Robert Roode signs a 5 year contract with TNA

Credit: thepeterboroughexaminer.com

Bobby Roode is body slamming the rumours of his departure from Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.

The 32-year-old Peterborough professional wrestler has resigned with the wrestling company, quashing reports that rival World Wrestling Entertainment was going to ink the six-foot-one, 240-pound grappler to a deal.

"My contract is put away and I've re-signed for five years with TNA," Roode told The Examiner last night.

"I'm very happy about it. They wanted to sign me to a long-term deal. Most contracts are one to three years, but they wanted to keep me around for five. I'm quite pleased."

Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

"Professionally I'm very happy and financially they have put me in a very good spot. I'm happy all the way around," said Roode, who is home visiting his wife Tracy, children Bobby, Riley, Nicholas and parents Bob and Sandy Roode.

Roode, who wrestles as the character Robert Roode, a "financial genius" from Wall Street, said there was a strong desire to remain with the upstart wrestling promotion he joined more than four years ago.

"There was a little bit of interest there (from WWE)," he admitted.

"If TNA didn't step up to the plate, I would have tried a little bit harder (with WWE). I have an agent working for me as well. It was one of those things where my heart wanted to stay here. And TNA wanted me to stay there, too. So they stepped up to the plate and gave me a really nice offer."

When Roode joined TNA, he originally was a singles performer and had a number of high-profile feuds.

However, last summer he was placed in the tag team division with James Storm (real name James Allan Black). Together, they are known as Beer Money Inc. The duo won the TNA world tag team championship belts on Aug. 10 at the "Hard Justice" pay-per-view show.

They lost the titles on a Jan. 8 edition of the "Impact!" TV show but regained the titles three days later and remain the champions.

Roode says his new deal could lead to a return to singles' competition.

He said his current contract expires on April 4 but the new one will commence on March 1.

"For now, I don't know what the future will hold for me, but signing the long-term deal is a good sign that in time they'll branch me off into a singles guy again," said Roode.

"There are guys in our company right now -- like Kurt Angle, Booker T and Kevin Nash-- who are in their 40s and their careers are near the end. Mine is just peaking. The company is looking toward their future and I think they'll mould me into one of their spots down the road.

"We'll have to see what happens, but I think that's what is going to be the case."

Smart choice Robbie! Love his dedication to TNA. WWE would have treated him like crap thats for sure

im really happy that they re - signed roode. hes one of the best heels tna has. he is def the future of the company.

I like Robert. since they paired him with Tracy i could see TNA had a liking to him.

Awesome that he renewed a contract for 5 years!

how would you know he woulda been misused in WWE? he def has the mic skills and the talent to get over as a major heel.

Robert Roode could actually become a top star in WWE, he has awesome Mic Skills

yeah to say WWE doesnt pick up waste from TNA is stoopid....they did pick up Chris Harris and didnt use him...so who knows with any of the recently released ones. sonjay and petey

and Roode already is misused...he should be maineventing

I'm glad he renewed his contract, he is one of the few heels in TNA and he is a good wrestler.