CM Punk, the WWE World Heavyweight Champion, has not played a heel character in wrestling for some time but continues to embrace his darker side through acting roles. Recently, he appeared in the horror film Night Patrol, where he portrays one of the antagonists, a role he says feels natural to him. Punk explained that embodying a villain allows him to connect emotionally with audiences by tapping into a universal experience everyone shares—a confrontation with a villain in their lives.
Why CM Punk Is Drawn to Playing the Bad Guy
When asked about the enjoyment of playing a villain, Punk responded enthusiastically:
“Time of my life. Honestly, yeah,”
and elaborated,
“I feel like playing a villain is something that I was possibly born to do, and you can have a lot more fun. The bad guys always have better weapons, cooler vehicles. I think you can be more grandiose. Heroes are more centered. I think villains can spread their wings a little bit more — do and say crazier, wilder things. And I do think in life, everybody has encountered some kind of villain. They remember how that made them feel. So it’s an emotional heart string I like to tug on and get people to react.”
—CM Punk, WWE World Heavyweight Champion
Current Wrestling Activities and Upcoming Matches
Though Punk has been known for his heel persona early in his career, he has maintained a babyface character since his return to WWE in 2023. He is scheduled to defend his World Heavyweight Championship against Finn Balor on WWE Raw in Belfast, Northern Ireland, this coming Monday, an event that fans from around the world are eagerly anticipating.
Expanding His Presence in Entertainment with Voice Acting
Beyond the wrestling ring and horror films, Punk recently took part in voice acting for Disney’s upcoming film Zootopia 2. He shares this role with fellow WWE star Roman Reigns, portraying characters known as the Zebros. Punk commented on their partnership, noting,
“I think the on-screen chemistry that we share in WWE obviously translated,”
and added,
“Somebody saw it, somebody thought that we would be a good fit for the Zebros. So we’re doing something right.”
—CM Punk, WWE World Heavyweight Champion
The Significance of CM Punk’s Versatility
CM Punk’s ability to move fluidly between playing villains in both wrestling and film highlights his adaptability and deep understanding of character work. His return to WWE as a face while continuing to embrace villain roles outside the ring allows him to maintain a complex public persona that captures fans’ attention. As he prepares for his championship match in Belfast, his growing presence in mainstream entertainment projects like Night Patrol and Zootopia 2 suggests that his influence will likely extend well beyond wrestling audiences, bridging multiple forms of storytelling.
