Chris Park, known to wrestling fans as Abyss, built a legendary career on pushing boundaries – and bodies – to the absolute limit. He was a pioneer of hardcore wrestling, a spectacle of barbed wire, thumbtacks, and breathtakingly dangerous stunts. But now, behind the scenes as a WWE producer, he’s discovered his biggest regret isn’t the risks he took, but a missed opportunity to connect more deeply with the audience.
Having transitioned from in-ring performer to shaping matches for today’s biggest stars like CM Punk and Drew McIntyre, Abyss reflects on a career defined by brutality. He acknowledges the pride he feels in his legacy, yet a nagging feeling persists – a sense that the spectacle sometimes overshadowed the story. He now imparts this hard-won wisdom to the next generation.
“The biggest thing is what *not* to do,” Abyss confessed. “I did a lot of stuff. If I had one thing I wish I’d done differently, I wish I’d done a little less of the hardcore, and a little more of the storytelling.” This isn’t a dismissal of his past, but a realization that impact without purpose is ultimately hollow.
His experience now directly informs his role as a producer. He focuses on ensuring the safety of performers while simultaneously demanding that every high-impact moment serves a narrative purpose. It’s about elevating the drama, not just the danger.
Abyss believes hardcore elements still have a place in wrestling, but only when they’re earned. “I learned that through my days of hardcore wrestling, the dos and the don’ts,” he explained. “I’ve been able to apply that when I’m working with talent.”
He points to the recent Hell in a Cell match between Drew McIntyre and CM Punk as a prime example. The match was undeniably brutal, filled with punishing blows and visible pain, but it was also a compelling narrative brought to life. Abyss was instrumental in guiding that match, drawing on his years of experience.
“That, I think, was a masterpiece,” he said with a smile. “Those guys just absolutely crushed it. There were some elements that I was able to advise them on, from my experiences, that I think helped them make it even better.”
Despite his newfound perspective, Abyss remains fiercely protective of his past. He wouldn’t trade a single match, even the ones he now views with a critical eye. “I’m proud of every one of them. I wouldn’t change any one of them,” he insisted.
He admits to moments of youthful recklessness, “reaching for the stars” and pushing the limits of what was possible. But ultimately, he believes he succeeded in his goal: to deliver moments that fans would never forget. He always strived to give the audience something truly unforgettable.
