10 Times Wrestlers Shot Themselves Into A Work

Despite a strong connection with fans and top class character work, CM Punk found himself trapped in the mid-card. There'd been a brief but successful main event run in 2009 before a certain Deadman purportedly put the kibosh on Punk's push. With his contract almost up in July 2011, the frustrated Second City Saint informed WWE he would not be renewing his contract.

Realising Punk could be a major star for any promotion lucky enough to sign him, WWE finally pulled their finger out and let him move up the card. Inspired by his real-life issues with the promotion, WWE green-lit Punk's classic pipebomb promo. Breaking the fourth wall, Punk's speech was the wrestling equivalent of Howard Beale's explosive rant in Network.

Reigniting a painfully stale product, Punk became the biggest thing in the industry overnight. In the weeks leading up to Money in the Bank 2011, the Straight Edge Saviour continued his tirades, targeting Mr McMahon himself in another classic segment. Proof that the best wrestling personas are modelled on the real life people cranked up to 11, the Summer of Punk was a wild ride for a brief but memorable spell.