Paging The Pope!

[It's Damn Real!]

Five months. I repeat. Five months. That's the number of months we are approaching without having seen The Pope in TNA. His last match was January 8th, at Genesis, when Devon's sons turned on Dinero and helped Devon pick up the win, and close out their short-lived feud.

I get that a lot's been going on since, but like I said when Mr. Anderson went MIA for months on end, how creative can't have anything for someone as talented as The Pope, frankly, is beyond me.

So what's the deal here? Injury? Contract? Or is this just a case of creative truly having nothing for the guy?

Call me crazy, but I can think of two rather depleted divisions that could really use his talents right about now.

 

[FlexAmerican Dynamite]

I remember back in 2010 when he was feuding with AJ Styles for that short month where I really saw potential in this guy. The way he cut promos and the his look just instantly made me think he could TNA's adaption of The Rock. Not that I want them to copy him but the Pope's gimmick and style is something that I just really liked. It's a shame TNA didn't capitalize on it. Hopefully we see him back soon. Maybe in the X-Division.

 

[Remy LaCroix]

Has he been working on Xplosion by any chance? I like that he isn't on my television screen anymore and I'd rather they keep it that way. The guy is midcard fodder and very boring IMO and should be released from his contract ASAP. But that's just me.

 

[JJYanks121]

Call me crazy, but TV has been better off without him. He was never much good and it's been refreshing to not have to worry about hearing one of his babbling promos each week. I'm more than fine with him being off TV and I wouldn't be opposed to him never being put back on TV.

 

[IHW]

The TV Title Division needs some salvation from the Pope daddy. It is the perfect time for D'Angelo to return and pick up with Devon. Give us a decent mid card rivalry for the TV Title. The history is there. The talent is there. The need is there. All thats left is The Pope!

 

[J.D Lethal]

Pope is....sitting on the bench...Jesus the guy at one time was close to winning the Main Strap fueding with Aj Styles and then got stuck in a promo with devon and his kids...Pope was being forced on us with the whole devon and his kids things but these live event he needs to make a come back and i mean a HUGE come back..with Alex Shelly being gone...i dont see chris saban staying much ethier...Pope deff can carry his weight as TV champ...and i cand see him (losing) to Austin Aries in a Unify title match....sigh Pope/Burke i'd hate to see him not have Major title under his belt..Hell i've love for MVP to get pope to come to Japan..just do something Pope!!!!!

 

[The Gribbler]

I remember the Pope from WWE and saw nothing in him at all. But I tuned into the TNA show one day and watched, saw the Pope and was glued to my screen the whole time. I watched TNA for sometime after that, and he was up and down.

BUT at his best I was thoroughly entertained. So if he can maintain momentum and work really well I hope he can come back and give me something to watch.

 

[ray2kx5]

I worked at a show he was at last month and he told a fan that he was still signed with TNA but he was "Making a movie"...

 

[MrHashasheen]

I worked at a show he was at last month and he told a fan that he was still signed with TNA but he was "Making a movie"...

He's one of the muscle for Bane in The Dark Knight Rises.

 

[Lowdown]

I would like to see Pope back on TV. I remember there was some story a while back where it seemed like he was taking some time off for some unknown reason. I believe that was last summer. Nevertheless, he would be great if he were put in the mix for the TV title. Lord knows I'm sick of seeing Robbie E constantly involving himself in Devon's matches, after losing to him more than once. Pope would be a refreshing change on Impact, but I don't want to see him and Devon restart their previous feud. He would make a great TV champ though.

 

[ヒュー　G.　レックション]

Has he been working on Xplosion by any chance? I like that he isn't on my television screen anymore and I'd rather they keep it that way. The guy is midcard fodder and very boring IMO and should be released from his contract ASAP. But that's just me.

Haven't seen him on Xplosion, if he was on there these past months I'd have definitely remembered. Pope's probably one of my favourite guys, a unique gimmick, great promos and a great wrestler too what's not to like about him?

I really thought they were gonna make Pope a proper main eventer in 2010 when the title was vacated from RVD. He unfortunately lost to Anderson. Then there was the stuff where he feuded with Immortal and Abyss put him in a casket. Then when Pope came back he randomly turned heel, huge mistake IMO especially when Immortal was still dominating. While he did do some funny stuff, comparing videos of hippos running around to Samoa Joe, and promising Devon's sons they would get a main event push, it hasn't been all that great.

If Pope comes back I hope it's as a face, although who he would feud with I don't know, Bully Ray maybe? I really don't want him feuding with Devon again.

 

[ヒュー　G.　レックション]

Well ladies and gentlemen the Pope has returned in a good showing at the BFG series! So he was doing movie work for the Dark Knight Rises wow I'm gonna have to keep my eye out for him!

I wonder how well he will do in the series. I hope he keeps his outfit and entrance he had with the money falling down, great entrance!

 

[IT Factor]

I'm not a fan of The Pope. Nor was I a fan of "Elijah Burke" in ECW[WWE]. The guy has zero charisma and is stuck doing a stereotypical black gimmick. A pimpin' pope? Really? Like someone else already pointed out, at times, Pope has shown potential in TNA. My problem is Pope isn't a consistent worker. He has to be with a great wrestler[like AJ Styles] to have a great match. If ya flip that and stick him with someone like Devon, he completely sucks. Maybe it's time for Pope to go straight to dvd. Although I'm sure that'll bomb as badly as his career.......

 

[FitFinlay4Life]

The Pope has been great at times and mediocre at others. He is more than an sufficient as a worker (as shown in his time in WWeCW were they generally had the best workers at that time feud over the belt).

This could be the perfect time for this character to return given that IW has moved away from scripted promos. The Pope gimmick has always been based on charisma - this BFG series should dictate how good Elijah Burke (amazingly, his real name) and the Pope character really is.

 

[X]

I'll be honest until I saw him pop up in that Gauntlet Battle Royal on Impact last week I was under the impression that Pope had been fired/quit months ago. That seemed the only logical explanation as to why he just disappeared off the face of the Earth for six months when only a year or two ago he was being groomed for the main event. He didn't last long in the match but man it was good to just see him again, I thought for sure he was just working indies or something at this point.

How the fuck they have time each week for lengthy segments with everyone from Brooke Hogan to Garrett Bischoff to Robbie E and Gunner yet can't find any camera time for SIX MONTHS for the Pope is beyond me. The guy used to be over as fuck and I guess they just thought "Hey, this guy is too over and might make us money...turn him heel, job him out to Devon Dudley, and get that man off TV for six months!" Reminds me of the same shit Bischoff would do to talent in WCW.

 

[midgensa]

I don't know what the deal is here.

I definitely would like to see Dinero on TV. I do not love the guy, but he has some talent and charisma and definitely could grow in the right storyline.

His disappearance while the X-Division and TV Title Division are foundering is awfully odd. Definitely a solid question by the OP.

 

[Pera]

Could be the most overrated talent we've seen in years. I honestly dont know what people see in the guy. Charisma? I find he is lacking in this area. Good mic skills? Mumbles through his promos and this is where I find him overrated the most. Character? So he is a 'black pope' but where in his character does he actually do anything like a Pope? He wears a crucifix around his neck, so what?

I think there are far too many question marks on his character, his in ring skills are very poor and the guy just fails to get over. I, for one, think Impact has blossomed in quite a few areas due to leaving certain talent off TV and this is a prime example.