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ROB VAN DAM AND SABU PLEAD GUILTY TO DRUG/PARAPHERNALIA CHARGES, FLIP OFF THE MEDIA AT THE HEARING

The Ironton Tribune today is reporting that Sabu and Rob Van Dam pled guilty yesterday in the Ironton (OH) Municipal Court. They will pay fines and court costs for their misdemeanor crimes stemming from their July 2 bust, which of course led to RVD being suspended for 30 days and losing the WWE and ECW Titles.  They appeared in court yesterday morning around 9 a.m. and waited over an hour for their case to be heard.  The paper wrote, "The wrestlers were greeted by several fans, but refused to talk to the media. When Brunk, Szatowski and his wife, Sonya, filed into the courtroom, the two wrestlers directed obscene hand gestures to the media." 

Sabu pled guilty to third-degree possession of drugs (they were to remove fatty tissue in his chest). Another charge against him, possession of drug paraphernalia, was dropped as part of a plea bargain.  He was sentenced to 10 days in jail but the sentence was suspended.  He was fined $500 plus court costs.

Van Dam pled guilty to driving 73 mph in a 55 mph zone and third-degree possession of marijuana.  The charge of possessing Vicodin was dropped because he produced a valid prescription for the pills he had.  He will pay $140 in fins plus court costs.

To read the story, click here. ... Thanks to Mike K for his help with this story.

WWE NEWS ON CHRIS BENOIT'S RETURN, JOEY STYLES, INTERESTING SCHEDULING, SMACKDOWN NOTES, ECW LINEUP AND MORE

We have been hearing for a while now that Chris Benoit is set to return soon.  According to WWE.com, he will at least be back in action by October 21 when the Smackdown brand heads to the Phillippines.  He is scheduled to team with Lashley against Finlay & William Regal at the 10/21 show in Manila. The next day in Manila, he is scheduled to team with Lashley against King Booker & Mr. Kennedy.

David Gladstone reporting. ... I just wanted to note something about Smackdown airing on WGN in Chicago.  The information you listed yesterday was for the locally airing WGN only...it does not appear that Smackdown will be shown nationwide on WGN's Superstation...to be honest - I was not aware that what I see on the Superstation was not necessarily what is being aired in the Chicago area - but www.wgn.com lists two distinct stations - each with their own programming (with some overlap)...both the WGN Superstation website and my local cable program guide list Becker and Home Improvement in the 11:30pm CT timeslot for this Saturday - with similar programming in the timeslot listed for next weekend... 

Joey Styles' latest Most Extreme Player column is up on ECW.com.  To read it, click here.

A number of people sent word that Smackdown that airs on WPIX in New York tomorrow is listed as having a two hour slot in program guides.  WWE has said that it will be a one hour version.  So if you are setting your DVR, set it for two hours just in case. 

Things that make you go hmmmm: The WWE conference call that Buck recapped today actually happened yesterday afternoon and was not promoted at all by WWE.  The skeptic in me would wonder if they didn't want to be asked questions about things like Kurt Angle leaving or RVD and Sabu getting busted.

The Associated Press ran a piece today about Hulk Hogan doing a "say your prayers and eat right bit" bit with R&B singer Mario at the hype for the MTV Video Music Awards.

Joe Otero sent this one. ... I just wanted to let you know about some matches that have been advertised here today for the 9/9 ECW show in Toms River on local radio here on the Jersey Shore.

1. ECW Title Match: RVD vs. Big Show
2. Sandman vs. Christopher W. Anderson in a dueling canes match [Still advertised as CW Anderson]
3. Sabu vs. Kurt Angle [Guess someone at WWE forgot to update the promo..lol] 
4. Tommy Dreamer vs. Test
5. Balls Mahoney vs. Mike Knox

No mention of CM Punk or anyone else on the card yet.

A number of readers have sent word that theonion.com has a parody of Randy Savage on their site.  To read it, click here.

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