Even before it became clear his AEW debut was imminent, we were pretty excited about CM Punk’s return to the ring on the new STARZ drama Heels. Punk has a guest starring role on the show about a small town, family-owned independent wrestling promotion in Georgia, He’ll play Ricky Rabies, who he described to Digital Spy as “me in another life”:
“A very popular independent wrestler who, if you want people to show up to your show, you book him on this show. He’s kind of been everywhere, done everything, he’s a little bit older now and he’s a character that everybody likes.”
Series star - and former WWE, Ring of Honor, and ALL IN wrestler - Stephen Amell has spoken very highly of Punk’s work on the show, and told IGN he set a high bar for future guest stars. And Amell does hope that if Heels is a hit for STARZ, they’ll “have some more people from the industry on the show.”
Producer Mike O’Malley and series creator Michael Waldron revealed we don’t have to wait for a second season a few other familiar faces. The only other name they drop in the IGN interview is Mick Foley, who will play a podcast host in one episode. But Waldron says there are a “another couple that are pretty exciting” after he talks up Punk, and before O’Malley spoils Foley - so maybe there’s another surprise in store for us in season one?
We’ll find out after the premiere next Sun., Aug. 15 at 9pm ET.