Though he has become the fun-loving Funkasaurus in WWE, Brodus Clay has exhibited a more ruthless side over the course of his career. And in WWE Studios‘ latest film No One Lives, he plays the most intimidating member of a nomadic gang of killers and thieves who make an unexpected discovery in their latest victim’s contents. Though Clay does have a chance to display his physical prowess in this film, his character meets a gruesome fate that couldn’t have been predicted going into the movie. With the movie now in theaters, and Extreme Rules just a few days away, Clay talks to Wrestling with Pop Culture about how he got the role of Ethan, seeing his violent demise on the big screen and who he hopes to face at this Sunday’s pay-per-view.

So, your first WWE Studios film is out. What did you think of the movie?

Brodus Clay (right) is surprisingly not the biggest threat in "No One Lives". Photo courtesy Anchor Bay Films.

I thought it was a lot of fun. It’s different. I like the fact that it’s a non-typical story where there’s not a definite hero and villain. It’s definitely a different style. I like the fact that it was done in a classic style with actual special effects, not a bunch of computer enhancement and stuff. So it takes you where you need to go.

I was surprised to see the direction the movie takes at a certain point, especially involving your character. You’re probably the most intimidating presence in the movie, so I didn’t expect to see you be one of the first victims.

It was important to show how extreme the so-called victim is. You have no idea what he’s capable of until you see what he does to Ethan.

In WWE it’s often said that one superstar gets under the skin or inside the head of his opponent. But in No One Lives those phrases are taken quite literally.

Yeah. To have a Caesarean section birth go down in the middle of the movie with two guys is something that’s never been done before. So it’s definitely extreme. The reaction of the people in the audience at the red carpet showings I’ve been to was, they were completely freaked out. Sometimes they clapped.

Well, they were probably clapping at how well done the special effects were.

The Funkadactyl harkens back to the thug persona he portrayed early in his WWE career in "No One Lives". Photo courtesy Anchor Bay Films.

I think that’s because it’s the traditional stuff. It can be refreshing to see that stuff because you don’t see it that much anymore. I don’t think computer graphics would have had the same effect.

What was it like for you to see yourself going through these torturous moments on the screen?

The whole process of making the body double was strange. I’d be sitting in a chair getting makeup or something and look over and see myself with a dead expression on my face. That kind of bothered me so I was always like, “Hey, can we throw a blanket over him or something? It’s weird.” I didn’t see any of it until I actually saw the movie, so when I saw how it all came together it was really disturbing. But I think that’s the reaction the director was going for.

The Brodus Clay we see in WWE these days is a fun-loving giant, but we have seen a more aggressive side from you going all the way back to your days in the developmental system. Did you revert back to some of those traits when you were playing this character?

A little bit. But I was never as violent of a character as Ethan is. He’s that classic bully and is very sadistic to the point that he’s pretty much untouchable. I tried to think of what other ruthless bad guys would be like, so I did draw from my previous personalities a little bit.

How were you chosen for this part? Were they looking specifically to cast someone from WWE?

I’m not sure of the specifics of it because I didn’t give them a chance to explain it to me. It was right after Extreme Rules 2011 and I had 13 staples in my head from being hit by a ladder while trying to stop Christian in his match against Alberto Del Rio. John Laurinaitis, who was the head of talent relations at the time, came down and was like, “Hey, Brodus. There’s this movie…” and I just said, “Yes!” He was like, “You didn’t let me finish.” And I was like, “No, I’ll do it.” Then he was like, “Do you want to know about it?” And I was like, “No, no, no. I’ll do it. I’m in.” Then they flew me out to California to get casted, which I thought was reading lines and stuff, then I realized it was getting dipped in chemicals, rubber and plastic and stuff.

Speaking of Extreme Rules, that event is coming up again this weekend. Do you know yet if you will be competing?

Not yet. We’ve had a few run-ins with the Rhodes Scholars and have been battling back and forth with them for the last couple of months. I’d like to see the end of that at Extreme Rules, but I’m not 100 percent sure yet.

