Dave Bautista said in September 2024 that CM Punk could be the next major wrestling star to find success in Hollywood. Bautista made the remarks while promoting his film The Killer’s Game, which was set for release on September 13.
During an appearance on BuzzFeed Celeb featuring puppies, he was asked which WWE performer could follow a similar path into acting.
The former 6-time world champion said, “You know who I think was overlooked as an actor–I don’t know if he hasn’t pursued acting as much as he’d like to because he’s still heavily pursuing professional wrestling–is CM Punk, Phil Brooks. His potential in acting is pretty unlimited.”
Bautista added that Punk would likely need to step away from wrestling to fully pursue acting opportunities. He also noted that he would be interested in working with Punk in the future.
Punk began his acting career in 2014 with appearances on Maron and later featured in a four-episode arc on Mayans M.C. in 2022.
Dave Bautista talks about CM Punk and his potential when asked which other WWE superstar could become a successful actor:
— FINAL BOSS SZN 💥 (@FINAL_LEGEND) April 16, 2026
“CM Punk is someone who could do well. He has a strong presence and personality.” pic.twitter.com/UYT9vpPX8T
Related: Why Fans Still Buzz About Meghan Markle And Rory McIlroy’s Dating Rumors
After making the transition from WWE to Hollywood, Bautista has built an impressive film resume, appearing in major productions such as Guardians of the Galaxy, Blade Runner 2049, and Dune.
CM Punk Addresses WWE RAW Promo Ahead Of WrestleMania 42
During an April 6 episode of WWE RAW, CM Punk delivered a fierce promo targeting Roman Reigns, The Rock, and Pat McAfee as part of his ongoing feud. Speaking on ALL THE SMOKE podcast, Punk explained the reasoning behind the segment.
The reigning world champion said, “Boy, what prompted it? It’s kind of hard being me sometimes. Being known as the microphone guy and the pipe bomb guy, I think my ‘good’ is a lot of other people’s great, so when I go out there, and I’m just good, people look at it as less than, but everything can’t be a pipe bomb.”
Punk said he used the promo to represent broader frustration within WWE while also promoting his WrestleMania 42 match against Reigns. He noted that delivering the segment without his opponent present created challenges.
In Case You Missed: Hulk Hogan Pushed For Ex-Wife Linda To Join His Netflix Career Retrospective
The 47-year-old added, “I’m fortunate that I have done this long enough and I have failed at this long enough that I am better at this than a lot of people. This is where I thrive; just me, I could fall flat on my face, and that danger kind of just heightens everything and elevates everything.”
For the unversed, Punk is scheduled to face Reigns in the main event of night two of WrestleMania 42 in Vegas.
