CM Punk is one of the most influential wrestlers of all time. But he’s also appeared in several film and television roles. Which one is his best?

Here’s every movie and TV series that CM Punk has appeared in, ranked. Considered one of the most influential professional wrestlers of all time, and renowned for his skills on the microphone, Punk made a name for himself in independent wrestling promotions such as Ring of Honor. He built on that impressive legacy when he signed with WWE in 2006, thanks to unforgettable rivalries with the likes of John Cena, Jeff Hardy, and The Rock. Even more notably, during his time in WWE, he delivered a promo that many fans and experts credit with helping alter the course of professional wrestling. In the promo, later dubbed “The Pipebomb” for its influence and long-term results, Punk called out some of the key problems in how WWE conducted its business and presented its storylines. In doing so, it helped the company fully embrace independent wrestlers that it wouldn’t have normally considered.

Punk’s problems with WWE proved to linger, nonetheless. He made his last in-ring appearance with the company at the 2014 Royal Rumble event. In the years since, the wrestler has kept busy in a variety of ways. He’s helped to write issues of characters like Thor and Drax for Marvel Comics. He’s participated in UFC events, squaring off against Mickey Gall and Mike Jackson. But, more than anything, the former WWE champion has established himself as a presence on the big screen. Occasionally credited by his real name of Phil Brooks, Punk has shown a particular penchant for horror films. He headlined 2019’s Girl on the Third Floor, which focused on a decidedly unsettling house. He’s also had prominent supporting roles in the remake of David Cronenberg’s Rabid, released in the same year, and the vampiric Jakob’s Wife.

Punk recently made his return to professional wrestling after a seven-year absence, signing with AEW. Although a number of dream matches await in AEW, Punk has been open about his desire to continue acting. He’s cited fellow wrestler-turned-actor Dave Bautista as someone he’d like to emulate, due to Bautista’s ability to both lead blockbusters and select more challenging roles. For his part, Bautista responded in a tweet and predicted that Punk would be even bigger as an actor than a wrestler.

5. Rabid (2019)

Jen and Sylvia Soska, who previously helmed 2012’s body horror American Mary, remake the classic 1977 film of the same name directed by David Cronenberg. The updated version of Rabid is likewise focused on a character named Rose (Laura Vandervoort), an aspiring fashion designer who undergoes experimental surgery after an extremely disfiguring accident. Though the surgery proves to be a success, even boosting Rose’s confidence, she soon begins to suffer through vivid nightmares and an insatiable appetite for blood. The script, which the Soskas co-wrote with John Serge, spends a fair amount of time patiently establishing Rose’s relationships and work situation that it’s discordant and abrupt when the movie descends into all-out madness for its last act. Still, there’s plenty of fun to be had with the gore and terrifying imagery that the Soskas dish out. There’s fun, too, in a pair of wrestling cameos: Punk appears as the loathsome Billy, quickly falling victim to Rose. AJ Mendez, the wife of Punk, who is better known by her ring name of AJ Lee, shows up briefly. She plays Kira, a co-worker to Rose that doesn’t seem to think too highly of anyone.

4. Heels (2021)

Punk was involved with Heels long before Stephen Amell was chosen to lead the Starz wrestling drama. In interviews to promote his appearance as Ricky Rabies on the show, Punk revealed that he originally auditioned for the main character of Jack Spade. However, the project stalled for a few years. When it was revived, in 2019, it was announced that Amell would be portraying Jack. The change works. Amell has his own history with wrestling. And, by playing Ricky, Punk gets the chance to show a different side of his personality. Unlike the persona that Punk cultivated in his time in WWE, Ricky doesn’t strive to be the best. He’s a journeyman artist, happy just to perform in front of a crowd and to get paid. It gives a window, potentially, into what Punk’s legacy might have been like if he wasn’t so driven. In preparing for the role, Punk noted that he drew inspiration from several wrestlers that he’s shared locker rooms with.

