WWE News: CM Punk's Promo and the 5 Greatest Worked Shoots in History

With CM Punk trending harder than a celebrity sex tape, by virtue of last night's instantly classic shoot promo, memories of a handful of worked shoots in WWE come to mind. 

WWE's corporate structure, constant travel, and endless limitations and restrictions on its talent are designed to exude frustration from the slabs of meat in which they employ.

However only a select few performers get the privilege to wax poetic about the wrecking lives leader, with free reign to artistically express themselves through promos seasoned with more than just a hint of real life anguish.

Like many shoot promos that came before him, Punk's promo, while approved beforehand by Vince McMahon, hit close to home in terms of legit frustrations and apoplexy in which he had felt towards WWE. 

More times than not, the deliverer of a shoot promo seems to be somebody who is beloved by the Internet crowd.  This can can hardly be considered a coincidence, as the Internet tends to flock towards the downtrodden and underutilized, and when WWE decides to trot somebody out for a shoot promo, it is only appropriate that the tirade laced with "insider" references be delivered by an embittered cult hero the likes of CM Punk.

The question is, has CM Punk delivered the greatest shoot promo that WWE has ever seen to this point?  Subsequent fallout in the social media era would suggest so, however Punk's promo is not without its share of competition.   

Follow Big Nasty on Twitter @ThisIsNasty, and his next article will shoot on every pro wrestling writer except Dave Meltzer, who isn't worthy. 

5. Bret Hart Goes Crazy, Calls out Vince McMahon

Before it was actually revealed to mass viewers that Vince McMahon owned the WWE, Bret Hart's profanity-laced tirade against the chairman was as unprecedented as it was ground breaking. 

Following yet another title match where Bret Hart came up short against Psycho Sid, Hart snapped and shoved McMahon, then the lead play-by-play man for RAW, right on his grapefruits before ripping into him and the WWE. 

Hart's complaints of being screwed out of a world championship soon lead to him turning heel at WrestleMania 13, which would be the impetus of the antihero Stone Cold Steve Austin.

4. Jim Ross Delivers Misplaced Shoot Promo, Introduces Fake Razor and Diesel

If anybody deserved to give WWE piece of his mind, it's Good Ole' JR Jim Ross, who remains one of the most under appreciated talents in the company. 

On an episode of RAW, Ross took to the ring out of nowhere and delivered a scathing promo on Vince McMahon and WWE where he claimed he had been fired while struggling with Bells Palsy disease and misused among other things. 

It was in this promo that Ross coined the term "wrecking lives leader," in reference to WWE's hectic schedule that prohibits most stars from seeing their families on a regular basis. 

Ross went on to introduce the fake Razor and fake Diesel to the perplexed crowd as the real versions of the two stars had previously left WWE for WCW—much to the detriment of WWE. 

Ironically enough, Ross' short-lived heel angle was seen by many as McMahon taking his frustrations on poor ole' JR, as WWE was losing badly in the ratings war against WCW, and McMahon wanted to saddle Ross in a rather silly gimmick hanging around two lookalikes of stars who no longer worked for WWE. 

3. Joey Styles "Quits" WWE, Joins Paul Heyman in ECW

Former ECW and WWE commentator Joey Styles cut an awe-inspiring promo on WWE prior to leaving to be the lead announcer for the resurgent ECW show on ScyFy.

After being prodded, lectured, and bumped on high profile WWE events in favor of Jim Ross, Styles had enough and unleashed a dead on promo challenging the philosophies of WWE.

Sentiments in Styles' promo had scarcely been touched upon before as Styles exposed WWE for not wanting to be "wrestling," an initiative that has since gone into full force in present day.  Styles pulled no punches in his promo as he ripped the WWE, its fans, and of course, Vince McMahon himself.

Styles would go on to become the lead announcer for WWE's rendition of ECW, however the stint would not last as Styles' departure became one of the many nails in ECW's coffin as the cult favorite brand eventually disintegrated.

2. CM Punk's Shoot Promo on RAW Makes Twitter Go Crazy

CM Punk's trend-worthy promo from last night's RAW still needs to stand the test of time before it can be considered the greatest shoot promo ever, but it is certainly on its way.

Last night's promo was on point, excellently delivered, and echoed frustrations that are believed to be the real reason he will be likely be leaving the company within the next few months.

After costing John Cena a non-title table's match, Punk copped a squat and ripped WWE harder than an out of shape Matt Hardy with a Flip Camera.

Punk reveled in "breaking the fourth wall" as he touched upon no-no topics such as Hulk Hogan, Paul Heyman, Brock Lesnar, ROH, and even went after Vince McMahon's family.  Punk teased a "personal story" about McMahon before being cut off by the powers that be as RAW faded to black. 

The instant praise on Twitter for Punk's promo, by a who's who of wrestling, helped immortalize the already classic rant as Punk continues to both directly and indirectly remind WWE what they will be missing out on going forward.

1. Paul Heyman Rips WWE Roster in His Backyard

Paul Heyman's emotional rant at ECW One Night Stand in 2005 was the model for all shoot promos, as he maniacally picked apart the members of the invading RAW and SmackDown roster one by one.

Mocking JBL's WWE title reign, Edge's behind the scenes relationship with Lita, and Eric Bischoff, Paul Heyman used home field advantage to his benefit as he tore WWE's brass to shreds. 

It can easily be argued that ECW's stint in WWE peaked with the nostalgic One Night Stand pay-per-view, and that show's finest moment came when Heyman was given a microphone and told to go crazy.

UPDATE:  1a: Paul Heyman's epic 'shoot' on Vince McMahon in 2001 is also deserving of top billing on this list.  This promo was originally omitted as I felt there may have been too much storyline in the promo, however it is so good and there is so much truth to it that I have had a change of heart.  To view Paul Heyman in rare form, and at his absolute best, click here!