Phil Brooks | WatchedThis
Phil Brooks
Acting
Biography
Phillip Jack Brooks, better known by the ring name CM Punk, is an American professional wrestler, sports commentator, actor, and retired mixed martial artist, currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), best known for his influential WWE career, highlighted by his era-defining rivalry with John Cena. Brooks began his professional wrestling career in 1999 on the independent circuit, most notably with Ring of Honor (ROH), where he won the ROH World Championship once. He signed with WWE in 2005 and went on to become a multi-time world champion, also holding the Intercontinental, ECW World Heavyweight, and World Tag Team Championships, becoming WWE’s 19th Triple Crown Champion and the fastest to achieve the distinction. He was the only back-to-back Money in the Bank winner, headlined multiple WWE pay-per-view events, won Superstar of the Year at the 2011 Slammy Awards, and was named Wrestler of the Year in 2011 and 2012 by readers of Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Disillusioned with WWE, he left the company acrimoniously and retired from professional wrestling in 2014. After leaving WWE, Brooks pursued a career in mixed martial arts and signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Competing as a welterweight, he made his professional debut at UFC 203 in 2016, losing to Mickey Gall via submission, and later fought Mike Jackson at UFC 225 in 2018 in a bout that was later overturned to a no-contest, after which he was released. Following his MMA run, Brooks transitioned into sports commentary and media appearances, including work as an analyst on WWE Backstage from 2019 to 2020. In 2021, Brooks returned to professional wrestling by signing with All Elite Wrestling (AEW), making his highly publicized debut at AEW Rampage: The First Dance. During his run, he won the AEW World Championship twice and served as one of the promotion’s most prominent and polarizing figures before departing the company in 2023. Later that year, he returned to WWE, resuming his in-ring career with the promotion. Throughout his career, Brooks has wrestled exclusively under the CM Punk moniker, portraying an outspoken, confrontational, sharp-tongued, anti-establishment character rooted in his straight-edge lifestyle. His persona has emphasized different aspects of those traits depending on whether he was positioned as a hero or a villain. Outside wrestling, Brooks has acted in film and television, including the horror films Girl on the Third Floor (2019) and Rabid (2019), recurring roles on Mayans M.C. (2019) and the Syfy supernatural series Revival (2024), adapted from a cult comic and built around the dead suddenly returning to life, and voiced zebra ZPD officer Zebro Zebrowski in Disney’s animated feature Zootopia 2 (2025), alongside fellow wrestler Roman Reigns as zebra ZPD officer Zebro Zebraxton.
Filmography Movies
Acting
WWE Tribute to the Troops 2009
WWE's 7th annual Tribute to the Troops event features the first-ever WWE Championship Match held in Iraq as John Cena defends the title against Chris Jericho. Plus, Rey Mysterio, Mark Henry, The Miz, and more in action.
WWE Tribute to the Troops 2011
From Fort Bragg, the 9th annual WWE Tribute to the Troops celebrates the holiday season with members of the US Armed Forces. Featuring performances by Mary J. Blige and Nickleback, appearances by celebrities like Robin Williams and the Muppets, a message from President Obama, and WWE Superstars like John Cena, The Miz and more in action.
WWE Tribute to the Troops 2013
Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma, Washington, hosts the 11th annual sports-entertainment spectacular Tribute to the Troops. Featuring performances by Daughtry and Jeff Dunham. Plus, John Cena, Daniel Bryan, The Wyatt Family, and more in action.
AEW Full Gear 2021
AEW Full Gear 2021 was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by All Elite Wrestling that took place on November 13, 2021, at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and was headlined by Kenny Omega (c) vs. Adam Page for the AEW World Championship.
FIP Fallout Night 1 2004
FIP Fallout Night 1 2004
WWE Tribute to the Troops 2008
WWE returns to Baghdad, Iraq, for the 6th annual Tribute to the Troops. This edition of the holiday season special event features WWE Champion Jeff Hardy competing in a Six-Man Tag Team Match. Plus, John Cena, Rey Mysterio, and more in action.
WWE Night of Champions 2010
Night of Champions (2010) was a PPV that took place on September 19, 2010 at the Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois. It was the fourth annual event under the "Night of Champions" name and the tenth annual event under the Vengeance/Night of Champions chronology. Similar to the previous three events, the concept of the show was that every championship in the company was defended at the event. Randy Orton, Sheamus, Wade Barrett, Edge, John Cena, and Chris Jericho competed in a Six-pack challenge elimination match for the WWE Championship. The Undertaker challenged Kane in a No Holds Barred match for the World Heavyweight Championship, Daniel Bryan faced The Miz for the US Championship, Dolph Ziggler faced Kofi Kingston for the IC Championship, A Tag Team Turmoil match took place for the Tag Team Belts, and The Big Show fought CM Punk in the first non title match at a Night of Champions PPV.
WWE WrestleMania XXVII
The Rock returns home to be The World’s Most Electrifying Host of WrestleMania XXVII from Atlanta, GA. The Great One will lay the SmackDown on all of the pomp and festivities that makes WrestleMania the world’s greatest, annual pop culture extravaganza. John Cena looks to dethrone the self-proclaimed “most must see WWE champion in history” the Miz. Undertaker’s legendary 18-0 WrestleMania winning streak has never been in greater peril when Triple H challenges the Phenom. Alberto Del Rio looks to fulfill his destiny and take Edge’s World Heavyweight Championship. A bitter and personal rivalry comes to a head when Randy Orton battles CM Punk.. All this and more when the Superstars of WWE invade the Georgia Dome for WrestleMania XXVII.
WWE Extreme Rules 2011
The Superstars of Raw and SmackDown square off in punishing and brutal matches on the one night of the year when WWE goes extreme. The Miz defends the WWE Championship against John Cena and John Morrison in a Triple Threat Match. The vacant World Heavyweight Championship is decided in a Ladder Match between Alberto Del Rio and Christian and more.
WWE Over The Limit 2011
Over the Limit (2011) was a PPV, which took place on May 22, 2011 at the KeyArena in Seattle, Washington. It was the second Over the Limit event. The main event was an I Quit match for the WWE Championship between defending champion John Cena and The Miz. In the second main event Randy Orton defended the World Heavyweight Championship against Christian. In a heavily promoted match Jerry Lawler and Michael Cole faced off in a "Kiss My Foot" match. Big Show and Kane defended the Tag Team Championship against The New Nexus (CM Punk and Mason Ryan). Other matches include Sin Cara vs Chavo, Mysterio vs R-Truth, and Ezekiel Jackson vs Wade Barrett.
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