Andrew "Test" Martin Found Dead at 33

[Melissa Armstrong]

weblogs.newsday.com/sports/specia....found_dead.html

There is sad news coming out of the pro wrestling world with word that Andrew Martin, best known as "Test" to WWE fans, was found at the age of 33.

Thankfully, the spate of premature deaths among former wrestling stars seemed to slow down during 2008. But the passing of Martin - a pretty key figure in WWE during its "Attitude" era boon of the late 1990s - is a very significant one.

Martin took part in several WrestleManias, included WrestleMania X-Seven, at which he defended his European champiosnhip against the late Eddie Guerrero. He was also at the center of memorable angle in which he was set to marry Stephanie McMahon.

As always, it is much too early to jump to any conclusions about the cause of Martin's death, but his reputation - and his massive muscles - certainly were certainly well known in wrestling business, and were, reportedly, part of the reason he became something of a liability in his most recent runs in WWE and TNA.

Here is the story from the Pro Wrestling Torch:

Former WWE star Andrew "Test" Martin was found dead in his Tampa, Fla. apartment on Friday night, according to a report by PWInsider.com. Martin was 33 years old and nearing his birthday on March 17.

After being released by WWE in 2006 when he was on the ECW brand, Martin re-surfaced in TNA where he had a brief run until being released from the company.

Martin semi-retired from pro wrestling, then he was arrested on a drunk driving charge in Florida one year ago.

Martin was formerly in a relationship with WWE diva Kelly Kelly, who said in a February interview on the Bubba Love Sponge radio show that they remained close friends after their relationship ended.

Asked if Martin being released from WWE while Kelly was still with WWE had an effect on their relationship, Kelly said that was a strong factor.

"He's never been one at home waiting around," Kelly said. "He's on the other side of the coin now. I think that had a lot to do with it." She said Martin was planning to attend school to become a personal trainer.

No further details on the cause of death are known right now.
- Source: Newsday.com

Don't really know what to say, I wasn't really a fan but it sucks none the less

[<~The Shooting Starr~>]

Was a big fan till HHH squished his push and took Steph away. After that, you knew he wasn't going to make the main event, until ECW and his botched matches with Lashley.

Sad to see him pass away, as around the time the WCW invasion was taking place, he was living with a g/f of his in my town. I even helped move some boxes, and furniture into the moving truck with him. A swell guy, very personable, and a pleasure to know.

[Haven]

I read about this earlier on another site.

I feel for his friends, and family. He was, as Starr said, a favorite of mine with his "Test Drive" move and such, until Triple H took all of that spotlight away. Though I still liked watching him fight.

This really made me feel bad reading it.

R.I.P. Test

[Joe Bruiser]

RIP Andrew "Test" Martin, You will be greatly missed by all of us. we will never forget how you TESTED us during your GREAT 90's run. May God Bless You Test.

As I get older it just seems like everyone I know and love is dying. I don't really know how much more I can handle to be honest. I know I never knew Test or anything, but just to add him to Benoit, Ledger, Bernie Mac, and all the friends and family Ive lost the past 2 years. Everyone is just dying all the sudden. Anyways, I will never forget Test for being a great wrestler and hey I have to admit that I was just as much a Testicle as I was a Hulkamaniac. May God Bless your Soul Test.