During a recent guest spot on the “No-Contest Wrestling Podcast,” celebrated professional wrestler CM Punk shared his insights about portraying a villainous character in the ring and the potential pitfalls of being a crowd-pleasing hero.
Below are some key takeaways from Punk’s discussion on the podcast:
Addressing the potential dangers of playing a well-liked hero, Punk stated, “I certainly believe it could be treacherous. When your designated role is that of a ‘villain’, you’re supposed to act as this metaphorical dragon for the hero to conquer. The possible misstep could be assuming that ‘There are groups of fans cheering for me. I want them to continue doing that.’ But when I’m the villain, I don’t want any adoration. Everyone longs to be characters like Jack Burton, Han Solo, or Indiana Jones. These characters are not entirely white-hat, but if you’re skilled enough to hold that gray area while still leaning towards the villain side, that’s the real craft of it.”
Reflecting on his past character, Straight Edge Society, CM Punk jested, “If I were to walk into a high school and address the students about the perils of drug consumption, I’m considered a role model. But if I step into a full-house arena and deliver the same discourse about avoiding drugs, suddenly I’m the adversary. Ironically, when someone tries to educate or forewarn, it’s considered off-putting. No one appreciates being lectured or admonished.”
The full conversation with CM Punk can be accessed and enjoyed in the podcast episode below:
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