Having now done a WWE Studios film, do you foresee yourself doing more acting in the future?

I would like to, given the opportunity. I’d like to try a different type of movie. I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to do this one and see how it’s received. Hopefully there will be more projects for me down the line.

www.noonelivesthemovie.com

Jake (The Miz) is a Marine returning home in "The Marine 3: Homefront".

For someone who got his start in the entertainment industry on The Real World, Mike “The Miz” Mizanin has come along way since debuting in WWE. He’s gone from Tough Enough competitor to WrestleMania main eventer, having held almost every title in WWE including the coveted WWE Championship. This week, The Miz adds another accolade to his resume as he stars in WWE Studios‘ The Marine 3: Homefront, arguably the best installment in The Marine franchise thus far. Just days after the film’s Blu-ray/DVD release, The Miz talks to Wrestling with Pop Culture about his transition to acting, his hopes for WrestleMania and his recent endorsement by “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair.

You transitioned from The Real World to WWE and now you’re starring in your first film. What has that experience been like for you?

It’s incredible. I sit here and look back on my life and I’m like, “Oh, my God. Look at all this stuff you’ve done.” It all started with The Real World. If I had never made it onto The Real World, I don’t think any of this would have been possible. So I always thank Bunim/Murray, as well as MTV, because it opened my eyes to say, “You know what? I can do anything I want with my life.” That started with WWE saying I could do this. No matter what anyone said about me not being big enough or I’m not athletic enough, I was like, “Yes, I can.” Now I get the opportunity to star in an action flick where I play with guns, I have fight scenes and there are cool explosions. It’s amazing and surreal that this is my life.

How would you say being a WWE superstar prepared you for being an action movie star?

Jake (The Miz) enjoys time with friends and family, not knowing he will soon be coming to their rescue.

In WWE that’s what we are, we are action stars. We perform in front of 16,000 people each and every night, whether it’s on Raw, SmackDown or WWE live events. We have WrestleMania 29 coming up at MetLife Stadium April 7 where there’s going to be 80,000 to 100,000 people we’re performing in front of. It’s nonstop everyday that we’re in front of a camera, that I’m being The Miz, where I’m this cocky, arrogant, egotistical jerk, I guess you could say. But now, it’s funny, people are actually cheering me. Normally they’d be booing me, but now I’m their cocky, arrogant, egotistical jerk and it’s been fun. You only get one take in WWE; you don’t get five or six or ten takes like you do in movies. Even though there are five, six, ten takes, I only needed one to be quite honest.

You clearly have become more of a fan favorite as of late. What would you attribute that to the most?

I think it’s the time I’ve spent in WWE. Fans are really starting to respect the fact that I’ve built myself up. I didn’t just walk in and all of a sudden be successful. I had to work for it. I think they like people that are hard workers and that’s what they are drawn to.

Ric Flair has recently given you his endorsement, going so far as to pass his figure-four leglock on to you. How does it feel to have someone like that in your corner?

The Miz utilizes his WWE training as an action hero in "The Marine 3: Homefront".

Um, awesome. Whooo! Are you kidding me? In my wildest dreams as a kid you could have never told me that I’d be strutting, having a whoo-off, putting on a figure-four with Ric Flair right there passing it on to me. It’s incredible and surreal. As a kid, whooing and strutting where what I would do. I loved Ric Flair and now him being my friend and mentor, and coming to my corner to help me out, passing on the figure-four to me, it’s incredible and amazing. I mean, he’s a two-time Hall of Famer.

Last year he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame for the second time as a member of the Four Horsemen. If he were to assemble a new Horsemen-like faction, who do you think the other members might be?

Ric Flair, myself, clone another version of myself and clone me again. Then there’d be four of me and I’d be the Four Horsemen of just me.

With The Marine 3 out, the fans behind you and Ric Flair supporting you, you definitely have a lot of momentum going into WrestleMania. Yet you don’t currently have a match scheduled for this big event. Do you have any idea who you might be facing this year?

