D'Angelo Dinero

Elijah Samuel Burke (born May 24, 1978) 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, who defeated Burke just days prior to his two murders and suicide.

There, he won the Heavyweight Championship on December 8, 2004, by defeating Chad Toland.

On April 14 Burke lost the championship to Matt Morgan.

While in OVW, Burke was offered a spot in the Spirit Squad by WWE's creative team, but turned it down, which forced him to stay in OVW longer before moving to SmackDown! with Sylvester Terkay.

Burke would be brought up to the main roster of SmackDown!

on July 28, 2006, working a mixed martial arts cornerman gimmick with the also debuting former MMA fighter Sylvester Terkay.

His first WWE match saw him defeating Scott Wright and he would also break Vito's four month winning streak while on SmackDown!, albeit with Terkay's assistance.

On November 7, 2006, Burke and Terkay debuted on the ECW brand by cutting a backstage promo.

The following week, Burke replaced Tazz, who had knee surgery, as color commentator alongside play-by-play announcer Joey Styles.

Two weeks later, Burke returned to the ring; he and Terkay lost to The Hardys.

At the ECW brand's December to Dismember pay-per-view, Burke and Terkay defeated The Full Blooded Italians.

The pair were later dubbed The Knock-Out/Tap-Out Connection, in reference to Burke's amateur boxing career and Terkay's mixed martial arts background.

On January 18, 2007, Terkay was released from WWE.

Following this, Burke usually wrestled in singles matches, and appeared in a segment where WWE owner Vince McMahon showed disdain for members of the original ECW and called Burke to the ring, naming him "The Future of ECW".

Burke was then attacked by Tommy Dreamer, Rob Van Dam, Sabu, and The Sandman, who would later form the ECW Originals stable.

Burke then became the official leader of The New Breed, a group of new ECW stars including Matt Striker, Marcus Cor Von and Kevin Thorn, who proceeded to feud with the ECW Originals.

At WrestleMania 23, The New Breed faced the ECW Originals but were defeated.

After several weeks of trying to recruit fellow roster mate and new ECW superstar CM Punk, Burke and the New Breed were successful on April 10.

Just two weeks later, however, CM Punk betrayed the New Breed, attacking Burke after a match.

The next week, Kevin Thorn quit the New Breed due to lack of interference in his match with CM Punk.

The same night, Matt Striker and Marcus Cor Von were defeated by the debuting Major Brothers.

After being pinned, Burke screamed at Striker creating tension between the two.

The New Breed would then feud with the ECW Originals, CM Punk and the Major Brothers at the same time.

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 trained as an amateur boxer, a background that influenced his pro-wrestling style.

Burke is a former officer for the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office in Florida who started in corrections before crossing over to the street.

He would become an amateur boxer during this time as well as a toughman competitor in Jacksonville's Club 5 and Club Plush, where he would amass a 98–1 win–loss record in the span of 3 years.

According to his WWE.com profile, Burke has a record of 103–1 with 102 knockouts in his amateur career.

According to WWE, the only loss he sustained was a disqualification, after he knocked his opponent out and refused to back down to his corner.

Before each of his matches he writes the phrase "4-Up" on his wrist tape, and in an interview with WWE Magazine, Burke stated that this came from the phrase "I'm going to give you five upside your head," used by comedians such as Redd Foxx.

However, when you punch somebody, it's more accurately four upside the head.

On the "Right After Wrestling" program on Sirius Satellite Radio Channel 98, Burke told hosts Arda Ocal and Jimmy Korderas that early in his professional wrestling career, he never threw worked punches due to having difficulty pulling his punches.

After signing with WWE, he was sent to their developmental territory, Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW).