The Quick Talkdown 2.17.07: Politics and Wrestling Mix
Posted by Phill Feltham on 02.17.2007
The WWE is heavily involved in politics. Smackdown Your Vote, WWE's frequent visits to Iraq and other political activities only prove that McMahon has the sweet tooth for political storylines. There is more to this story.
THE QUICK TALKDOWN: POLITICS AND WRESTLING MIX
By Phill Feltham
Political storylines do have a place in wrestling.
George W. Bush. The U.S. President is wrapped in political controversy that will last years after his presidency ends. Keep this in mind as you continue reading this week's column.
Remember Wrestlemania VII when AWA defector, the All-American Sgt. Slaughter showed up in the WWE as an Iraqi sympathizer? Why? In 1991, when George Bush Senior was president, the U.S. came to the aid of a little country known as Kuwait because the Saddam Hussein regime had invaded the country. The U.S. repeatedly told Iraq to leave but all threats fell on deaf ears. At the height of all these politically charged emotions, the opportunist WWE made WrestleMania 7 the center of this conflict.
First, Sgt. Slaughter took the belt off the overrated Ultimate Warrior at the Royal Rumble to set the stage for his match against the All-American hero Hulk Hogan in the main event. Slaughter had aligned himself with the Iron Sheik (Col. Mustafa) and Iraqi born General Adnan). Shortly after losing to Hogan WrestleMania 7, Slaughter shedded the political baggage and came begging for his country to forgive him. Ironically enough this was the height of Slaughter's career during that time.
The first Iraqi war wasn't the only political controversy the WWE has used in its storylines. Think back to the cold war of the 1980s. Nikolai Volkoff was the Russian bad boy who got his heat because of the U.S./ Russia standoff. Before every match, he would sing the Russian National Anthem, berate the States and then get booed out of the arena. Iran was in the same position (and still is) so the WWE used the Iron Sheik. The Sheik actually beat then-American hero Bob Backlund for the WWE title only to lose it to Hulk Hogan a couple of months later. See politics mix.
In the '90s, the WWE staged a Canada Vs. America angle which went over quite well. Bret Hart and the Hart Foundation were the faces in Canada for bad mouthing the States and vice versa. This major angle was one of the last ones before the Attitude era. Canada and the U.S. have never claimed war but I think it's safe to say that both countries have a certain amount of patriotism when it comes to the other.
The WWE's recent political masterpiece involved the infamous Arab American Muhammad Hassan. The former WWE supersar and his manager, current WWE superstar Daivari played two Arab-Americans tired of the prejudice and racism they've received since the 9/11 attacks. Before their in-ring debuts, vignites were played promoting their anti-American semitism.
In Summer 2005 close to the Great American Bash, Daivari lost easily to the Undertaker. Hassan prayed on the ramp, bringing out five masked men, dressed almost completely in black armed with clubs and a piano wire. The Undertaker was beaten down and choked out. Hassan put the Deadman in a Camel Clutch. This move was used by the Iron Sheik in the '80s. Daivari was then lifted above their heads and carried away.
This storyline was great but had bad timing. London was bombed before the pretaped Smackdown show was scheduled to air. UPN showed the entire segment unedited with an advisory warning shown many times during the broadcast. The segment was removed from the Australian and European versions.
The New York Post, TV Guide, Variety and other mainstream media covered the controversial storyline. UPN monitored the storyline closely and didn't permit the Hassan character on its network the following week. WWE used an unedited promo by Hassan on its website. Hassan, reiterated that he is an Arab-American and that Americans unfairly assume he is a terrorist. According to the storyline Hassan refused to show on television until the Great American Bash. However, the reality was that UPN pulled the plug because they no longer wanted the Hassan character on its network.
During the London bombings, it was pretty understandable why the storyline hit the trash can. If the bombings never happened, the storyline would have grown into something fruitful and interesting. On the downside, 9/11 has turned North America into a super sensitive politically correct society. The reasons are understandable, however wrestling has been robbed of one of its greatest source of storylines, politics.
Don't get me wrong. I lived in Taiwan for two years travelling to different countries, but I'm a writer and politics provide an emotional charge and is a great way to get cheap heat. It's a good idea. We connect to the wrestlers better that way because they stand tall for our country. The Hart Vs. the U.S. storyline was excellent because it brought wrestlers of a certain nationality together for a common cause. Fans can relate to that.
The downside is the prejudice element, however, any smart fan will realize that it's only entertainment. Politics can be a pretty personal depending on the timing. The Hassan storyline proved that. But the key is for the WWE, TNA or any other wrestling promotion to keep that entertainment factor in mind for all its fans. Us too. Don't take it so personally. It's only wrestling.
