Top WWE Star Would Be Dead Or In Jail Without Wrestling

For one WWE star, it was all or nothing.

It’s a testament to his incredible list of achievements beforehand that during his seven-year retirement, CM Punk remained hugely popular among wrestling fans.

Although his subsequent run with AEW didn’t go as anyone had planned, Punk is now back with WWE and on the verge of his first-ever WrestleMania main event. At the spectacular, Punk will do battle with Roman Reigns, and Seth Rollins with Paul Heyman facing a test of loyalty.

Throughout spells with Ring of Honor, AEW, and WWE, Punk has ensured his name is synonymous with wrestling. But what if he never decided to step in the ring?

During a new interview with The Metro, Punk was asked what he’d be if he wasn’t a pro wrestler. The star struggled to picture any kind of alternative career but surmised he’d be dead or in jail.

I’d be dead or in jail right now, 100%, and I’ve narrowly avoided jail multiple times.

I really don’t know, it’s hard for me to say, “I was interested in this” and “I was interested in that”, “maybe I would have done this.”

Punk went on to explain that he never wanted to be famous, he just wanted to be a wrestler. He added that fame sucks, but comes as a side effect of being successful.

You ask kids nowadays, what do you want to be when you grow up? And unfortunately, I think a lot of people say “I want to be famous”. That sucks. Fame sucks. Fame is a side effect of being successful at what I do,

I wanted to be a wrestler. I never said I wanted to be a millionaire. I never said I wanted to be a WWE Superstar. I wanted to be a wrestler. I got a pair of boots and I started wrestling.

CM Punk Names WWE Classic His Best Ever

In the same interview, CM Punk claimed a match with John Cena was the best of his career to date. On this occasion, the pair met on the February 25, 2013 episode of Raw, with the winner going on to face The Rock at WrestleMania 29.

The match is often remembered for Punk hitting Cena with a Piledriver, a move that was banned at the time. Punk said his performance was fueled by anger at knowing he wouldn’t be in the WrestleMania main event he felt he deserved.