# The Godfather (wrestler)
**The Godfather** is a professional wrestling persona performed by Wright, who is also known by the ring names Papa Shango, Kama, Kama Mustafa, and the Goodfather.[1](https://www.wwe.com/classics/wherearetheynow/wrightpart1) Wright debuted in the WWF in 1991 as Papa Shango, a voodoo witch doctor.[1](https://www.wwe.com/classics/wherearetheynow/wrightpart1) • [2](https://slamwrestling.net/interviews/chillin-in-the-godfathers-office/) Accompanied to the ring by scantily-clad women, leading his "Ho Train" and using the catchphrase "Pimpin' ain't easy," the Godfather became one of the most popular attractions of the [Attitude Era](https://www.edgepedia.org/attitude-era).[2](https://slamwrestling.net/interviews/chillin-in-the-godfathers-office/) In 2016, [Vince McMahon](https://www.edgepedia.org/vince-mcmahon) placed Wright in the [WWE Hall of Fame](https://www.edgepedia.org/wwe-hall-of-fame) under the Godfather gimmick.[7](https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2021/01/the-godfather-recalls-being-warned-by-wwe-legend-not-to-sign-with-wcw-due-to-racism/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Notable characters | Papa Shango, Kama, Kama Mustafa, The Godfather, The Goodfather[1](https://www.wwe.com/classics/wherearetheynow/wrightpart1) |
## Path into wrestling
Wright did not plan a wrestling career. He played football at the University of Las Vegas, and while bartending in Las Vegas he met wrestlers who were appearing in *Over the Top*, a [Sylvester Stallone](https://www.edgepedia.org/sylvester-stallone) movie; they encouraged him to try the business. He trained in New Jersey, then was brought into the United States Wrestling Association in Memphis by [Jerry Lawler](https://www.edgepedia.org/jerry-lawler), winning the heavyweight title from Lawler in his first night there.[1](https://www.wwe.com/classics/wherearetheynow/wrightpart1) Wright later said that at the time he was bench-pressing around 500 pounds and, prompted by the wrestler Jeep Swenson's advice, enrolled at Larry Sharpe's Monster Factory; he was signed by Lawler after about a month in the school.[2](https://slamwrestling.net/interviews/chillin-in-the-godfathers-office/) In the USWA he also teamed briefly with the future Undertaker as the Soultaker and the Punisher, and the two became close friends.[2](https://slamwrestling.net/interviews/chillin-in-the-godfathers-office/)
## The gimmick chain
**Papa Shango, 1991–1992.** After a tryout arranged through his friend the Undertaker, Wright debuted in the WWF in 1991 as Papa Shango, a voodoo witch doctor whose character, Jay Strongbow told him, was to be spun off from the voodoo figure in the [James Bond](https://www.edgepedia.org/james-bond) film *Live and Let Die*.[1](https://www.wwe.com/classics/wherearetheynow/wrightpart1) • [2](https://slamwrestling.net/interviews/chillin-in-the-godfathers-office/) The character was pushed quickly into main-event programs, most famously against the [Ultimate Warrior](https://www.edgepedia.org/ultimate-warrior), including on-screen sickness and a black liquid effect during a promo.[2](https://slamwrestling.net/interviews/chillin-in-the-godfathers-office/) Wright's most remembered incident of the run came at [WrestleMania VIII](https://www.edgepedia.org/wrestlemania-viii), where he missed his run-in cue in the Hulk Hogan versus Sid Justice main event, producing a confusing finish; Wright later said he was simply waiting for a cue he never received on time.[2](https://slamwrestling.net/interviews/chillin-in-the-godfathers-office/)
**Kama and Kama Mustafa.** In 1995 Wright returned repackaged as Kama "The Supreme Fighting Machine," a shoot-fighter gimmick pitched before the mixed martial arts boom. His feud with the Undertaker included stealing the Undertaker's urn and melting it into a gold chain; after losing it back, Wright left again.[2](https://slamwrestling.net/interviews/chillin-in-the-godfathers-office/) In 1997 he rejoined as Kama Mustafa in the [Nation of Domination](https://www.edgepedia.org/nation-of-domination), a faction portrayed as a militant black nationalist group; it was dismantled after The Rock arrived.[2](https://slamwrestling.net/interviews/chillin-in-the-godfathers-office/)
**The Godfather.** With the Nation breaking up, Wright invented his next persona himself. He had worn a hat called a "Godfather" hat even as Kama Mustafa, and people had told him he looked like a pimp; after experimenting on house shows with jokes about "ho's," he told Vince McMahon the character needed women in tow, and the Godfather gimmick took off.[2](https://slamwrestling.net/interviews/chillin-in-the-godfathers-office/) By other accounts the character was his wife's idea, and she had the costumes made.[3](https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/godfather-credits-his-wife-idea-him-becoming-babyface-pimp/) Accompanied to the ring by scantily-clad women, leading his "Ho Train" and using the catchphrase "Pimpin' ain't easy," he became one of the most popular attractions of the Attitude Era; his entrance music alone sent fans running back to their seats.