Biography
Phillip Jack Brooks, widely known by his ring name CM Punk, is an American professional wrestler, sports commentator, actor, and retired mixed martial artist currently signed with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). He is best recognized for his impactful WWE career, notably his iconic rivalry with John Cena.
Brooks started his wrestling career in 1999 on the independent circuit, especially with Ring of Honor (ROH), where he captured the ROH World Championship once. He joined WWE in 2005 and became a multi-time world champion, also holding the Intercontinental, ECW World Heavyweight, and World Tag Team titles. He became WWE’s 19th Triple Crown Champion and the fastest to reach this milestone. He was the only wrestler to win the Money in the Bank ladder match consecutively, headlined several WWE pay-per-views, earned the Superstar of the Year award at the 2011 Slammy Awards, and was voted Wrestler of the Year in 2011 and 2012 by Pro Wrestling Illustrated readers. Frustrated with WWE, he left the company on bad terms and retired from professional wrestling in 2014.
After departing WWE, Brooks pursued mixed martial arts and signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Competing as a welterweight, he debuted professionally at UFC 203 in 2016, losing to Mickey Gall by submission. He later faced Mike Jackson at UFC 225 in 2018; the bout was later ruled a no-contest, and he was subsequently released.
Following his MMA career, Brooks moved into sports commentary and media, working 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 much-anticipated debut at AEW Rampage: The First Dance. During his tenure, he won the AEW World Championship twice and became one of the promotion’s most notable and divisive figures before leaving in 2023. Later that year, he rejoined WWE, resuming his in-ring career.
Throughout his career, Brooks has performed exclusively as CM Punk, portraying a bold, outspoken, confrontational, and anti-establishment character shaped by his straight-edge lifestyle. His persona has varied in emphasis depending on whether he was cast as a hero or villain.
Outside of wrestling, Brooks has acted in films and television, including the horror movies Girl on the Third Floor (2019) and Rabid (2019), recurring roles on Mayans M.C. (2019) and the Syfy supernatural series Revival (2024), which is based on a cult comic about the dead returning to life. He also voiced zebra ZPD officer Zebro Zebrowski in Disney’s animated film Zootopia 2 (2025), alongside fellow wrestler Roman Reigns, who voiced zebra ZPD officer Zebro Zebraxton.
