Going Ringside Ep. 118: Papa Shango Charles Wright was a fixture in WWE as one of its biggest stars throughout the 90’s
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – One of the biggest stars during WWE’s (then WWF) most popular era was Charles Wright.
He started in the company during the early 1990s as the voodoo-themed character Papa Shango. Then along the way he morphed into a few other characters including Kama (The Supreme Fighting Machine) and The Godfather.
In this interview, he opens up on all three characters and becoming one of the most popular wrestlers in the world. Then he explains his decision to leave WWE.
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About the Author Scott Johnson headshot
Scott is a multi-Emmy Award Winning Anchor and Reporter, who also hosts the “Going Ringside With The Local Station” Podcast. Scott has been a journalist for 25 years, covering stories including six presidential elections, multiple space shuttle launches and dozens of high-profile murder trials.
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