Former WWE Superstar Muhammad Hassan got physical in a ring for the first time in eight years at an independent wrestling event.

Italian-American wrestler Marc Copani debuted in WWE in late 2004 under the Muhammad Hassan gimmick. He established himself as an Arab-American character confronting anti-Muslim prejudice and post-9/11 stereotypes in America.

He quickly rose to prominence in WWE and worked with high-profile stars like Shawn Michaels, Hulk Hogan, and The Undertaker. However, his run ended abruptly in July 2005 after he was in a controversial segment featuring some masked men. Since the angle aired the same day as the London bombings, it triggered intense media backlash and network pressure, resulting in the promotion scrapping the character. The promotion released him in September 2005, and he later announced his retirement from in-ring competition.

Ex-WWE Star Muhammad Hassan returns to the ring and attacks Krule

He started a career in education after his first in-ring retirement. He currently serves as Director of Human Resources for the Fulton City School District. However, he returned to wrestling in 2018 as Muhammad Hassan and worked three shows for the independent promotion, The Dynasty. He was also the subject of a 2025 Dark Side of the Ring episode.

He made occasional non-wrestling appearances at a few independent shows and conventions. However, he got physical in the ring for the first time since 2018 at a recent independent wrestling event. He shared the ring with Krule, who grabbed him by the throat before the former WWE star broke free. Hassan landed three punches and delivered a flatliner. He then stood tall, basking in the fans’ “You still got it” chants.