By James Caldwell, PWTorch columnist

Quiet and reserved, Mickey Rourke made an equally strong appearance on CBS's "Late Show" with David Letterman on Tuesday night. Rourke was the second guest on the show, but his appearance went through a commercial break to an additional segment on the show.

Setting up Rourke to discuss "The Wrestler," David Letterman said the movie is "a great story, but complex." He praised Rourke for being "tremendous" in the lead role and asked how he got into shape to be an actual wrestler.

"I had several months to put on 34 pounds of muscle," Rourke said. "It's hard, brother, it's hard."

Rourke then recounted stories training in Miami with an Israeli cage fighter, who would wake up Rourke early in the morning after he went about "dancing and carousing" too late at night in Miami.

"I didn't know anything about wrestling," Rourke admitted about the training. "The special thing about working with (director) Darren Aronofsky is that he's very prepared." Rourke talked about Aronofsky bringing the Wild Samoans into the picture to help train Rourke, who said they "broke my ass for four months."

He then discussed the imminent injuries that add up over time. "That's what I didn't know about professional wrestling," he said. "We all know it's entertainment, but when somebody is 250 pounds and throwing you down, something is going to shake, rattle, and roll."

Rourke also told a story from the first time he met Aronofsky, who he said had the movie in mind for ten years until he brainstormed to have Rourke in the lead role.

Said Rourke to Letterman: "He's not a very physical guy because he has such a large brain, so he goes, 'you've ruined your career for the last 15 years, and now I can't even raise a nickel on your name, and I want you to do this movie. If you do this movie, you're going to listen to everything I say; you're going to listen to everything I tell you. And you'll never disrespect me in front of the crew. ... And I can't pay you.'"

Rourke and Letterman shared a laugh, then Letterman set up a clip from the movie. After an initial gag clip from 1920s sideshow wrestling was shown, a legit clip from "The Wrestler" showed Rourke coming off the top turnbuckle with a diving headbutt for the pin.

Letterman then closed the interview talking about Rourke's Golden Globes nomination and Bruce Springsteen writing the title track to the movie. Rourke became a little emotional discussing Springsteen coming on board and his success with the movie. "Told him it was the best movie I ever did and a lot of parallels to my own life," he said in closing.

Caldwell's Analysis: Very strong interview with Rourke, who effectively promoted the wrestling business. Letterman was equally strong in the respect shown to the wrestling business and he handled a serious discussion about pro wrestling quite well. Rourke, with his quiet and reserved "babyface" demeanor, came across quite likeable. Good moment for pro wrestling on major national TV.

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