enter the ring via a free-fall from a plane if he could get it licensed."...........

Yeah, Owen Hart. Im suprised Sting didnt get hurt from the same type of intrance years ago.

Did you ever watch the NWA from say 1980-89? That was some great stuff! 72-79 was also as good from what Ive seen on tapes.

I watched some NWA during the mid-eighties. I lost interest in wrestling somewhere around 1990 or so, but I remember NWA being among the best stuff on the market. It was focused on the wrestling aspects and did a real good job with that stuff. I did watch WWF, but it had more circus nonsense than I cared for. Too much time was spent on interviews hyping up an event, which would be played over and over again, and too much dressing room/behind the scenes drama. As wrestling changed into a drama show and no one even pretended it was real, unscripted competition anymore, I totally lost interest.