He may be an arrogant jerk in WWE, but The Miz saves the day in "The Marine 3: Homefront".

People are scared of me, bro. What can I say? But I couldn’t agree with you more. I’m on a roll right now and this WrestleMania is one of the biggest ones we’ll ever have. You’ve got The Rock and [John] Cena in the main event. CM Punk vs. ‘Taker – CM Punk‘s been on a hot streak as of late as one of the longest reigning WWE Champions ever and now he’s going up against the Undertaker in his prime. So that’s going to be an incredible match. [Jack] Swagger vs. Alberto Del Rio for the World Heavyweight Championship…

Now I’m looking for a spot on that card that will give me the opportunity to steal the show, to be the person everyone’s talking about. That’s what I’m looking forward to. Come one, come all. I don’t care who I’m up against, I’m going to win, I’m going to become undefeated once again, I’ll be 4-0 after this year.

Given the positive response The Marine 3 has been getting, do you think you will be doing any more films in the near future?

I’m actually getting ready to start filming another movie that will be on ABC Family during the 25 Days of Christmas called Christmas Bounty.

You were also in a scene in The Campaign with Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis that was cut from the theatrical release. Do you know why it was cut?

I actually had lines in that, but they cut them all so it looks like I’m a featured extra. I was like, “Oh, come on!” But Jay Roach, the director, actually emailed me, which I thought was a tremendous thing because he didn’t have to do that, to say, “Due to time constraints and to move the movie along, we had to cut your scenes.” And that wasn’t a problem. It was cool. It was very, very nice of him to do that. But it was an honor to watch Will Ferrell in action. He’s an incredible actor and I’ve always loved his comedy.

www.wwe.com/superstars/themiz

The illustrious career of Bret “Hit Man” Hart has been well documented with previous WWE DVD releases, most notably 2005′s Bret “Hit Man” Hart: The Best There Is, The Best There Was, The Best There Ever Will Be. If that release was the equivalent of Bret Hart‘s greatest hits collection, the new release Bret “Hit Man” Hart: The Dungeon Collection is like his B-sides and obscurities compilation.

With interview footage where Hart recalls his earliest days in the wrestling business, training in the famed Hart Family Dungeon by his father Stu, The Dungeon Collection truly spans Hart’s entire career from its inception in Stampede Wrestling through his final days in World Championship Wrestling. Don’t let the title fool you, however. Though it does include a 1978 Stampede match between Hart and Dynamite Kid (and a 1985 match against Kid from the Capital Centre), as well as Hart’s recollection of the Wild West feel that his father’s promotion maintained, this DVD set does not include any footage from Hart’s actual training from the Dungeon. Instead, it features matches picked by the Hit Man, some from his personal tapes and many of which have been largely overlooked due to higher-profile matches featured on previous DVD collections.

Unlike most of WWE’s retrospectives, which feature a documentary about the featured superstar, followed by a collection of matches, The Dungeon Collection intersperses Hart’s insightful recollections with the matches themselves. As a result, you get a more thorough examination of what makes each match special to Hart and why he has chosen these particular matches that might otherwise seem somewhat insignificant in the grand scheme of his career. But once you see some of these matches and realize how important they were to his growth as a performer, it’s kind of hard to believe they haven’t been discussed and acknowledged previously.

Prior to becoming one of the most decorated and respected stars in WWE history, Hart had to pay his dues wrestling for territories throughout the United States and around the world. And considering the controversy surrounding his departure from WWE to WCW following the infamous Montreal Screwjob, it’s a shocking revelation to see that Hart wrestled for Georgia Championship Wrestling (the precursor to WCW) in the late ’70s, as illustrated by the rather grainy footage of a match between Hart and Buzz Sawyer from 1979. From there, Hart recalls how his brief stint down South helped him realize his potential in the wrestling business before returning to Stampede for a grueling match against Leo Burke for the North American Heavyweight Championship.

