Wrestling icon Charles “The Godfather” Wright recently discussed the original conception of his well-known WWE character Papa Shango, citing inspiration from the James Bond franchise. This discussion took place during his appearance on the podcast “Insight with Chris Van Vliet”.
Reflecting on his conversations with WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, Wright rememberd how McMahon initially described the persona of Papa Shango to him. Wright said, “Vince brings me on board, and comments how I have this muscular physique contrasted by a youthful face. At one point he asked me to watch the film ‘Live and Let Die’.”
Wright also broached the subject of the demise of his Papa Shango character, a period of his life marred by personal turmoil due to his divorce. He recounted, “I was constantly getting in physical altercations, with the Undertaker intervening to protect people. Things were spiraling out of control. So, after a conversation with McMahon and Mark (The Undertaker), it was agreed upon that I should take a break and recalibrate my mental state before my actions lead someone to get seriously hurt. I recognize that seems intense, but I was a completely different person back then.”
If you wish to hear more, you can discover additional insights from the podcast below:
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