The WORST Moment From Every WWE WrestleMania

34. Papa Shango Misses His Cue (WrestleMania VIII)

WrestleMania VIII Papa Shango Botch
WWE

You've got to feel for Papa Shango here. He'd only debuted a new witch doctor heel gimmick a few months before WrestleMania VIII, then heard that he'd be running in on the Hulk Hogan vs. Sid Justice main event. That was a huge show of faith in Shango from management, and it'd surely lead to matches between Papa and Hogan.

Or not.

Someone either misjudged the length of the aisle way or sent Shango out for his spot too late, because he didn't reach the ring in time to thump Hogan as the big red and yellow babyface pinned Sid post-leg drop. It was Hulk's worst nightmare that Justice had to power out of his finisher without help. Stop the presses, brother. That hostility won't stand, dude.

Of course, The Ultimate Warrior's own comeback distracted everybody, but Papa had to be mortified. His bold new character's WWF career was never the same after this botch, but he'd eventually find success as The Godfather after playing Kama Mustafa as well. At least he bounced back.

It had to be chaos behind the curtain in Indianapolis though. Vince McMahon and other WWF chiefs must've been fuming that the headliner's finish had been ruined. However, they were the ones who wanted to book a crummy disqualification result in the first place, so perhaps they deserved those plans to fly out the window.

The flubbed spot proved to be a disaster for Shango regardless. He took the blame, and his persona faded to the point he was eliminated in seconds by the following year's Royal Rumble.

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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.