D’Angelo Dinero Discusses TNA’s Move to Pop TV, His Talks With WWE While Away From TNA, and More

– WrestlingInc.com recently interviewed TNA commentator Pope D’Angelo Dinero. Pope discussed TNA’s move to Pop TV, his return to TNA as a broadcaster, and more. Below are some highlights and the audio for the interview.

Pope on finding out about TNA’s move to Pop TV: “I think we all knew the move was coming. It was talked about a lot in the industry prior to the news breaking, rumblings that Destination America and TNA’s relationship was coming to an end. It was a surprise that we moved to Pop, but not really a surprise that the move was coming. Dixie Carter is great when it comes to making sure the best things are done for her company. I think the move to Pop TV will be much better for TNA, the viewing audience. It puts us back in many more homes and I think it will reflect in the ratings. Many people who haven’t been able to find us since moving to DA can have that opportunity to locate us and enjoy Impact Wrestling every week.”

Pope on Pop TV President Brad Schwartz praising TNA: “That’s the number one thing, right there, when it comes to professional wrestling. Any genre of entertainment, but specifically when it comes to professional wrestling, you have to be on a channel that supports wrestling fully. It’s very important to have that brand being supported by the channel that’s going to build that brand, and be a fan. I think that’s what you refer to when you speak about the President of Pop TV. He grew up a Wrestling fan, and he’s still a wrestling fan. He’s more than thrilled to have that as a staple on his network to help build his brand as well as the evolution of Impact wrestling.”

Pope on coming back to TNA as a color commentator: “Myself and TNA were never out of contact over the time of my departure. Dixie Carter, it’s great when you can call your boss a friend, but everyone that knows her knows she’s a very relatable person. She’s probably one of the cooler and better bosses anyone would ever work for in this lifetime. I’m in Nashville right now and I can head over to her house if I wanted to and just sit back and talk to her. Talk about an open door policy, her home is literally always open to you. The timing was just right. We had prior discussions that when business was right, we’d do business again if everything falls into place. It worked, the stars aligned. I went, it was a no-brainer.”

Pope on having some talks with WWE while he was away from TNA: “There were some talks with the E’ (WWE). It didn’t flourish as fast or as quick as it was hoped to be. There was contact made with Triple H. I spoke to higher-ups in the company as well. In the end, the opportunity for the commentary job opened up. It was more of a ‘wait and see’ type of thing with WWE at the time. TNA offered the opportunity and it fight for me at this time in my career.”

Pope on if he will ever get back in the ring in TNA: “That’s one of the more intriguing things about the commentating things. Pope becomes a color commentator and sits in a seat often occupied by retired, semi-retired or inactive wrestlers or entertainers. As young as this blood is that runs in my body, daddy, many fans and promoters see me as retired. I’m not retired at all. I wrestle to this day. I just won the OVW Southern Tag Titles with Marcus Anthony, who is a former NXT/FCW performer for WWE. I stay very active. When it comes to getting back in the ring for TNA, I don’t see a purpose right now. There have been talks about it and mentions, about getting me back in the ring. Fans ask all the time. I stand firm in my belief that there’s no point at this specific time for Pope to get back in the ring without being validated. If it’s not for Gold, what’s the point? If it’s not for a special, meaningful purpose, there’s no point in me getting back in the TNA ring. What else can be done besides what I just mentioned? It has to be worthwhile.”