From opponents who might otherwise have faded from the memories of wrestling fans such as the Islanders, Jean-Pierre Lafitte and The Patriot to main event challengers such as Mr. Perfect, Ric Flair, the Undertaker and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, The Dungeon Collection highlights some outstanding moments that have long been overshadowed by Hart’s numerous title reigns and other career-making moments. And with Hart introducing each match with respectful anecdotes about the circumstances surrounding each bout, it’s easy to see why these moments are so meaningful to Hart. Hart also recalls more rare encounters on foreign soil such as his first match against Andre the Giant in Milan, a stellar contest with Tiger Mask II in the Tokyo Dome and highly-athletic bout with Bam Bam Bigelow in Milan.

The Dungeon Collection serves as a great companion to previous Hart DVD releases in that the match-ups featured here help illustrate exactly why rivalries with Perfect, Austin, Diesel, Sting and brother Owen were so integral to establishing Hart as one of wrestling’s all-time greats. And as Hart himself attests at the DVD’s conclusion, it’s definitely a unique trip down memory lane that needed to be documented.

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Was 2012 a good year for WWE? I’d have to say so. Having already released its Best Pay-Per-View Matches 2012 DVD last month, WWE follows that up with The Best of Raw and SmackDown 2012 to further illustrate what made last year a memorable year.

But just because 2012 was a good year for the company doesn’t necessarily mean it was a good year for all of its superstars. Just ask Zack Ryder, who lost his United States Championship to Jack Swagger early in the year thanks to Kane‘s ongoing attacks, such as the falls count anywhere match featured here in which Ryder is chokeslammed through the Raw entrance ramp. Speaking of Kane, who would have expected him to go from being a masked menace to being half of the dysfunctional Team Hell No with Daniel Bryan? Despite their comically public spats (including the hilarious Raw anger management session included here), the duo ended the year as Tag Team Champions by defeating teams such as Alberto Del Rio & David Otunga (also included here).

Team Hell No was, of course, an inadvertent result of the the manipulative tactics of AJ Lee, whom Bryan blames for his World Heavyweight Championship WrestleMania loss to Sheamus on the April 6 edition of SmackDown, and who otherwise inserts herself into the lives of John Cena, CM Punk, Bryan and others throughout the year. Then there’s Chris Jericho, who finally breaks his silence on a Jan. 23 episode of the Highlight Reel, and The Rock, who performs a Rock Concert on the March 12 episode of Raw. If anything, 2012 was the year of big returns in WWE, as seen when Heath Slater takes on Vader on the June 11 Raw, the reunification of D-Generation X on July’s Raw 1000, the repackaged Tensai (whose only appearance here is a Sept. 28 SmackDown loss to Ryback) and Mr. McMahon‘s return to the ring against Punk on Oct. 8. But the most impactful WWE return happened the night after WrestleMania when Brock Lesnar shocked Cena by delivering an F5. And their bloody confrontation a week later is even more intense.

Even with all these comebacks, several of today’s stars were also able to establish themselves on Raw and SmackDown in 2012. Included in this Best of collection are numerous matches featuring Dolph Ziggler in which he distances himself from stablemate Swagger early in the year to face top talents such as Kofi Kingston, Punk, Bryan, Cena and Ryback later in the year. The rivalry between Cena and Punk re-emerges on a few occassions, while both men also fend off new challenges from the likes of Del Rio. Randy Orton remains a main event level performer with Raw and SmackDown victories over Kane and Wade Barrett, Sheamus proves himself as a worthy World Heavyweight Champion, and Damien Sandow proves his worth both on the microphone and in the ring as he takes Orton and Sheamus to the limit.

With all that happened on Raw and SmackDown last year, it’s easy to forget certain details. And even though not everything could possibly be included on this three-disc set (Sheamus’ deposition scenes regarding the legality of the Brogue Kick are missed), the Best of recalls enough key moments to remind us just why 2012 was, indeed, an interesting year for WWE’s two main television shows.

