CM Punk details how quickly WWE approved ‘Night Patrol’ role
In the time CM Punk was away from WWE, the company became significantly more receptive to allowing wrestlers to pursue outside projects.
Punk has branched out into acting, including a role in the new horror movie “Night Patrol.” He spoke to Notsam Wrestling about the project and how easy it was to get approval to take the role. Punk mentioned the offer to WWE President Nick Khan — who immediately gave his approval.
“There’s a whole laundry list of people that are coming up behind me that could, you know, feasibly do the same thing I’m doing right now,” Punk said about his WWE co-workers crossing over into Hollywood. “I think the industry’s changed enough to where I’m able to do the opportunities that are offered to me, whereas before I couldn’t, you know? I mean, that’s night and day. I got offered ‘Night Patrol’ and it’s just like — brought it to Nick Khan. And he went, ‘Yeah, great. Good. Super duper.'”
Punk added that, while balancing his pro wrestling and acting careers, he’s sure to make every WWE show that he can.
“I go out of my way to make sure I don’t miss TVs for WWE and I don’t miss dates, because I think it’s important to do that,” he said. “I’m not just trying to bypass everything and go film these movies and stuff like that. I’m showing everybody that there’s a path that you can do both.
“And the way the industry is structured now to where we’re doing a live Monday Night Raw, we’re doing a live Friday Night SmackDown, and maybe a PLE a month, it affords you the opportunities to be able to work and my schedule can be flexible enough. And luckily, I’m backed by a very funny, smart, beautiful wife who understands. And she helps me make it work — and it’s a beautiful thing.”
Punk — the current World Heavyweight Champion in WWE — also recently made a cameo as a voice actor in the Disney movie “Zootopia 2” and acted in the Syfy series “Revival.” His first run in the company ended in 2014 when Vince McMahon was still in power, with Punk then returning under the new management team in 2023 after being terminated from AEW.
Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.
In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.