Mark Copani

Infobox Wrestler
name=Mark Copani
names=Mark Magnus
Muhammad Hassan


height=188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
weight=107 kg (235 lb)
birth_date=Birth date and age|1981|11|7|mf=y
birth_place=Amman, Jordan
resides=Syracuse new york
billed=Detroit, Michigan


death_date=
death_place=
retired=
trainer=Nick Dinsmore
Danny Davis
debut=February 2003

Mark Copani (born November 7 1981) is a former professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) under the ring name Muhammad Hassan.

Career

Copani was born to Italian father and Jordanian mother [ [http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/archive/daivariinterview "Daivari: Give me the ball"] WWE.com (09/21/05)] and raised in Syracuse, New York, where he graduated from CNS (Cicero-North Syracuse) high school in 2000. Using Mark Magnus as his name, he made his professional wrestling debut in 2003 at WWE's training ground, Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW).

World Wrestling Entertainment (2004-2005)

He made his WWE TV debut on "Raw" as Muhammad Hassan on December 13, 2004 in an in-ring segment with Mick Foley after wrestling dark matches and house shows for about two months. His introductory video and gimmick featured him and his manager, Khosrow Daivari introducing themselves. He described himself as a Middle Eastern-American wrestler wanting relief from the increased stereotypes created by the 9/11 attacks, as he enters professional wrestling. He then concluded with a controversial extension of hands and praise to Allah. He stopped praising Allah vocally due to complaints by Muslim-Americans, but still extended his hands during his ring entrance. His speech followed by a supposedly Arabic translation of his speech (in truth Persian) by Daivari. Hassan's gimmick also involved him interrupting promos by other wrestlers with his theme music and approaching the ring to cut promos of his own, typically complaining about being held back due to anti-Arab prejudice. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=RAW - December 13, 2004 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/041213.html |work= |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |date= |accessdate=2007-07-08 ]

Making his entrance into the WWE, he berated the way the media have characterized Arab-Americans after September 11. As an example, he focused his anger on "RAW" announcers Jerry "The King" Lawler and Jim Ross. [cite web| title=RAW - December 27, 2004 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/041227.html|publisher=Online World of Wrestling |date= |accessdate=2007-07-08 ] He then defeated Jerry Lawler in his debut match at New Year's Revolution.cite news | author = Evans, Anthony | title = Power Slam Magazine, issue 127 | work = "Tripper strikes back” (New Years Revolution 2005) | publisher = SW Publishing| date = 2005-01-21 | pages = 30-31 ] In the course of his undefeated streak, Hassan defeated wrestlers such as The Hurricane, [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=RAW - January 10, 2005 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/050110.html |work= |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |date= |accessdate=2007-07-08 ] Sgt. Slaughter, [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=RAW - January 31, 2005 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/050131.html |work= |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |date= |accessdate=2007-07-08 ] Chris Benoit, [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=RAW - February 28, 2005 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/050228.html |work= |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |date= |accessdate=2007-07-08 ] and Chris Jericho. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=RAW - February 14, 2005 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/050214.html |work= |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |date= |accessdate=2007-07-08 ]

Hassan had attracted much heat as a heel, a fact which was evident at the 2005 Royal Rumble, in the Rumble match itself. When Hassan entered at number 13, everyone who was in the ring at the time: Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, Edge, Shelton Benjamin, Booker T, Eddie Guerrero, Rey Mysterio, and Luther Reigns immediately ganged up on Hassan and eliminated him. [cite news | author = PWI Staff | title = Pro Wrestling Illustrated presents: 2007 Wrestling almanac & book of facts | work = "Wrestling’s historical cards" | publisher = Kappa Publishing | year = 2007 | pages = 117 ] . Notably, Reigns & Edge were also heels at the time.

