In interviews after the fact, Charles Wright has always been pretty laid back about the fact his 'Papa Shango' character didn't work. Others, such as Bret Hart, have stated their belief that the WWF should have done far more with the gimmick. In Hart's mind, Shango had all the tools to become the top heel in the promotion, and he wanted a program opposite him in 1993. That year would be the end of the witch doctor persona for Wright. Soon, he'd go on to debut as an entirely new character in 1995. Known as 'Kama', the man would never return to the shaman nuances of old. That's a shame, because Papa Shango could have been special had the company shown more patience. By 1993 however, the company was ready to try a different direction at the top of the card. Outlandish characters were no longer as welcome, and Vince McMahon favoured smaller, more realistic wrestlers like Shawn Michaels and the aforementioned Bret Hart. Nonetheless, Papa Shango will forever be remembered for his out there angles with the likes of The Ultimate Warrior, during which he used rituals and spells to make Warrior sick.
Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.
