10 Most Repeated WWE Storylines

Every story has already been told. Even the most exceptional writers lean on seven archetypal stories, recycling the same basic plots that define literature from today all the way back to ancient Greece. If our most talented storytellers fall back on similar narratives, where do you think that leaves WWE? Let's face it. Nobody's winning a Nobel Prize for this stuff.

And it's not entirely creative's fault. When you're responsible for producing thousands of hours worth of television a year, not every idea's bound to come out a winner. Yet that kind of sheer volume only provides so much of an excuse.

Even with that in mind, WWE still relies on formulaic storytelling to push feuds forward. Regardless of the stylistic and tonal shifts from the Golden Age to New Generation and Attitude Era, WWE has always clung to the same tried and tested storylines.

They might've dressed or sexed them up for a new era of fans, but the end result was all too familiar. And no, it wasn't your mind playing tricks on you, although after years of watching WWE tread water, you might wish it had. Whether they showcase patriotism, inner turmoil, or lurid romance, WWE loves coming back to these stories on a regular basis...

Not the Bayley Buddies! Is nothing sacred?! Oh, wait. This is WWE we're talking about.

A well-executed heel turn is an opportunity to freshen up a wrestler's character and push them back up the card. Plus, give them a new haircut for good measure. That last part's important. We're here for Bayley's bob.

Although a WWE fixture for decades, the heel turn is an emotional roller coaster like no other. The WWE Universe's initial rage shifts to curiosity at hearing their once-beloved superstar's explanation for turning to the dark side. We just can't help ourselves.

Yet WWE's heels repeatedly go over the edge for the exact same reason. A perceived lack of respect from the WWE Universe has driven numerous superstars like The Rock and CM Punk to turn their backs on the very fans who made them household names. So much for gratitude. You know they paid for your house, right?

In the pantheon of heel turns, rejecting the audience is rarely a home run storyline, no matter how many times WWE brings it back. We want to sympathize with our villain's motivation but stop just short of rooting for them. Lord knows we don't ask for much.

And hearing some entitled superstar with an Adonis physique moan about not getting enough love from the fans doesn't exactly make for a riveting storyline. Self-love is the best love, after all.