At WrestleMania 21 on April 3, 2005, Hassan and Daivari were featured in a segment with Hulk Hogan that saw Hogan coming to the rescue of wrestler Eugene who was being attacked by the two Middle Eastern performers. [cite news | author = PWI Staff | title = Pro Wrestling Illustrated presents: 2007 Wrestling almanac & book of facts | work = "Wrestling’s historical cards" | publisher = Kappa Publishing | year = 2007 | pages = 117 ] The next night on "RAW", Hassan and Daivari came out to confront and assault fan favorite Shawn Michaels. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=RAW - April 4, 2005 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/050404.html |work= |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |date= |accessdate=2007-07-08 ] The following week, Michaels approached "RAW" General Manager Eric Bischoff demanding a handicap match with Hassan and Daivari. Bischoff refused but did tell Michaels to find a partner and he would grant a match. Michaels then made a plea for Hulk Hogan to come back and team with him. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=RAW - April 11, 2005 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/050411.html |work= |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |date= |accessdate=2007-07-08 ] On the April 18 episode of "RAW", Hassan again led an attack on Michaels until Hogan appeared to save Michaels and accept his offer. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=RAW - April 18, 2005 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/050418.html |work= |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |date= |accessdate=2007-07-08 ]

At the "WWE Backlash" pay-per-view Hassan and Daivari lost to Hogan and Michaels, with Daivari being pinned.cite news | author = Power Slam Staff | title = Power Slam Magazine, issue 131 | work = "WrestleMania rerun" (Backlash 2005) | publisher = SW Publishing. | date = 2005-05-21 | pages = 32-33 ] Hassan would blame and attack Daivari for the loss the next evening on "RAW". [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=RAW - May 2, 2005 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/050502.html |work= |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |date= |accessdate=2007-07-08 ]

On May 30, 2005, Hassan faced popular World Heavyweight Champion Batista and was squashed in the biggest match of Hassan's career. While Hassan won via disqualification, he and Daivari were beaten by Batista after the match. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=RAW - May 30, 2005 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/050530.html |work= |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |date= |accessdate=2007-07-08 ]

The next week, Hassan was granted a 2-on-1 Handicap Match with Daivari for the Intercontinental Championship against Shelton Benjamin after threatening "RAW" General Manager Eric Bischoff with a lawsuit for Batista's actions. After Hassan initially appeared to pin Benjamin and win the title, the referee realized Benjamin was on the ropes and reversed his decision. Benjamin eventually pinned Daivari to retain his title. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=RAW - June 6, 2005 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/050606.html |work= |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |date= |accessdate=2007-07-08 ]

On June 20, Hassan and Daivari interrupted a promo by WWE Champion John Cena to complain about how Hassan was "screwed" out of the Intercontinental Title; Bischoff took the opportunity to punish Cena by booking him against Hassan in a WWE Title defense. However, Hassan's losing streak in title matches continued as Cena dominated him in a one-minute squash match, pinning him cleanly and thus ending his "unpinned" streak. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=RAW - June 20, 2005 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/050620.html |work= |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |date= |accessdate=2007-07-08 ]

On the June 23, 2005 episode of "SmackDown!", it was revealed both Hassan and Daivari were drafted to "SmackDown!" in the 2005 WWE Draft Lottery. Hassan's move to "SmackDown!" would spell the beginning of the end of the Hassan character and ultimately Copani's tenure with WWE. Hassan won his first "SmackDown!" match, a match against the Big Show with help from Big Show's rival Matt Morgan. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=SmackDown - June 23, 2005 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/050623.html |work= |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |date= |accessdate=2007-07-08 ] The following week, Hassan was involved in a confrontation with The Undertaker. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=SmackDown - June 30, 2005 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/050630.html |work= |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |date= |accessdate=2007-07-08 ]

mackDown! Controversy

On the episode of "SmackDown!" taped on July 4, General Manager Teddy Long put Muhammad Hassan in a match against The Undertaker at the Great American Bash and placed Daivari in a match that night against the Undertaker. Daivari was defeated easily, but Hassan began to "pray" on the ramp, summoning five masked men, dressed in black shirts, ski-masks, and camo pants. Armed with clubs and a piano wire, they beat and choked the Undertaker out, and Hassan put him in the Camel Clutch. Afterward, the masked men lifted Daivari above their heads and carried him away. Three days later, hours before the episode was scheduled to air, the London bombings took place. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=SmackDown - July 7, 2005 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/050707.html |work= |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |date= |accessdate=2007-07-08 ] Without sufficient time to properly edit the segment out of the show, UPN showed the footage unedited in the United States and on The Score in Canada with an advisory warning shown several times during the broadcast. It was removed from the Australian and European (including in the UK) broadcasts. [cite news |first=Adam |last=Martin |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Notes regarding segment on SmackDown with Hassan, Daivari & Taker |url=http://www.wrestleview.com/news2005/1120848867.shtml |work= |publisher=WrestleView.com |date= |accessdate=2007-07-08 ]

