CM Punk is definitely a force to be reckoned with in the WWE. He has held the World Tag Team Championship, the WWE Intercontinental Championship as well as recently winning a Money in the Bank opportunity. While he was in Chicago on Friday, the 30-year-old Chicago-area native sat down with TheMash and discussed his life, career and future.
Where in Illinois did you grow up?
Well, I was born in Christ Hospital in Lockport, where I grew up, and I attended Lockport High School.
Were you on the high school wrestling team?
No, actually I wasn’t, that was … a jock thing at my school, you know. I was the punky kid with the blue Mohawk.
Who were some of your wrestling idols while you were growing up?
It’s definitely a tie between “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and Shawn Michaels.
Did you always want to wrestle when you got older or was there something else?
No, not really, I never really saw myself doing anything else. Wrestling was what I set out for.
What sort of injuries have you sustained in your career?
Well, in 2002 I fractured my skull and had to fix that up. Other than that, I’m good.
How long would you say that an average daily workout for you?
An average workout a day for me is about two hours or so.
How accurate is Micky Rourke’s film “The Wrestler”?
That film is pretty accurate, but it takes place in a different wrestling world than I’m in. That’s sort of the independent world of wrestling.
Any interest pursuing a music or movie career like The Rock or John Cena?
I never really saw myself as a lead role in a movie type or an action star or whatever. I tell you what, I could star in a few romantic comedies down the line.
If you could change anything about your career at all what would it be?
In all honesty, I wouldn’t change a thing.
What is your goal for the future?
Well, all I want to do is be remembered or recognized. I know that [Hulk] Hogan was ’80s and Bret Hart and Shawn Micheals were ’90s. I want to be known as that guy who worked hard and also loved what I did. If you watch closely enough, you can see I’m always having a blast and living the dream.
Any message for the fans?
Yeah, thanks for the support. I make sure that if you paid for a ticket, you have every right to boo or cheer for whoever you want. I’ve been cheered — even booed — but it’s good because either way the audience gets a voice.
Above: CM Punk (right) gets choked by Kane during the Money In The Bank Ladder Match in April.
Left: CM Punk (right) last year in Australia.
Getty Images file photos
