Sucks To Be Randy Orton: WWE Suspends Rob Van Dam 30 Days w/o Pay, Fines Sabu $1000
The following article was published Wednesday afternoon on WWE.com:
WWE responds to charges against RVD and Sabu
World Wrestling Entertainment earlier this week announced it was investigating five violations, including drug possession, levied against Rob Van Dam and Sabu by the Ohio State Highway Patrol. WWE announced today that based on information gathered over the past few days, Van Dam has been suspended without pay for 30 days and Sabu has been fined $1000. These actions are consistent with the Wellness Policy at WWE.
According to the Ironton Tribune, Rob Van Dam and Sabu were pulled over on U.S. 52, near Patrick Street in Hanging Rock, Ohio at about 10:15 p.m. Sunday night. The two were apparently driving from their performances at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena earlier in the evening.
According to the Ohio State Police, as reported by the Ironton Tribune, Van Dam was initially stopped for speeding. When troopers approached his vehicle, they smelled marijuana and performed a search. Troopers found RVD in possession of 18 grams of marijuana and five Vicodin, prescription pain pills. Sabu was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and also had nine pills that were not immediately identifiable, but were known to be controlled substances, according to the OSHP. Both were cited and posted bond at the scene.
On a personal note, we are relieved that neither wrestler will be let go from the company. I do find it interesting though that these penalties contradict with what was specified in the WWE Drug Wellness Program. And I know my comment on the mainpage is sort of me being a wise ass. But once you stop and think about it, how do you suspend Randy Orton twice as long for behavior issues? Yes a big pain in the ass with behavior problems. But still far less severe than getting the behind the wheel, speeding stoned while not to mention, representing your employer as their 'Heavyweight Champion'. Don't tell me dropping the belts were his punishment too; those belts were coming off anyway. And as far as losing a month's pay, it's a chunk of change. But there's no Raw PPV this month. There's no travel expenses to endure the next month. And even if Orton was paid, he received no revenue for events & PPV's for two months but had to make promotional appearances for WWE.
In no way are we saying RVD should have been suspended longer. But when WWE issues a suspension like they just did, you have to compare it with prior decisions they have made. And in our opinion, driving stoned speeding and caught with drugs comes off as less punishment than prior WWE penalties.
Hopefully this never happens again with any wrestler in and outside WWE. But if I were WWE to avoid further criticizm (between contradicting its own Wellness Policy, and the slap on the wrist), I would announce the adding of marijuana to its existing drug testing.
There's a flurry of other things I'd do right now if I were WWE. But the above is a start. And I'm way too lazy to write a bunch more. Plus I don't work for them and have my own business to worry about. Hopefully, everyone learns by this unfortunate incident and moves on.
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