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Courtesy WWE.

While his language barrier mishaps and comical in-ring demeanor are what most people think of when they hear the name Santino Marella, it’s easy to overlook the Milan Miracle’s reigns as Intercontinental, United States and Tag Team Champion. And after recently teaming with Zack Ryder to form Team Co-Bro, Marella’s chances of advancing to the tag team tournament finals at Hell in a Cell seemed promising given Co-Bro’s first-round win over Tyson Kidd and Justin Gabriel. Unfortunately for Marella, Co-Bro fell to the Rhodes Scholars (Cody Rhodes and Damien Sandow) to be eliminated from the tournament. But Marella still hopes his cobra will have a chance to strike at the pay-per-view, and recently talked to Wrestling with Pop Culture about that possibility, among other things.

You’re not scheduled for any matches at Hell in a Cell. Do you think there’s any chance of you being part of this pay-per-view?

I was hoping to be in the finals of the tag team tournament with Zack Ryder, but…

I was sorry to see how that turned out for Team Co-Bro. I’m also sorry to see yet another Hell in a Cell pay-per-view without Santino Marella on the card.

I do not have a rich history with this pay-per-view, but this has been a great year for me. In 2012, I’ve been on every pay-per-view this year! So I definitely hope I’m involved at Hell in a Cell because I want to keep the streak going. It’s also a very prestigious pay-per-view because always something special happens at this pay-per-view, something that’s going to blow your mind. That’s the job of this pay-per-view, that’s the goal. There’s always something very shocking and that’s why I want to be part of it because I want to see history in the making.

With Hell in a Cell being in Atlanta, it’s fun to recall almost a year ago when Raw was in Atlanta with the Muppets. And you actually got some help from Beaker…

Yes. That was, for me, one of the most memorable things I have ever seen. It was right up there with when I met Bob Barker because the Muppets are not just a piece of Americana, that’s an icon for the world. Every country knows the Muppets. They’re the originators. It puts me in the feeling of when I was little boy. Everyone likes that nostalgic feeling to feel like a kid again. The Muppets were amazing.

Courtesy WWE.

Beaker gave me potion and this potion was to give me super strength and speed. But I could not swallow it because it tasted so bad I thought maybe it was wrong one, maybe it was poison. So I spit it out in the face of Jack Swagger. It was accident, actually. He spun me around and I spit at the same time. And from spitting it in the face, I was able to roll him up and beat him. It wasn’t, I’m sure, what Beaker intended. But it got the job done.

WWE has made a point of holding big events in Atlanta over the past several years. How do you think your personality and wrestling style fare with Southern audiences like the ones in Atlanta?

In that part of the country, the fans are so passionate and so crazy and we always love to come there. When the fans are so crazy, they elevate us and make us put on a better show. The louder they get, the more we go crazy, then the louder they get in return and there’s just this circulating energy that goes back and forth. I’m telling you, the feeling and atmosphere in the arena is second to none. We love coming there.

Do you think you might try to talk to any Atlanta icons for Santino’s Foreign Exhange while you’re in Atlanta?

I would like to go to the Georgia Aquarium because I heard the aquarium is very nice. There’s a restaurant we usually go to close to the airport called the Spondivits and we like to get the steamed bucket. I know that’s not a real icon, but we enjoy Atlanta. I’m going to try to steal the show if I can. I hope I don’t get arrested for stealing.

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Recovering from injuries can often cause competitors to lose their momentum upon their return to action. But in the case of former Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett, his WWE return has been highlighted by a dominant winning streak and change in attitude he likes to call the Barrett Barrage. Although this barrage has not yet guaranteed him a match at this Sunday’s Hell in a Cell, Barrett is still hoping to compete at the pay-per-view on his quest to obtain championship gold. Here, he talks to Wrestling with Pop Culture about his new mean streak and his goal of becoming the first English WWE Champion.

