You gotta feel bad for the dude ... he was a few weeks away from co-main eventing one of the 4 WWE PPVs of the year to not having a job.
Of course, the article made it seem as if everything was Kool & the Gang, but deep down, you know Copani's gotta feel some animosity ... Hopefully he got a nice payday while he was there.
Well, it's really sad that the guy lost his job through no fault of his own. He was only following orders, but they were, unfortunatley, really stupid orders.
However, I guess there wasn't much WWE could do. It would have been really hard to try and repackage the guy, so there wasn't any point in keeping him around.
I do hope the guy finds work. I was never a fan of his in the ring, but you've gotta' feel bad for him, all things considered.
The answer to WWE's financial problems...
Never 'Wiener of the Day', and is actually quite bitter about it.
It would be really ironic if Copani ends up acting on a UPN show.
On the flip side, congrats to ABC for hiring Tim McGraw to tailor the lyrics to "I like it, I love it" for every halftime highlight show throughout the "Monday Night Football" season. Just last week, my buddy House and I were discussing Cosell's classic highlight narratives in the '70s, and how nobody had approached them since, and I told House, "Only one thing could ever come close, and I know it's a long shot, but what if ABC hired Tim McGraw to tailor the lyrics to 'I Like it, I Love It' for each week of NFL highlights throughout the season?" And wouldn't you know, it happened! See, dreams can come true. --- Bill Simmons, www.sportsguy.net
I really don't feel too bad for Copani whether he was following orders or not. Considering how bad and ridiculous the character and gimmick was and he was the one performing it. He still has some responsibility I believe.
Couldn't they have stuck him in some masked wrestler gimmick? It could have been totally generic or there could have been some sort of implied tie-in to Hassan (I'm thinking a toned down Brian Pillman/Yellow Dog thing). It would have been nice, seeing as how WWE basically committed career homicide.
Originally posted by StingArmyCouldn't they have stuck him in some masked wrestler gimmick? It could have been totally generic or there could have been some sort of implied tie-in to Hassan (I'm thinking a toned down Brian Pillman/Yellow Dog thing). It would have been nice, seeing as how WWE basically committed career homicide.
- StingArmy
They should've given him the Patriot gimmick. He would've been far more interesting than Del Wilkes ever was...
Originally posted by StingArmyCouldn't they have stuck him in some masked wrestler gimmick? It could have been totally generic or there could have been some sort of implied tie-in to Hassan (I'm thinking a toned down Brian Pillman/Yellow Dog thing). It would have been nice, seeing as how WWE basically committed career homicide.
- StingArmy
Its like you said StingArmy...career homicide. No coming back after that. And now it looks to be essentially true for now.
My understanding is that WWE wanted him to go back down to OVW for a while to work on his wrestling (which was the weakest part of his skill set) while they worked something up to get him back on TV. He decided that, rather than do that, he'd rather go to L.A. to act.
I'll guess that he'll spend the next year or so out there, realize that it's harder to get regular work than he thinks and he'll realize that spending a few more months in OVW working on transitions and psychology wouldn't have been so bad.
Tonight I wanna ruin my life, I wanna throw it all away, In a spectacular way
Obviously Hassan was using Pro Wrestling as a stepping stone to a career in acting.
Triple H's Theme ----------------------
Time to flame the lame... time to flame the lame
It's all about the game, and how you play it I hunger for control, That why I'm with Stephanie It's all about the lame,and Vince has gotta pay me... I am the lame... you don't want to like me... I want control I used to do Joanie... I am Kev's *****... But people still hate me I am the lame... and Zenk is going to flame me
I'm very disappointed that WWE let it get to this stage. There was no problem whatsoever in getting the Hassan character to realise the error of his ways and make him a patriotic face, or to have his direction changed dramatically enough for UPN to be satisfied. I always felt he was a very good talent with a lot of potential, and I loved that character. Sad to see him go.
