Originally posted by Dave MeltzerFormer WWE star found dead in apartment
We don't have details, but there are multiple reports that Andrew "Test" Martin passed away earlier today at his condo in Tampa.
Martin was four days shy of his 34th birthday.
Police in Tampa confirmed a death in the condo but wouldn't identify the name, but numerous sources within wrestling have confirmed it was him. No details as to the death were reported.
Martin last wrestled with WWE in February, 2007, when he was released after failing a drug test. He worked a few weeks with TNA but the company decided against hiring him. He had of late worked some tours for Nu Wrestling Evolution, and most recently had worked in Japan on shows promoted by Leon "Vader" White.
This is all really fucked up because "Barbie" was hanging with me last week in New York and spoke about his character and ambition to be back on national tv. It seemed very sincere and I can not believe that Andrew is going to be buried. Au reviore, Andy.
I just woke up about an hour ago, hanging at my dads house, and got the news via facebook from a friend via, cheap plug, "The Stro" who apparently caught it.
All I can say is I am praying this doesn't result in nights and nights of media coverage, inaccurate media coverage, on the world of professional wrestling.
I have a feeling that there will be a lot of vigils at independent shows tonight.
These are such black days when this continually happens. The last time I saw him was when they brought him in at the restart of ECW. When they initial ran as three separate brand on touring.
God Bless his family and friends, RIP Andrew "Test" Martin.
I have good memories of Test. He was one of the Attitude midcarders who had decent pushes and angles. His run in ECW was a nice powerhouse angle, and he gave Li'l Guido a magnicicent Wotsitolla Boot in one squash.
I was glad to see him on TV, and his TNA appearance encouraged me to stick with the show.
Not yet 34. Awful.
"To be the man, you gotta beat demands." -- The Lovely Mrs. Tracker
BIG BOSSMAN v. TEST for the Hardcore Championship - wow, when was the last defense of THIS title? (That question was rhetorical.) Let Us Take You Back to SmackDown! where Bossman and Prince Albert pretty much dissolved THEIR relationship. Test is not only the opponent, but also the challenger! Thanks, Lilian! The mysterious Orangeness and 13--ness interrupts Test's entrance as the disembodied voice of Taz once again says "the world is about to change - survive - you can't stop the path of rage." Meanwhile, the match has already started. Test ducks a nightstick and puts Bossman into the ringpost, then grabs the nightstick and Golotas him with it. Bossman takes Test over the barricade, and they both go. Now they're walking - they're walking - backstage we go - Bossman takes Test under the stands - Bossman with a big stick - takes out the light so we can't see that they're missing. Now througuh the tunnel to the backstage area. Brass knux on the right hand of Bossman, right, right, Test's head knocked into a timecard board. I guess he's got some "blood" under his nose, now. Now we're in a bathroom! Hooray! Bossman run into a stall door. Test stops to make a "funny" comment on the smell of some guy's dump, allowing Bossman to take advantage of the distraction. And by "funny," I mean "unintelligible." Test taken into a wall - now hit against a large wooden thing - now Bossman closing a metal door on his throat. For some reason, Chioda doesn't count three even though his shoulders are CLEARLY down. Bossman lets up the door and covers - and NOW there's a count - but only 2. Bossman argues the count - and Test pops up and fires back. Test throttling Bossman with his own arm bandage. Now they're walking back to the ring - but Bossman shakes him off and picks up a garbage can on his way back. BOOM! PRINCE ALBERT IN A CAN is out - Bossman conks HIS noggin with the can as well. Another for Test. In the ring - feet on the ropes - cover - 1, 2, nope! Albert in the ring - Uppercut, uppercut, now they're trading blows. Test with the nightstick to Bossman, and as he and Albert doubleteam Bossman, Test decides to whack *Albert* as well. Bodyslam - Test to the top rope - nightstick elbow! 1, 2, 3! Ladies and gentlemen, we have a new hardcore champion. He's also got a blood mustache. (4:15)
* * * * *
"A strange phenomenon occurred that night, the likes of which we may never experience again in our lifetimes. The moon was full on that night, but was almost blocked out by a huge cloud formation. When the formation passed, the moon disappeared. The wind began to howl, and the atmospheric conditions were such that even though the title bout had taken place in Connecticut, at that exact moment that Test's triumphant hand was raised...all the way from Amarillo, Texas...I could hear Terry Funk weeping"
- Mick Foley, Foley is Good
FLEA
Demonstrations are a drag. Besides, we're much too high
I guess I'm in the minority with this one - actually I must be the only one - but this shocks me as much as when they reported Benoit or Eddie dead. Sure, he was not the workrate hero one needs to be to be remembered as one of the all time greats, but damned, I always liked watching him and I will truly miss him. He has been around for so long, and died at only 33 years. Considering that he is only two years older than me, this makes me even more sad to see he passed away that young!