You only recently returned to WWE after recovering from an injury and returning to your bare-knuckle boxing training. Since then, the Barrett Barrage has been in full effect as you’ve dominated one opponent after another. Where did you find this extra aggression?

Courtesy WWE.

I’m glad to be back. It’s been seven or eight months since I got injured, so a lot of frustration and aggression has built up in that time. That’s combined with a slightly new style of bare-knuckle fighting-oriented offense. It’s good to be back and I’m looking to go places pretty soon.

You’re not yet scheduled for a match at Hell in a Cell, but you’ve previously had great success at this pay-per-view, picking up one of the biggest victories of your career over John Cena two years ago. Given your record there, what do you anticipate for this Sunday’s event?

You’re right, that Hell in a Cell match against John Cena is probably one of my biggest victories ever. It was a huge moment for me, especially so early on in my career. But the card’s still wide open for this year’s Hell in a Cell and, fingers crossed, I’ll hopefully be able to get myself on the card.

A lot of people have had career-defining moments at the Hell in a Cell pay-per-view and in the Hell in a Cell match. How would you feel about actually competing inside the Hell in a Cell cage?

It’s an amazing match and I haven’t actually had a Hell in a Cell match yet. I think it’s something that really just lends a certain legitimacy to the toughest competitors in the WWE. When you look at the people who’ve had the most success in those kind of matches, guys like Mick Foley, the Undertaker and Triple H, those are some of the toughest guys to have ever competed in WWE. I’d certainly like to see myself in that category of tough guys. When the opportunity comes, I’d definitely like to step into the cell and take on whoever might be up for the challenge.

You’ve defeated just about everyone you’ve gotten in the ring with since you’re return. Is there anyone in particular you’d like to face this Sunday, given the opportunity?

I’ve always got my eye on the champions here in WWE, be it CM Punk or be it Sheamus, who are the two champions at the moment. I’d love to step in there with either one of them. England’s never had a World Heavyweight Champion or a WWE Champion, so I’d love to be the first one. But the way wrestling works, you have to work your way up the ladder a little bit first. I don’t expect to be thrust into the title picture with either of those guys, but in the long run whoever the champion is – I don’t care if it’s CM Punk, Sheamus or anybody else – that’s the person I’m going to be going for.

You’re obviously not the only person with your sights set on those two. But there are some other interesting match-ups to be had between you and other fellow Europeans such as the current United States Champion Antonio Cesaro.

Courtesy WWE.

Yeah, definitely. I’m a big fan of Antonio Cesaro. I think he’s done a great job since he’s gotten here, and I’m very impressed with his intellect. He speaks five languages or something like that. That in itself is hugely impressive, then he’s done such a great job in the ring since he got here. So his momentum continues, but he will be losing that momentum if he comes across the Barrett Barrage in the ring.

Outside the ring, I understand you also have a role in one of WWE Studios‘ upcoming films. What role will you be playing?

A byproduct of me being injured and being off for six or seven months meant that I was freed up and available to take part in a film called Dead Man Down, which is being produced by WWE Studios. It’s got several top movie stars in it like Colin Farrell and Terrence Howard, and it had a pretty good budget. So I think it’s going to be a good film. It was great to be part of it. I play an enforcer or bodyguard to one of the bad guys in the film, so I had a pretty cool part and really enjoyed it. It was a great experience. I think that’s being released in April of next year, round about WrestleMania.

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Arguably the most highly anticipated DVD release in recent WWE history, CM Punk: Best in the World definitely takes a unique approach to showcasing one of wrestling’s most intriguing talents. While previous WWE DVD releases (especially those that focus on current superstars) have highlighted a respective wrestler’s best WWE matches and moments, Best in the World is just as much about CM Punk‘s straight edge punk rock lifestyle as it is about his wrestling career. And when it comes to his in-ring accomplishments, this three-disc set is not limited to the work Punk has done since he joined WWE.