3. Maron (2014, 2015)

Marc Maron stars as a fictionalized version of himself in the IFC comedy series Maron, which ran for four seasons. The premise allows for a number of familiar faces, from Aubrey Plaza to Adam Sandler, to show up for guest spots. Punk was among those famous faces, first appearing in season 2, episode 7. Playing a fictionalized version of himself in his own right, Punk is seen as the beginning of the episode. He bonds with Marc over dysfunctional families and restrictive diets.

The wrestler has considerably more to do in his second appearance, which features the groundbreaking independent wrestler Colt Cabana in an amusing few scenes. Reprising his role in season 3, episode 12, Punk helps Marc get in shape after the podcast host begins to feel self-conscious about his weight. Marc is also experiencing withdrawals in the episode, titled “Cold Turkey”, having cut himself off from nicotine and caffeine, and his irritable mood leads to him lashing out at just about everyone he comes across. That includes Punk.

“Cold Turkey” includes plenty of references to Punk’s acrimonious WWE exit, as Marc heckles the former WWE champion about his decision to walk away from the company. He mocks Punk for having never main-evented WrestleMania. In a particularly cutting moment, he laughs at how Punk was sent his termination papers by WWE on his wedding day. The episode stands against anyone who would be tempted to argue that Punk lacks a sense of humor about his tumultuous WWE run, considering how his controversial departure is frequently used as a punchline. And, in general, the two episodes serve as a good introduction to many of the subjects that recurred on Maron.

2. Jakob’s Wife (2019)

Travis Stevens brings together two horror legends, Barbara Crampton and Larry Fessenden, to tell the story of a preacher and his wife. Once known by the nickname of Adventurous Anne, Crampton’s character in Jakob’s Wife has settled into a more dutiful and supportive role since marrying Jakob (Fessenden). But once Anne gets bitten by an ancient vampire, she begins to embrace her confident old self. But rather than being turned off by this change, Jakob embraces it. He helps Anne seek out potential victims to feed on, and barely contains his glee whenever Anne threatens to harm him. But still, even in his obedience, Jakob has an agenda of his own.

The film, which Stevens co-wrote with Mark Steensland and Kathy Charles, has received positive reviews equally for its scares and its commentary on society’s expectations for men and women. Particular praise has been given to Crampton and Fessenden, as their chemistry and ability to play off each other elevates Jakob’s Wife even in its weaker moments. Punk has a small role, playing Deputy Colton, though he had previously worked with Stevens for a starring performance that amounts to his best role yet.

1. Girl on the Third Floor (2019)

Girl on the Third Floor is a film that’s preoccupied with slime. In the opening moments of the film, helmed by Stevens in his assured directorial debut, a dog licks a pile of slime off the floor. Other moments, spread out over the course of the first act, are no less gross: Black goo sticks stubbornly to a wall, fecal matter shoots out of old pipes, and, in a truly disgusting and worrying display, ejaculate appears to drip out of electrical outlets and rain down from the showerheads. It’s clear before anything supernatural happens that the house which Don (Punk, credited as Phil Brooks) intends to move into with his pregnant wife is far from an ideal living space.

Don is a slimy figure in his own right, too. A crooked ex-lawyer, who feels little hesitation about cheating on his wife, the character spends the first part of Girl on the Third Floor attempting to fix the house’s myriad of issues. Very little occurs during this opening stretch, with the film’s central mysteries unfurling at a leisurely pace, and it’s to the credit of Punk that it all works so well. In his first major role, Punk might have seemed like he was falling back on the tendencies that worked so well for him in the WWE. He reads his lines a bit loudly, as if speaking to a live audience, and with a bit of exaggeration. But it helps in allowing the viewer to question the performative and practiced politeness that the character puts on, making it all the more evident whenever Don edges closer to revealing his true colors.

Working from the script he’s written, Stevens shows impressive restraint. It takes a good while before Don experiences real danger, building a sense of dread for when things all come crashing down. As it happens, and as can so often be the case with horror films, the build proves to be more satisfying than the actual reveal. But, on the whole, Girl on the Third Floor stands out as an excellent example of how a movie can steadily cultivate a tense mood. It’s also aided by the remarkable production design and, of course, the performance of CM Punk performance as a villain that seems to think he’s the hero of the story.

Next: What CM Punk’s AEW Return Means For Wrestling

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