By Michael Moore, PWTorch Collectibles specialist

Action Figure Spotlight #47: Papa Shango Mattel WWF Series 6
Originally released: 1993
What you can expect to pay: $8-$12 loose, $25-$40 packaged
Recent sales: $3.87, $6.99, $10.00, $12 (loose); $27.99, $45.00 (packaged)




Fans who think WWE’s roster today is thin today should look back about 20 years.

Reeling from several scandals, bad publicity, and the departure of top stars like Hulk Hogan, the World Wrestling Federation was extremely short on talent - short enough that a green wrestler from the southern promotions called the Soultaker was repackaged as a voodoo priest and pushed as a main-eventer.

Papa Shango was born, and along with him came some of the worst moments of the 1990s – the Ultimate Warrior vomiting, jobbers’s feet burning, and Gene Okerlund oozing black goo. Papa Shango looked more like a mystical villain trying to destroy He-Man than a heel challenging Bret Hart for the WWF Title.

But, the things that worked against Papa Shango as a wrestler actually worked in his favor as an action figure. Hasbro released the first Papa Shango toy in its sixth series of WWF action figures. That line hit retail stores in early 1993, by which time Shango had largely been forgotten. However, his figure was an instant hit.

The Shango figure was released at a time when the Hasbro toys were still easy to find in stores, so there are plenty out there today. Loose figures usually sell between $8 and $12; figures that show more wear and tear may only fetch a couple bucks. Most packaged figures have been selling for close to $30, with some as high as $45. Figures in packages that show substantial damage sometimes sell as low as $10.

Mattel and Jakks have also produced figures of Papa Shango in recent years. Jakks included him in the ninth series of Classic WWE Superstars, while his first Mattel toy was offered earlier this year in the 12th series of Elite figures. There are also plenty figures of Charles Wright as the Godfather available from Jakks.

PWTorch Collectibles Specialist Michael Moore can be contacted at michaelmoorewriter@gmail.com .

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