10 Wrestling Moments You Didn’t Know Were Totally Ripped Off
6. CM Punk
The CM Punk Vs. The Rock feud was promising, initially.
The first in-ring confrontation remains vivid in its cutting brilliance. The oscillating reaction was fascinating, too. Both expert talkers presented a case for winning their upcoming WWE Championship match, cajoling the crowd into fickle fits of twisting sentiment. Ironically, Punk channeled the brilliance of the 2003 vintage of his opponent by incinerating the crowd in such a scathing, entertaining manner that they popped in Stockholm Syndrome.
The Rock, in response, defended his people and unleashed his trademark jock wit - jock wit that doubled as both entertaining fight promotion and the impetus behind Punk's closing, iconic line, the line WWE played over the hype video to convince you to part with your cash:
"Your little jabs, and your insults, they're all kiddie games. When you step in the ring, your arms are just too short to box with God."
This was inspired; Punk's devout fans bought into his iconoclastic myth, but this? Literally under Rock's looming shadow, the line struck the perfect note of delusion and hubris.
It was also borrowed from the name of a biblical Broadway musical, something Punk was keenly aware would go over the heads of the typical WWE fan and depict his character as more cultured - better - than you.