• Why Vince McMahon Banned The Shooting Star Press
Vince McMahon’s decision to ban the Shooting Star Press in WWE was rooted in control, risk management, and fear of imitation rather than crowd reaction or execution quality.
According to Paul London on Chris Van Vliet’s Insight podcast, the move was shut down during his run after he used it in a Velocity match that drew a strong response. Despite the positive reaction, McMahon’s concern was not whether the move worked, but what might happen if others attempted to copy it. The belief was that allowing one wrestler to regularly perform such a high-risk maneuver would inevitably encourage others to try it, increasing the chance of serious injury.
London said McMahon specifically worried that other high-flyers on the roster would feel compelled to add the move to their arsenal. Rey Mysterio was cited internally as an example of someone who might attempt it and get hurt. From management’s perspective, the danger wasn’t London himself performing the move, but the precedent it set across the locker room.
Past incidents also played a role. WWE had lingering concerns tied to Billy Kidman’s botched Shooting Star Press, a move that had developed a reputation backstage as unpredictable. Even though London had a strong track record executing the maneuver safely, the company grouped all versions of the move under the same risk category.
Another key factor was McMahon’s philosophy on crowd response. London recalled pointing out how loud the audience reacted when he hit the move, only to be told that fan reaction was irrelevant. The focus was on maintaining strict boundaries over what was allowed, prioritizing uniformity and risk avoidance over individual expression.
Ultimately, the ban reflected WWE’s broader approach at the time: limiting dangerous-looking offense, discouraging creativity that could spread organically, and keeping tight control over what performers were allowed to do in the ring.
For London, the decision marked a clear divide between what wrestlers believed connected with fans and what management was willing to permit under any circumstances.
• “Dwayne Johnson excuses” – Why Brock Lesnar Wanted A Private Jet
Paul London offered insight into how the WWE locker room reacted when Brock Lesnar abruptly left the company in 2004, describing the moment as eye-opening and unsettling for many on the roster.
Speaking about the situation on Chris Van Vliet’s Insight podcast, London recalled a meeting where WWE gathered talent to address Lesnar’s decision to walk away. Lesnar, who was leaving to pursue a career in professional football, explained his departure directly to the roster. For many wrestlers, the reality of the situation was jarring, given Lesnar’s position at the very top of the company.
London explained that Lesnar was already operating separately from much of the locker room at the time, including traveling on his own private jet. Despite his championship status, financial success, and unprecedented leverage within the company, Lesnar did not come across as fulfilled. That contrast left a strong impression on London, who found it troubling that someone who had seemingly made it in every possible way still chose to walk away.
“They called everybody into a room and made him basically say in front of all of us. It was like a meeting to basically say like he is going to be leaving and this is why and he was the champion, had bought his own jet so that he didn’t have to be around the rest of us or the people or whatever his reasoning was. I can’t remember.
Part of it, I think, was because he wasn’t getting enough time to get his workouts in, right? It’s like one of these Dwayne Johnson excuses. And, (he) just was still miserable, making millions of dollars, has his own jet, and is still miserable. And the champion, like, we can’t go any higher position wise. Still miserable.”
According to London, the moment exposed a deeper issue within WWE’s environment. He described it as a realization that success, money, and power did not automatically lead to satisfaction, and that even the company’s top star could be unhappy enough to leave at the peak of his run. For younger or less-established wrestlers, the situation challenged the belief that reaching the top of WWE guaranteed long-term fulfillment.
