CM Punk: Winning at Life
Former WWE superstar CM Punk finally makes his long-awaited UFC debut tonight on PPV at UFC 203. All with a 0–0 professional MMA record and zero amateur experience. That’s pretty surreal as this isn’t 1993 when the fight promotion was about the spectacle of “style vs style.”
Oh yea, he’s also 37-years-old and started seriously training for MMA about two years ago.
In case you were unaware, CM Punk was a seven-time champion in the WWE. He was WWE Champion for 434 days — a reign officially recognized as the longest of the “modern era” (since 1988). He also achieved the feat of WWE Triple Crown Champion faster than anyone in WWE history.
Yes, professional wrestling is scripted with pre-determined results. Yes, it involves personas and storylines. But you don’t get that type of notoriety unless you have stellar ring skills, are a high-level athlete, are wicked on the mic, can handle the brutal travel-appearance schedule of being a professional wrestler, and can consistently put butts in seats.
CM Punk wasn’t an overnight main event guy either. He clawed his way for years through the regional professional circuit. You can’t deny that CM Punk knows about discipline, pain, sacrifice, and ridiculous work ethic.
At the height of his craft, he chose to walk away from a lucrative WWE contract because he was mentally checked out and tired of the bullshit.
You know that dreaded feeling of just showing up to punch a clock, floating aimlessly through life? Tack on shitty management and tell me you don’t want to jump off a cliff or go do anything else.
Of all the things in all the land, the man wanted to give professional MMA competition a legitimate try. He chose one of the most immensely difficult sports to master.
Is it ridiculous? Crazy?
Yes. Yes.
So. Fucking. What.
At least the man has the balls to go after his bold dream. When the opportunity arrived, he took it and fucking ran with it.
He could be of been lying on the beach, drinking all day and sleeping a slew of “hot” women every single day, but instead he chose the arduous path of professional MMA at the highest level. He showed up to train 5–6 days a week at one of respected and elite MMA gyms across the country.
His evolution from WWE entertainer to MMA professional fighters at Roufusport Academy over the past two years is unprecedented.
The amount of hate he’s received ever since the UFC announced they signed him to a three-fight deal in 2014 is off-the-charts. You think Conor McGregor or Ronda Rousey get hate for being the most lucrative UFC superstars?
CM Punk easily gets twice the amount of hate they both receive — combined. I’ve never seen someone get so much hate.
Why are people hating on CM Punk so much?
Because he became rich through professional wrestling?
I’d be willing to bet that less than 2% of professional wrestlers become rich. Go watch The Wrestler for an in-depth look of the lifestyle. CM Punk is a marketing genius. He’s a god at improv. In case you haven’t tried improv, just know it’s fuck hard. Yet, CM Punk made it look effortless for years, practically every time he got on the mic.
Because he’s coming in and taking someone’s “more deserving” spot on the UFC roster?
Fuck this “deserving” bullshit. It’s about earning your spot. The UFC just sold to WME-IMG for $4 billion. Of course he’s in the UFC because his immense world-wide fan base, mainstream appeal, and chiseled charisma can help generate mass revenue off various channels. He’s a hot commodity who’s increasing the value of the company he works for and getting his share. At least he’s not go doing the often ill-fated path of models turning to acting (or actors turning to modeling).
CM Punk fighting in the UFC is good, for, business. It’s that fucking simple.
Is it fair to all those no-name MMA fighters gunning for the UFC?
No.
But let’s be real, none of those jobbers are going to sell any PPVs out of the gate anyway. 98% of the current roster can’t even get people to buy a significant amount of PPV’s to save their life.
Ask heavyweight champ Stipe Miocic and UFC 202 headliner is he’s upset about having a red panty night or anyone on the UFC 203 card if they’re mad CM Punk is going to help sell more PPV and get more eyeballs and attention on the sport.
Don’t hate the player, hate the game.
Because he’s “not a real fighter”?
You’re a professional MMA fighter if a) you’re paid to enter the cage, b) you train like a professional MMA fighter, c) you successfully make your weight cut, and d) you show up to fight on the day of the fight.
A lot of people think CM Punk is a pussy because he was in the WWE and is now trying combative sports. Go ahead and call The Rock, Bautista, Brock Lesnar a pussy. I’ll wait.