The angle elicited national attention in the "New York Post", "TV Guide", "Variety", and other major media outlets. In response to the criticism, UPN decided that it would monitor the storyline closely and that it did not want the Hassan character on its network that week. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=New York Post and Variety cover WWE "terrorist" angle; UPN speaks up |url=http://www.wrestleview.com/news2005/1121217332.shtml |work= |publisher=WrestleView.com |date= |accessdate=2007-07-08 ] Hassan later delivered a promo to the live crowd for the July 14 airing of "SmackDown!", but when UPN announced that the segment would be edited, WWE decided to host the video of the segment on its official website. In the segment, Hassan, reiterates that he is an Arab-"American" and that the American people automatically and unfairly assume that he is a terrorist. Despite being in character, he referred to the real-world media coverage of the storyline, singling out the "New York Post's" Don Kaplan by name. On the July 14 episode of "SmackDown!", Hassan's absence was explained by a statement delivered by his lawyer, which said that Hassan refused to appear on the show until that month's Great American Bash due to the way he had been treated by the media and WWE fans. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=SmackDown - July 14, 2005 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/050714.html |work= |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |date= |accessdate=2007-07-08 ]

It was revealed in late-July 2005 that UPN had pressured WWE to keep Hassan off of their network, effectively removing him from "SmackDown!" [cite news |first=Jay |last=Flannagan |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=UPN Bans Muhammad Hassan From WWE SmackDown |url=http://www.wrestleview.com/news2005/1121975573.shtml |work= |publisher=WrestleView.com |date= |accessdate=2007-07-08 ] However, Hassan had been booked as the winner in his #1 Contender's match against the Undertaker at The Great American Bash, setting up a Batista-Hassan match for the World Heavyweight Championship at SummerSlam. With no chance of having Hassan wrestle on "SmackDown!", the Undertaker won the match instead.At the Great American Bash, after Hassan's loss, he was given the Last Ride through an open stage ramp onto a concrete floor where it was reported that he sustained serious injuries and had to be rushed to a nearby medical facility, apparently a solution aimed to end the Hassan character. [cite news | author = PWI Staff | title = Pro Wrestling Illustrated presents: 2007 Wrestling almanac & book of facts | work = "Wrestling’s historical cards" | publisher = Kappa Publishing | year = 2007 | pages = 118 ] Several days later, WWE.com hosted a video of a kayfabe announcement from Theodore Long, where he reiterates the stipulation that Hassan would no longer appear on "SmackDown!". He said to Hassan, "You can go to RAW, or you can go anywhere else in the world. But as far as I'm concerned, you can go to hell!!" Due to increasing public pressure, the WWE was forced to later drop the character altogether, sending Copani and Daivari to their developmental territories to alter their gimmicks. This resulted in huge fan backlash, mostly because Hassan had developed a cult following and had been booked to fight for (and possibly win) the World Title at SummerSlam. [cite news |first=Ryan |last=Allen |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Early SummerSlam 2005 Spoilers |url=http://www.wrestleview.com/news2005/1122151846.shtml |work= |publisher=WrestleView.com |date= |accessdate=2007-07-09 ]

Although Daivari would report to Deep South Wrestling (and later would return to WWE), wrestling reports indicated that Copani would not, and on September 21, 2005, Copani was released from his WWE contract. While the WWE article detailing his release indicated that he may return in the future (possibly in his Hassan character), [cite news |first=Ryan |last=Allen |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=WWE release Copani |url=http://www.wrestleview.com/news2005/1127343175.shtml |work= |publisher=WrestleView.com |date= |accessdate=2007-07-09 ] Copani was quoted as being eager to pursue a career in acting and is currently a writer with Writers Guild of America. Copani has no intention to return to Professional Wrestling.

In wrestling

*Finishing and signature moves:*Camel clutch:*Reverse STO:*Back suplex backbreaker:*Belly to belly suplex:*Elbow drop:*"Finishing Touch" (Spinning front facelock elbow drop):*Inside cradle:*Low blow:*Snap suplex

*Managers:*Daivari:*Nikita Fink

Championships and accomplishments

*Ohio Valley Wrestling:*OVW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,18391-1504751,00.html Times Online article on Hassan]
* [http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theshoot/2007/10/19/the-shoot Davari interview with BlogTalkRadio - The Shoot]