WWE: 10 New Gimmicks That Revived Wrestlers' Careers

10. Papa Shango To Kama To The Godfather

Charles Worthington Charles Wright entered the World Wrestling Federation in 1991, upon the recommendation of his friend The Undertaker. His previous gimmick on the independents, The Soultaker, was a great name but very little else, and besides, it was too close to The Undertaker. So he came in as voodoo practitioner, Papa Shango. With his face painted like a skull, flowing robes and a smoking skull, he was instantly recognisable. However, he was booked into a cringeworthy program with The Ultimate Warrior, which involved Warrior bleeding, convulsing and oozing a strange black slime, all very unconvincingly. The gimmick became a laughing stock and Papa Shango went nowhere. A year later, Wright was repackaged for the first time as €œKama, The Supreme Fighting Machine€, a UFC style shootfighter. However, this role was also unconvincing and failed to stick and the gimmick lasted just over 12 months and Wright was released from the WWF. In 1997, Wright was re-hired as Kama Mustafa, part of the new Nation of Domination gang. Over time, he acquired the nickname of €œThe Godfather€ of the Nation, and it was this name that stuck but in a totally different image. Taking inspiration from Wright€™s real life job of managing a strip club in Las Vegas, The Godfather became a fun loving pimp. The Godfather would come out with his €œHo Train€ of girls, offering them to an opponent instead of fighting them at times. The fans of the Attitude era took The Godfather to their hearts, and if Wright is ever brought in for a cameo appearance in the WWE, it is always as The Godfather character. In fact, The Godfather has been responsible for more than one proposed WWE wedding from taking place, as the potential groom has chosen a ho over a bride!
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Dean Ayass is a well known name to British wrestling fans. A commentator, manager, booker and ring announcer who has been involved in the business since 1993, Dean's insight into the business is second to none.