Source: Twitter
“The Pope” D’Angelo Dinero announced via Twitter that his contract with iMPACT Wrestling expired on January 1, 2013. Dinero also announced that he has opted not to renew his contract with the company and that this is not a storyline. Here are the actual tweets from Dinero:
Pope's Contract expired with TNA on Jan 1, I will not be
resigning. Thanks to Dixie and the whole TNA Family for a wonderful 3+ Years.~PHS— Elijah Burke (@DaBlackPope) January 8, 2013
Shortly after Dinero posted the tweet above, he added the comment below to let everyone know that this was not a storyline.
And for the SM's out there, THIS is not a storyline. ~PHS
— Elijah Burke (@DaBlackPope) January 8, 2013
Wherever Dinero winds up, we wish him the best of luck. He’s a great talent.
I can’t blame him for not renewing … though obviously I don’t know his reasons, it doesn’t seem as though he has been used as much he should, or allowed to reach the heights that he deserves.
I can however commend him for being one of the guys to exit in a graceful, respectful manner.
Totally agree on both fronts. I have such a great respect for guys who exit gracefully – completely unlike Kevin Nash and Mick Foley, who really lowered the bar when it comes to being low-class on their way out of a small promotion.
True … I was especially surprised by Mick Foleys exit, although at least he said he felt about the way he did it later.
Frequently the guys who exit in a good way are younger, newer faces like Generation Me, Angelina Love and Pope … A strange and stark contrast to Kevin Nash, Foley and Scott Steiner.
Maybe the TNA culture or the wrestling business is becoming a less wild, more civilized place.