7 Crazy WWE Attitude Gimmicks That Almost Happened
2. Papa Shango 2.0
Shaman-style witch doctor Papa Shango sent shivers up the spines of young kids everywhere in the early-90s when he briefly terrorised the roster. The WWF then put the willies up Charles Wright by making a mess of his gimmick and forcing a repackage job into 'Supreme Fighting Machine' Kama a few years later.
Wright was supposed to be handed another chance under the face paints in 1998.
On the latest Table For 3 episode, he told how he posed for make-up and wardrobe test shots in 1997. The plan was to re-introduce Shango to television in 1998, only as a darker, more sinister version that'd be in-tune with the grittier Attitude era. After all the planning and photoshoots, Vince McMahon decided that he'd be best off in the Nation Of Domination instead.
All arrangements to re-debut the witch doctor persona were shelved and later cancelled outright because Vince didn't think it'd fit in with the current product. Imagine how awesome a scary, souped-up Shango could've been in an era so determined to push the envelope.