I was just thinking we were on kind of a dry streak of wrestlers dying depressingly young. The last few had been guys like Killer Kowalski and SD Jones - the latter of which wasn't elderly by any means, but at least wasn't in high school at the same time as me.
I liked a lot of Test's stuff, especially his feud with Shane McMahon and his run with Stacy Keibler. (I missed his last run entirely - I know he was pushed fairly hard and it didn't work. How'd he look then?) He always had a lot of potential, and he seemed to be pretty charismatic when they weren't making him try too hard. (I remember a sketch when him and Albert beat up Faarooq and Bradshaw and took over the APA where Trish was trying to discuss the match they had while he and Albert just argued in the background about whether they should be called T.A.P.A. or T.A.A.P.A. But there's the word "and" right in the middle of the name. Really funny.)
Test's match with Shane McMahon and the Mean Street Posse was one of the greatest matches between a bunch of guys that can't wrestle that I have ever seen. That being said he had deceant tools for a bigger guy, he just seemed to get too big and it cost him his speed and made him just another slug.
Originally posted by MonteThis is all really fucked up because "Barbie" was hanging with me last week in New York and spoke about his character and ambition to be back on national tv.
Barbie Blank? You went on a date with Kelly Kelly is what you're saying. Oh man, she is cheating on Jericho.
I missed his last run entirely - I know he was pushed fairly hard and it didn't work. How'd he look then?
Terrible, but he had one great match with Rob Van Dam.
I remember a sketch when him and Albert beat up Faarooq and Bradshaw and took over the APA where Trish was trying to discuss the match they had while he and Albert just argued in the background about whether they should be called T.A.P.A. or T.A.A.P.A. But there's the word "and" right in the middle of the name. Really funny.
YES! The T&APA stuff was overlooked hilarity. I remember the time he tried to convince Albert to shave his fur but Albert said the chicks love it.
Poor Test. Remember when Eddie Guerrero died and he wrote that thing. Remember when he broke all the Mean Street Posse's legs and he cut that promo on FAT ASS PETE GAS and THAT BIATCH RODNEY "owww test broke my leg."
My favorite Test match (aside from the Shane/MSP one) was Test v. Kane at No Mercy 2001, mostly because they worked in a little psychology -- Test tried all the finishers he'd used in the past (didn't he have, like, half a dozen?) to put away Kane, and none of them worked.
"The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now do you begin to understand me?"
Originally posted by MisterHendersonNotice that the end of the notice on WWE.com notes that Test hasn't worked for them since 2007? Just in case you were wondering.
Do you really blame them?
Test's career peaked in 1999/2000, which is kinda sad. He had both a great face role (wronged ex) and heel role (T&A, who were much better than most give them credit for). That neither led anywhere significant was kinda astonishing.
Originally posted by MisterHendersonNotice that the end of the notice on WWE.com notes that Test hasn't worked for them since 2007? Just in case you were wondering.
Do you really blame them?
Test's career peaked in 1999/2000, which is kinda sad. He had both a great face role (wronged ex) and heel role (T&A, who were much better than most give them credit for). That neither led anywhere significant was kinda astonishing.
I thought his Anti-American stuff was every bit as good as T&A, probably even better. But I guess that only takes his peak years another year to year and a half longer..
It is pretty sad that he's only 34 years old. He's even younger than Edge and Christian. If he would've been able to stay healthy until 40 you have to think he'd get another run in the WWE.
This actually made the front page of ESPN.com. The only reason I would think to put this story on the front page is because ESPN is assuming it is steroid related.
Originally posted by MonteThis is all really fucked up because "Barbie" was hanging with me last week in New York and spoke about his character and ambition to be back on national tv.
Barbie Blank? You went on a date with Kelly Kelly is what you're saying. Oh man, she is cheating on Jericho.
Having him cut his hair was one of the worst moves in having a wrestler cut his hair for no reason moves of all time. He lost the poor man's Diesal vibe and just kind of became generic.