10 WWE Storylines That Were Based On Real Life

2. CM Punk's Pipebomb Shoot

The fact CM Punk was allowed to air his honest feelings on the 27 June 2011 episode of Raw is remarkable, even more so when one considers the saccharine product WWE were presenting at the time. In an era of heavy scripting and less spontaneity than ever before, Punk got to rant about Triple H's big nose, John Cena's ass-kissing and Vince McMahon's brass rings.

His words stirred something in an audience that had become dulled by uninspiring output. Whether people agreed with Punk or not, they knew his words were authentic, and that was key.

Punk, worn down by WWE's creative process and corporate mentality, wanted an escape route. His contract was actually due to expire following Money in the Bank that year, and that part wasn't a storyline; WWE turned it into one by using Punk's savvy and a clever infusion of reality mixed with hardcore fan rebellion.

Of course, there's no way they booked him to win the WWE Title without signing another agreement, but everyone involved had smartly taken real components and rekindled Punk's excitement for pro wrestling. At the same time, WWE also managed to awaken portions of an audience who had become indifferent.