WWE History Vol. 5: Brothers in Paint

#5 Papa Shango

Papa Shango

Charles Wright was literally tending a bar when a group of pro wrestlers came in for a drink. One of them was Mark Calloway, better known, and loved, as The Undertaker. Taker told Wright a man with his huge size and build could be a great pro wrestler.

Wright took Undertaker's advice and began training for the ring. He initially debuted for the WWE in 1991 as Sir Charles, a play on NBA star Charles Barkley, who was popular in that era.

But in 1992, Wright was repackaged as Papa Shango. Shango is a character from several mythologies, including the Voodoo practices which Wright's gimmick was based upon. However, the religious Shango was a positive force, while Papa Shango was very much a villain.

Shango often cursed enhancement talents, causing them to fall ill or even burst into flames. He had a memorable feud with the Ultimate Warrior where his Voodoo seemed to wreak havoc quite well.

Eventually, Papa Shango was phased out in favor of other, more 'realistic' gimmicks as the Attitude Era began. Shango would eventually become The Godfather, one of the more visible, and controversial, figures in the Attitude Era.