For a young Punk, pro wrestling was just another oddball form of escapism for a kid coming from a broken home. While he embraced punk rock, comic books and monster movies, he also found refuge in the brash antics of “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and the other pageantry he saw in the wrestling world. With commentary from his surrogate family and close friends such as Rancid‘s Lars Frederiksen, original trainer Ace Steel, longtime wrestling friend Colt Cabana and former WWE Women’s Champion Lita, Best in the World gets at the things that make up the Punk we know today. It seems that few topics are off limits as Punk talks about the drunken father that inspired his aversion to drugs and alcohol, the origins of the CM Punk moniker, the meanings behind many of his tattoos and the years of backyard and indie wrestling where Punk paid his dues.

As a result, Best in the World plays more like a documentary on one of yesterday’s stars rather than someone who is just reaching his championship potential. From the ex-girlfriend who encouraged Punk to embrace his punk rock attitude as his wrestling persona to indie rivals like Chris Hero (who appears here as Hero, not as his NXT persona of Kassius Ohno) to WWE friends and foes like Daniel Bryan, Triple H, John Cena and The Miz, it’s apparent that Punk’s self-made family is a tight-knit circle that crosses over from his personal to professional life. In an unprecedented move on WWE’s part, Best in the World includes footage from his early matches in Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South, his rise to prominence in Ring of Honor against the likes of Samoa Joe, the infamous Summer of Punk (read my review here), during which he signed his WWE contract on the ROH title, and his early Ohio Valley Wrestling matches.

Courtesy WWE

It’s not until almost 45 minutes into Best in the World that we see Punk’s WWE debut thanks to Paul Heyman and the resurrected Extreme Championship Wrestling. And in true Punk fashion, he’s more than willing to discuss how he feels WWE misused him in his early days with the company, even during his runs as ECW, Intercontinental, World Tag Team and World Heavyweight Champion. But if there’s anything Punk is good at doing it’s adapting, and he realizes at numerous points on this DVD that in order to prove himself in WWE he will have to adapt in big ways.

In steps Punk’s big friend Luke Gallows, as well as Serena and Joseph Mercury, to form the Straight Edge Society. And while Punk was subversively turning himself into a Jesus-like Messiah on television, Best in the World reveals his more benevolent side behind the scenes when Mercury falls on hard times. Despite his best efforts with the SES, however, Punk soon becomes disgruntled yet again as others get championship opportunities. And that’s about the time that the pipe bomb goes off. In much the same way he had done years earlier in his final months with Ring of Honor, Punk dares to say what’s truly on his mind. He takes control of his fate with only a few weeks left on his WWE contract, and threatens to defeat Cena for the WWE Championship and leave the company with the title at last year’s Money in the Bank, in his hometown of Chicago.

Courtesy WWE

My only criticism of Best in the World is its glorification of the events that transpire after Punk lives up to his promise and does, indeed, walk out the front door of the arena with the WWE title (only to tweet that now-infamous picture of it sitting in his refrigerator later that night). No one can argue the impact Punk had on WWE during the time leading up to Money in the Bank. But had his WWE return been postponed for a few more weeks (if not months), his actions would have carried even more weight. But considering that few (if any) other people would have dared to risk their future with WWE the way he did, this slight glorification of a series of events that did get many people’s attention is a very minor complaint.

What Best in the World proves, without a doubt, is that the Punk we see on TV and in WWE rings is the same person you might find at a Cubs game or in an airport. He can be brash and rude, but he can also be a leader and an inspiration (as he has been for veterans like William Regal and up-and-comers like Zack Ryder). And regardless of how you feel about him personally, there’s no doubt that Punk is one of the most entertaining guys to step into a WWE ring, which is displayed on the other two discs of this set. From an OVW match against Brent Albright and his ECW debut against Justin Credible to his WrestleMania XXIV Money in the Bank win and championship victories over John Morrison, Regal, Jeff Hardy and Chris Jericho, Punk makes it hard to deny that he is, as he likes to say, the “best in the world.” And with this DVD release, it seems that WWE is finally agreeing with him.

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