TNA star “The Pope” D’Angelo Dinero was interviewed this week by The Dothan Eagle and had some interesting things to say about the differences between WWE & TNA, working with the legends he grew up watching on television and more. Here are some highlights of what Dinero said about:
The Differences Between TNA and WWE: “TNA is a family environment. The same environment that I spoke of earlier that we like to give to fans at a live event, that’s how we are, period. Yes, we all want to be champions and make money, but we all support one another’s efforts in doing so. You’re not gonna find that in the giant known as WWE. It’s too much of a warzone, if you will, among the guys there. If you walk in the TNA locker room and the WWE locker room, in TNA everyone is smiling and happy. It’s a great day to come to work. We have guys that have been wrestling 20, 30 years, guys who have been on top of the business, but everyone is on same page and treats everyone with respect. You don’t get talked down to.”
Working Wrestlemania: “I did two WrestleManias, and of course I had the honor and privilege to do so. But as far as having a lot of memories from it, coming up, I wasn’t a WWF fan, I was an NWA (National Wrestling Alliance) fan and a World Class Championship Wrestling fan. I’m from Florida. My fondest memories are of Flair and “The American Dream†Dusty Rhodes, the days of the Horsemen and Sting.”
Working with Legends like Ric Flair and Sting: “You have no idea. It’s the biggest honor. I can only hope some of my fellow brethren in TNA have the same respect and admiration and ability to know we have history, these great legends who we can learn from and grow from in the process. I’ve had a chance to work with Flair, which has just been thrilling. I mean, really thrilling. I’ve told many people before I got to TNA, they’d ask if I could have dinner with three people, who would it be? I always said Michael Jackson, Bill Clinton and Sting. I haven’t met the Big Pope upstairs, but I’ve had some encounters, and I don’t want to see him again until I can’t see no more [laughing]. My immediate goal is to get Sting in the ring before he exits for good. This is the last year. Pope’s been known to give some prophetic advice, and I can tell you this year is the last year for Sting. Pope wants to get him in the ring before he retires for good. I know in this business, when retirements happen, it’s not set in stone, but when Sting retires, I truly believe it’ll be for good.”