Originally posted by WWE.com“Wrestling is in my back pocket for now,” admitted Copani. “Luckily, the door was left open for a return if that is what I wish to do in the future. And if that’s something I wish to do, I know who to call.”
Hee. It's implied that Copani knows to call WWE if he wants to return to wrestling, but he didn't actually say that in as many words. It'd be funny if what he was really trying to say was, "Yeah, I know to call TNA or ROH or something because WWE totally fucked up my career!"
(edited by ekedolphin on 22.9.05 1011) “Great. He spends skill points on Perform (Kazoo), and now I have to make a Knowledge (Limits of My Own Sanity) skill check." --Roy Greenhilt, The Order of the Stick
Four-Time Wiener of the Day (5/27/02; 7/3/02; 7/30/04; 8/28/04)
The Only Five-Time (and Last) N.E.W. World Heavyweight Champion
Certified RFMC Member-- Ask To See My Credentials!
Originally posted by Excalibur05My understanding is that WWE wanted him to go back down to OVW for a while to work on his wrestling (which was the weakest part of his skill set) while they worked something up to get him back on TV. He decided that, rather than do that, he'd rather go to L.A. to act.
I totally believe that story, because Copani had way too much charisma and promo skillz for WWE to fire him. The guy got crazy over, and though much of that was the gimmick, not everybody could have done it. I don't agree with those who say he couldn't be salvaged, either. All you have to do is have him come out as Mark Copani and tell everybody he's an Italian guy from Syracuse who put on the Arab-American act to get noticed. Presto, instant manipulative asshole heel.
Originally posted by StingArmyCouldn't they have stuck him in some masked wrestler gimmick? It could have been totally generic or there could have been some sort of implied tie-in to Hassan (I'm thinking a toned down Brian Pillman/Yellow Dog thing). It would have been nice, seeing as how WWE basically committed career homicide.
- StingArmy
They should've given him the Patriot gimmick. He would've been far more interesting than Del Wilkes ever was...
Didn't Del Wilkes own that gimmick, then sell it off?
You wanted the best, you got... Out of Context Quote of the Week.
"...but that doesn't mean he can't relate an amusing anecdote about the Haiti Kid and one of the Frenchman's testicles." (Hogan's My Dad)
Did anyone: seriously, deeply, and truly believe in your heart of hearts that when you first saw this Hassan business that it would've ended any differently than the way it did?
Its just from the start, I *knew* it was going to end badly.
Originally posted by The Vile1I've got a question.
Did anyone: seriously, deeply, and truly believe in your heart of hearts that when you first saw this Hassan business that it would've ended any differently than the way it did?
Its just from the start, I *knew* it was going to end badly.
I thought they were going to lay low for a while, and then bring him back. I was convinced there was a "work" element to it all. Just didn't seem like Vince McMahon to back down from network and society pressure.
Originally posted by LoP quoting PWInsiderIn an update on Daivari, he debuted on OVW television last week under the name of Sheik Daivari. Daivari is reportedly well liked backstage and will likely return at some point down the line when the right spot opens.
(Funny...he debuted that twist on his character, complete with the curly-toed boots, back with us back in 2001...just a couple of weeks before 9/11. Obviously, after that day, the "Sheik" character was scrapped. Good for Daivari keeping his career going!)
However, Hassan and Daivari will still be on your TVs come November (and I don't mean setting their action figures on top of the set.)
Originally posted by Daivari's web site Also on 11/14/2005 I'll be making my first video game debut in WWE Smackdown vs. RAW 2006 for PS2.
So we've got that going for us...
(edited by The Thrill on 22.9.05 1638) Rebecca Louise Ross 1947-2005 R.I.P., Mom...
I guess the landscape's a little different than it was two months ago. And I see the logic of putting it back on HHH. But who else has been built up as a threat? Thong-wearing Angle? King-of-the-world Jericho? Cripple Hogan??