| Elijah Burke | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Burke in 2007 | |
| Birth name | Elijah Samuel Burke[1][2] |
| Born | May 24, 1981[3] Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | D'Angelo Dinero[1] The Pope[4][5] Elijah Burke[1][6] General Pope Da Pope |
| Billed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[6][7] |
| Billed weight | 230 lb (100 kg)[6][7] |
| Billed from | Big Bear, California[1] Jacksonville, Florida[6] "The Streets of Harlem, New York"[8] |
| Trained by | Ohio Valley Wrestling[1] |
| Debut | 2003[1] |
Elijah Samuel Burke (born May 24, 1981) is an American professional wrestler also known under the ring names "The Pope" D'Angelo Dinero and Da Pope. He currently wrestles for the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) as "Da Pope" Elijah Burke, where he is a former World Television Champion. He started his pro-wrestling career in 2003, working for World Wrestling Entertainment, first competing in their developmental territory Ohio Valley Wrestling and later on their main roster from 2006 to 2008. While in WWE he would occasionally do commentary during events, but was primarily used as a wrestler, especially as part of The New Breed stable. Burke was the final opponent of fellow pro-wrestler Chris Benoit.
From 2009 to 2013, and again from 2015 to 2017, Burke worked for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling/Impact Wrestling, with his first stint as a wrestler, and the second stint as one of their main television commentators. Burke has won the OVW Heavyweight Championship, OVW Television Championship, and OVW Southern Tag Team Championship, and was voted Most Improved Wrestler of the Year in 2010 by Pro Wrestling Illustrated.
Prior to his pro-wrestling career, Burke worked as a law enforcement officer in Jacksonville, Florida. He was dual certified, and later gaining a degree in criminal justice. He also was as an amateur boxer and toughman competitor, a background that influenced his pro-wrestling style. In 2014 Burke was inducted into the Guns ‘N Hoses Boxing Hall of Fame at The Jacksonville Veterans Coliseum.
- ^ a b c d e f "D'Angelo Dinero". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved October 5, 2007.
- ^ "Elijah Burke". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on July 18, 2012. Retrieved September 19, 2007.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Cite error: The named reference
slamwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "IMPACT RESULTS : 4/5/16 A NIGHT OF REVENGE". Archived from the original on April 10, 2016. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
- ^ "Da Pope - Impact Wrestling". Archived from the original on January 23, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
- ^ a b c d "Elijah Burke". Ohio Valley Wrestling. Archived from the original on October 17, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
- ^ a b "D'Angelo Dinero". Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. Archived from the original on April 30, 2011. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
- ^ Caldwell, James (August 16, 2009). "TNA News: Former WWE wrestler Elijah Burke debuts on TNA PPV". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved February 17, 2010.