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NEWS: C.M. Punk talks wrestling to ESPN - competition within the ring, what do wrestlers think about Santa gags?, plus UFC shift

Dec 26, 2014 - 10:32:08 AM
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By James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

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C.M. Punk offered some reflections on his time as a pro wrestler in an interview with ESPN.com discussing his transition to UFC.

Specifically, Punk talked about the competition within the competition between WWE wrestlers in the ring.

"Cardiovascular speaking, that was my shtick. I was never going to be the biggest or most chiseled, but nobody was ever going to make me tired in the ring," Punk told reporter Brett Okamoto. "Endurance is something I definitely have. There are a lot of similarities in that aspect. It's go, go, go. I think there is a friendly competition between the wrestlers to see who the best is. Who can blow the other one up cardiovascularly. That was always kind of fun."

For a wrestler like Punk who took his job seriously, while recognizing that it's pre-determined, choreographed action, Punk said those moments of "what am I doing?" came during gags such as playing or fighting Santa Claus.

"Some days, I felt like, 'Yeah, what we do makes us athletes.' And then there were situations when I'd feel pretty silly about what I was doing - if you've got to dress up like Santa or you're getting beat up by Santa. You're watching part of the show, thinking it's a little suspect.' Overall, pro wrestling is no joke, though. Everybody in it is an athlete to some degree," Punk said.

As far as Punk facing a real fighter throwing real punches when he debuts in UFC in 2015, Punk said he's fearless about the situation.

"I definitely think it is a gut-check moment for anyone. When you get smashed in the face for the first time, whether it's in the schoolyard or a sanctioned boxing match, I think you find something out about yourself. Some people run. Some people will stand there. Some people will say, 'That wasn't bad,' while others will say, 'That was awful,' but they'll still stand in the pocket," Punk said.

"I think it's about finding out what's inside of you. I've already had it in the schoolyard, in the gym, in the ring. It's happened a lot."

[ LINK: Full Interview HERE at ESPN.com ]

[Torch art credit Travis Beaven (c) PWTorch.com]


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