[2](https://slamwrestling.net/interviews/chillin-in-the-godfathers-office/) Wright consistently said the character was essentially himself rather than an act, which he credited for its success.[1](https://www.wwe.com/classics/wherearetheynow/wrightpart1) • [4](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2618666-exclusive-the-godfather-struts-all-the-way-into-the-wwe-hall-of-fame) In early 1999 he was given the WWF Intercontinental Championship. He was scheduled to lose the belt to [Owen Hart](https://www.edgepedia.org/owen-hart) at the [Over the Edge](https://www.edgepedia.org/over-the-edge-1999) pay-per-view where Hart died in an accident; two weeks later, Godfather dropped the belt to Hart's partner [Jeff Jarrett](https://www.edgepedia.org/jeff-jarrett).[2](https://slamwrestling.net/interviews/chillin-in-the-godfathers-office/)
**The Goodfather.** The Godfather drew criticism from broadcast censors and from the Parents Television Council, which pressured WWE sponsors; once WWE programming left cable for broadcast networks and the company went public, Wright was restricted to late-night appearances and forbidden from his catchphrases and references.[2](https://slamwrestling.net/interviews/chillin-in-the-godfathers-office/) Vince McMahon responded with a parody of the PTC, the Right to Censor stable, and Wright was assigned into it as the Goodfather, a shirt-and-tie moralist who renounced the pimp persona. Wright said bluntly that he hated it, because it was not him.[2](https://slamwrestling.net/interviews/chillin-in-the-godfathers-office/) • [5](https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2018/11/the-godfather-says-he-hated-the-goodfather-647661/)
## Departure and later appearances
After the Right to Censor disbanded, WWE tried reviving the Godfather as a reformed "legit" escort-service owner; Wright said it failed because fans wanted the original character back.[2](https://slamwrestling.net/interviews/chillin-in-the-godfathers-office/) He retired at the end of 2002, citing roughly 280 to 285 days on the road per year and a desire to be with his children, and returned to Las Vegas to run Cheetah's, a well-known gentlemen's club.[2](https://slamwrestling.net/interviews/chillin-in-the-godfathers-office/) • [6](https://prowrestling.fandom.com/wiki/Charles_Wright) He remained under a WWE legends contract and made occasional appearances, including the Raw 15th [Anniversary](https://www.edgepedia.org/anniversary) show in December 2007 and the House Hardy Halloween special on the [WWE Network](https://www.edgepedia.org/wwe-network) on October 28, 2018, where he reprised both the Godfather and Papa Shango personas.[2](https://slamwrestling.net/interviews/chillin-in-the-godfathers-office/)
## Legacy
Wright never jumped promotions in the 1990s; he held a verbal agreement to join WCW and the nWo, but the deal fell through and the planned role went to Virgil, who became Vincent. He later said [Ron Simmons](https://www.edgepedia.org/ron-simmons) warned him against signing with WCW because of the racism he would face there.[7](https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2021/01/the-godfather-recalls-being-warned-by-wwe-legend-not-to-sign-with-wcw-due-to-racism/) Though he described himself as never the best technical wrestler, his characters became parts of pop-culture moments, and in 2016 McMahon placed him in the WWE Hall of Fame under the Godfather gimmick; Wright continues to make occasional appearances and collect royalties.[7](https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2021/01/the-godfather-recalls-being-warned-by-wwe-legend-not-to-sign-with-wcw-due-to-racism/)
## References
1. [Where Are They Now? The Godfather, WWE.com (2010)](https://www.wwe.com/classics/wherearetheynow/wrightpart1)
2. [Chillin' in The Godfather's office, SLAM! Wrestling (2008)](https://slamwrestling.net/interviews/chillin-in-the-godfathers-office/)
3. [Godfather Credits His Wife's Idea For Him Becoming A Babyface Pimp, Fightful](https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/godfather-credits-his-wife-idea-him-becoming-babyface-pimp/)
4. [Exclusive: The Godfather Struts All the Way into the WWE Hall of Fame, Bleacher Report](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2618666-exclusive-the-godfather-struts-all-the-way-into-the-wwe-hall-of-fame)
5. [The Godfather Says He Hated The "Goodfather", Wrestling Inc (2018)](https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2018/11/the-godfather-says-he-hated-the-goodfather-647661/)
6. [Charles Wright, Pro Wrestling Fandom](https://prowrestling.fandom.com/wiki/Charles_Wright)
7. [The Godfather Recalls Being Warned By WWE Legend Not To Sign With WCW Due To Racism, Wrestling Inc (2021)](https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2021/01/the-godfather-recalls-being-warned-by-wwe-legend-not-to-sign-with-wcw-due-to-racism/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Individual sports and outdoor recreation › Combat sports and professional wrestling › Professional wrestlers and stables › American wrestlers › Attitude era wrestlers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license