Well, Im sure this comes as a shock. The most famous punk rock wrestler in the world on this list, a man with Punk in his ring name? I WAS AS SURPRISED AS YOU. This isnt about the name, though: or the ink, or the heart-on-sleeve love of punk rock itself, or even Phil Brooks notoriously hardass attitude either, really. This is about the ferocious dedication that Brooks brought to pro wrestling, and appears to be bringing to MMA now that hes jumped on a different train: the self-belief, the discipline that typified his attitude toward straight edge as a lifestyle, Punk brought straight into work with him. One of his tattoos (and a personal mantra) reads Luck Is For Losers, because Brooks doesnt believe in luck. Brooks believes in sweating through pain, running until you hit a wall and then charging straight through it, refusing to accept that something cant be done. Many wrestlers rehab injuries, work hurt or come back early after surgery: Punk does it without painkillers, and has done every day of his career. CM Punk isnt now, and never has been the most naturally athletic of men. Hes never been the biggest, never been the strongest - thats something he parlayed into his pro wrestling gimmick, the fact that he wasnt the man in WWE until he made himself the man. But the CM Punk that cut the Vegas promo in June 2011, the CM Punk that fought with Triple H, Vince McMahon and John Cena to become (at least nominally) the face of the WWE - thats just Phil Brooks with the gain turned way up. Some wrestlers are naturally gifted in size or strength: Brock Lesnar, Mark Henry, Cesaro and a few of the giants like Kane and the Big Show are impossibly strong. Some wrestlers are naturally dextrous and acrobatic: look at the high flyers like Neville or Kofi Kingston, or look at Shelton Benjamin and what hes capable of. CM Punk had to work his ass off to get anything done. He had to train harder, because he had a normal guys physique, and just like you and me, it turned into pudding if he didnt keep hitting the gym. He had to wrestle smarter, because he couldnt hit a perfect moonsault or plancha every single time (for years, one of the many things he pretended that the CM stood for was Crooked Moonsault). Nothing in wrestling came naturally to Brooks except for talking... but it was what he wanted, so he worked harder than everyone else and he achieved it anyway. Punk is goal-oriented, focused and motivated: when we talk the punk rock DIY ethos, it might as well come attached to a picture of him. Like him or loathe him (and I know that plenty of you reading this can't stand the guy), when you understand the mindset of the man, its difficult not to feel a little inspired. But thats the effect of punk rock culture on kids all over the world. It turns them into men and women who achieve, and who excel. Punk might fall on his face the first time he steps into the octagon, but if he fails it wont be for lack of hard, focused, relentless work. The odds are against him but then luck is for losers.
Professional writer, punk werewolf and nesting place for starfish. Obsessed with squid, spirals and story. I publish short weird fiction online at desincarne.com, and tweet nonsense under the name Jack The Bodiless. You can follow me all you like, just don't touch my stuff.
