Andrew Martin, Test

Today would have been Andrew Martin's 34th birthday. It would have been, but Andrew died in his apartment last Friday. Detectives found painkillers and steroids in the apartment, and toxicology tests are forthcoming. Two years ago Andrew said in an interview, "I just turned 32-years-old and went to eight funerals. As bad as it may sound, it made me open my eyes and take my foot out the grave. I don't want to join that club. Either you clean up and straighten up, or lay down beside them."

Martin had struggled with fame, first when he lost out to Triple H in a high profile angle with Stephanie McMahon, sending Test back to the mid-card after flirting with main events in 1999. Politics prevented Test from getting his follow up feud, due to Stephanie's real life relationship with Triple H. At the time Martin was only 25.

Martin was tall, fit and had a good look but struggled with character pieces and mic work. He continued to work hard, but being that tall is tough in pro wresting and by fall 2004 he turned to WWE's famous Dr. Llyod Youngblood for spinal fusion surgery. Of course Dr. Youngblood also performed on Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero. Andrew Martin was on the injured list when WWE gave him his release.



Finding little work in the American independent scene, Martin arranged to return to WWE in spring of 2006, working in the new ECW on SciFi. Test again flirted with the main event, working opposite rookie champion Bobby Lashley, but his momentum stalled and he never won a match. In Feb 2007 Martin was suspended for violation of the WWE drug policy and asked for his release.

A brief run in TNA Wrestling during the second half of 2007 proved especially troubling. Martin had put on considerable muscle with the use of steroids, and along with his weakened back, his mobility was limited. His cardio was suffering and his performances did not go over well. He was released after only one month. Martin was arrested for DUI September 14, 2007 and again on April 5, 2008. In December 2007 Andrew Martin announced he would retire from professional wrestling.

This is a story told time and time again in wrestling. After working in the business, what's a guy to do? Wrestling skills really don't transfer into other industries and most guys end up broke and aimless after leaving the ring. It's especially sad, because Andrew Martin was only 33 years old. I don't understand why our communities allow these performers to be ground under the boot of pro wrestling and then tossed aside. I expect it has something to do with a perception that wrestling is "fake" and therefore easy.

The world of professional wrestling is grueling and brutal and typically leads to an early grave. Is that the life we want, for these performers we love so much? As a fan, I'd rather see fewer shows if the result is longer careers. I understand that higher salaries draw better talent, and then the company runs more shows to pay all the salaries, and the system becomes a cycle. I just hope the industry can wake up and change, because so many young men are dying.

I remember when Test debuted as Motley Crue's roadie way back in 1998. He turned me off at first, but won me over with his hard work and obvious love for the sport. I'm very sorry to see him go.