Indie wrestler LJ Cleary opened up about a memorable encounter with WWE star CM Punk at Ace Steel’s training facility in Orlando. During a conversation with MuscleMan Malcolm, Cleary shared insights he gained from the meeting, highlighting the significance of reputation in wrestling beyond just performing moves.
The Foundation Gym Visit and First Impressions
Cleary trains regularly at The Foundation, Ace Steel’s wrestling school in Orlando. He described the moment CM Punk showed up unannounced, saying,
“I train regularly at The Foundation in Orlando, its Ace Steel’s school. Punk just dropped in, it was pretty surreal, I remember walking in like, ‘Oh, I guess he’s here.’”
This surprise encounter offered Cleary a chance to connect with an influential figure he had never met before.
Building Respect Through Shared Support
Prior to their meeting, Cleary had posted a graphic announcing his move to Orlando, which CM Punk shared on social media. When they finally met, Cleary expressed his gratitude for the gesture. He recalled,
“A couple days before, I put up my graphic saying that I was now based out of Orlando and Punk, who’d I’d never met at this point, shared it. So, first thing I said to him when I saw him was like, ‘Hey, nice to meet you, thank you for sharing my graphic.’ He was just like, ‘Oh, no, if Ace puts the stamp on you, I believe it.’”
This mutual respect underscored the importance of Steel’s endorsement within the wrestling community.
The Deeper Lesson from CM Punk on Wrestling’s Core Value
Cleary shared the most impactful advice Punk offered about the essence of wrestling performance. He said,
“I’d say the main thing I took from that day — it gets said a lot, oh it’s not about moves, it’s about the moments. Sometimes that gets just repeated by people who don’t really explain it. But then, you meet someone like him who obviously has a much higher level of understanding of this. Something he said when talking about that was, if I was on Raw tomorrow and I went out and hit a GTS — he was like, I wouldn’t care because it’s not CM Punk hitting it, therefore it just doesn’t have as much value. That was such a good way of putting that it’s not about the moves into perspective, it’s about who’s doing it.”
This insight offered Cleary a fresh perspective on how identity shapes a wrestler’s impact and fan reception.
What This Encounter Means for LJ Cleary’s Path Forward
The encounter carries significance for Cleary as he continues to develop his career under the guidance of Ace Steel in Orlando. The endorsement and advice from a respected figure like CM Punk could influence his approach both in and out of the ring, emphasizing character and storytelling as much as technical skill. Fans and followers can anticipate how this direction may shape Cleary’s performances in the indie wrestling circuit going forward.
