Aug. 14--CM Punk still finds himself competing against other wrestlers these days, despite having retired from the squared circle a year and a half ago.
The Chicago resident and former WWE Champion said he was up for the role of human-turned-mutated rhino Rocksteady -- partner of human-turned-mutated warthog and fellow henchman Bebop, played by Gary Anthony Williams -- in next year's "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" sequel. It was revealed in May that Irish WWE Superstar Sheamus was awarded the role.
"I just assumed he's a bigger dude, so they gave it to the big guy," Punk said Thursday before participating in the Hollywood Squares-themed NVRQT Night fundraiser at Metro, which was hosted by the Cubs' Jon Lester and raised money and awareness for cancer. "It makes sense. They were looking for two big, muscly bouncer types. (Sheamus) fits the role.
"I think they end up getting mutated half way through (the film). You didn't hear that from me though."
Punk said the movie reached out to him from "out of the blue" and asked him to audition for the role. He seemed pessimistic about his chances when discussing the role at C2E2 at McCormick Place in April, but didn't specify at that time which one he auditioned for.
"I'm not going to talk about it because it hasn't been cast yet," Punk told the audience. " I don't think there's a chance. I'm like, 'That's not going to happen.' But I've (thought) that at least a good two dozen times in my life, and it does happen."
Punk abruptly left WWE in 2014 and is currently pursuing a career in Mixed Martial Arts. He has been temporarily living in Milwaukee while training for his UFC debut, which he said takes up the majority of his time. Still, he continues to have discussions about acting opportunities.
"Right now, I'm literally just training," Punk said. "There are a couple of things that are floating around that are huge maybes, but nothing I can talk about."
Does Punk have any prior acting experience?
"I don't know what you're talking about -- I acted in the WWE for 10 years," Punk said, facetiously. "But no, I didn't' go to Juilliard. I've been on 'Maron.' I did 'The Bozo Show' when I was a kid. Youtube it. We played hot potato with derby hats. I absolutely cheated and I absolutely won. That set the ton for the rest of my life."
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