Or go ahead and try learning boxing, thai kickboxing, wrestling, or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu consistently for more than 3 months. CM Punk has been learning all of those disciplines in sync for two years.
Or instead of typing behind a keyboard, go do one legit round of sparring in MMA. When you can do that, you can be taken more seriously. Until then, just fuck off.
You’re telling me CM Punk isn’t allowed to chase a dream because nobodies on the internet say so?
Get the fuck outta here.
Don’t you dream impossible dreams?
I fucking hope so.
All this hate on CM Punk just for doing what few in life dare to actually fucking do: CHASE. THE. DREAM.
People talk about it, but don’t actually do what’s necessary to bring dreams to reality. While the keyboard-Twitter warriors were busy commenting bullshit and negativity, the man was working countless hours every-single-fucking-day over two years.
Not for money, fame, women, but just for his own personal fulfillment. It takes a lot of guts knowing you’re going to take a beating and will have to crawl through a slew of shit bring to life your ridiculous dreams. All the while, he stayed true to himself, to what drives him, and to his dream.
This is one man that won’t have to worry about “what if” when he’s at the end of his life.
Thanks to the well-crafted UFC documentary series, The Evolution of Punk. I’ve become a CM Punk fan. I’d heard the name before, maybe saw a few snippets of him flying off a ladder or performing his signature “finishing move”, the “GTS” in the WWE, but I had no idea he was such a big deal.
Having taken the time to catch up some by scouring YouTube (the man has a five-part “Best of CM Punk” collection of user-generated videos), reading some articles to get to know the man, and catching Ariel Helwani’s latest interview with him, I see why people are drawn to him.
He seems like an all-around good guy to be around. He’s someone I’d like to have a ginger beer or slice of pizza with; someone funny, interesting, stubborn, tenacious, with positive attitude. Aren’t those attributes you’d want your kid to develop?
He strikes me as the type of man that performs in high-stress situations, especially when people say, “You can’t _______.” He’s the guy that will push back when few will even dare to stand up. Someone willing to fight to the death for what he believes in.
What really stands out his commitment to his bring his dream to reality. Something different drives him. It’s deep in his bones.
Who has worked incredibly hard for something for a long period of time with no guarantee of a payoff?
Long lonely nights, long days without food, grinding in the morning, grinding in the evening, grinding when no one else will grind — it all damn near consumes you.
But it’s call consistency. And it’s necessary for super stardom.
Respect goes out to anyone who dares to show up for this grind in the hopes bringing ridiculous dreams to life.
Prove everyone who doesn’t believe in you wrong.
I admire what CM Punk stands for and respect the work he’s put into his journey so far. I find inspiration in his willingness to chase his bold dream in front of millions.
When the lights are the brightest, you find out what someone is made of. You either step up or crumble and run away. CM Punk may be outmatched in every area of the fight game tonight as he’s a massive underdog to win.
But from one self-professed nerd to another self-professed nerd, I hope CM Punk goes out there and shocks the world. I hope he can integrate everything he’s been learning in-depth for the past two years and pulls off a respectable performance.
I hope he shows off the power of commitment and belief; that if you focus on critics, you never get anywhere. But if focus on results, you get what you seek. May he offer a voice to the voiceless and instill inspiration in the uninspired.
Maybe more people will start to craft more “impossible” dreams?
Regardless of the UFC, or the outcome at his debut, for a guy who never should have even made it to the WWE, he’s winning at life. At just 37-years old he’s already become a self-made millionaire, retired from work on his terms, has a hot, cool wife, has a sick, but reasonable house, and a cute dog named Larry. He’s living most people’s dreams. Bravo.
And if he does win, get ready for the internet to break again.
This is the crazy sport of MMA folks: anything can happen. It’s been proven time and time again. Can’t wait to see how the story unfolds.
Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed it, please hit that heart button below — it helps other people see the story.
About the author: Saul Juan Antonio Cuautle is a writer, entrepreneur and coach based out of Menlo Park, CA. He’s the Founder & CEO of Minds of Steel — a tech startup building fitness coaching software that helps you “Discover Your Inner Superhero.” He’s the author of “A Superstar Love Story: Powering Through the Friend Zone.”
