Test (wrestler)

Andrew James Robert Patrick Martin (March 17, 1975 – March 13, 2009) was a Canadian professional wrestler and actor. He was best known for his time with the World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment (WWF/WWE) under the ring name Test.

After training under Bret Hart and Leo Burke, Martin began wrestling on the Canadian independent circuit in 1997. The following year, he signed with the WWF (now WWE) and initially debuted as an unnamed bodyguard, before adopting the Test name. During his nine-year tenure, he won the WWE European Championship and WWE Intercontinental Championship once each, the WWE Hardcore Championship twice, and the WCW World Tag Team Championship and WWE World Tag Team Championship with Booker T once each. He left WWE in 2004, but returned in 2006 to wrestle on the ECW brand. He also appeared for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) in 2007.

Early life

Martin was born on March 17, 1975, in Whitby, Ontario,<ref name="hof">Template:Cite web</ref> the son of Robert and Margaret Martin.<ref name="obit">Template:Cite web</ref> He was the youngest of three children.<ref name="tbt"/> He attended Henry Street High School, where he played football, hockey and lacrosse.<ref name="test">Template:Cite web</ref> In the mid-1990s, Martin worked as a bouncer and bartender in Oshawa.<ref name="test"/><ref name="interview">Template:Cite web</ref>

Professional wrestling career

Training and early career (1997–1998)

In 1997, while at a Planet Hollywood restaurant at the SkyDome in Toronto, Martin met WWF Canada president Carl De Marco, who introduced him to Bret Hart. After Hart offered to train him to wrestle, Martin quit both of his jobs and spent eight months training under both Hart and Leo Burke.<ref name="test"/> He made his professional wrestling debut for the International Wrestling Alliance (IWA) on October 26, 1997, under the ring name Martin Kane, defeating Jamal Hughes and winning a battle royal on the same night.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Martin spent his early career on the Canadian independent circuit and wrestled under the gimmick of T.J. Thunder,<ref name="espn"/> a former bodyguard for Wayne Newton.<ref name="interview"/> He continued his training with Dory Funk Jr. at Funk's Funkin' Dojo, a training center in Ocala, Florida.<ref name="hof"/> In 1998, Martin wrestled for the World Wrestling Alliance (WWA) in Massachusetts.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He also took part in the final event of Wild West Wrestling in Saskatchewan, where he won a triangle match for the WWW Heavyweight Championship against Burke and John Cozman.<ref name="hof"/>

World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment (1998–2004)

The Corporation (1998–1999)

In May 1998, Martin signed with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).<ref name="test"/> He made his debut on the October 25, 1998 episode of Sunday Night Heat as an unnamed bodyguard for the band Mötley Crüe, who were performing on the show. In a scripted event, Martin threw an overzealous fan off the stage during the band's rehearsal.<ref name="hof"/> On the December 14 episode of Raw is War, he aligned himself with WWF Champion The Rock by attacking his rival, Triple H, establishing himself as a heel.<ref name="hof"/> Martin made his in-ring debut in a tag team match with The Rock on the following episode of Raw is War, defeating D-Generation X (Triple H and X-Pac) by disqualification after interference from Kane.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He soon joined The Corporation stable and received the ring name "Test", since he usually checked the mic saying "test...test..."<ref name="pwinsider"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On January 24, 1999, Test made his pay-per-view debut at the Royal Rumble, where he entered his first Royal Rumble match at number 21, but was eliminated by Steve Austin.<ref name="WWF1999">Template:Cite web</ref> At WrestleMania XV on March 28, Test and D'Lo Brown faced Jeff Jarrett and Owen Hart for the WWF Tag Team Championship in a losing effort.<ref name="pwi105-106">Template:Cite news</ref> After being removed from the Corporation, Test turned face and joined The Union, who were known to carry 2x4 boards of wood with them.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Union feuded with the Corporate Ministry and defeated them in an eight-man elimination tag team match at Over the Edge on May 23, before quietly disbanding.<ref name="WWF1999"/>

Relationship with Stephanie McMahon and T & A (1999–2000)

Test then began an on-screen relationship with Stephanie McMahon, leading to a "Love Her Or Leave Her" Greenwich Street Fight against her older brother Shane McMahon at SummerSlam on August 22,<ref name="pwinsider"/> which Test won for Shane's blessing.<ref name="pwi105-106"/> The couple were eventually engaged, but during the in-ring ceremony in November, Triple H showed a video revealing that he had drugged Stephanie and taken her to Las Vegas, Nevada, where they were married in a drive-through ceremony. Stephanie subsequently turned on Test by aligning herself with Triple H at Armageddon.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> For the remainder of the year, Test briefly feuded with D-Generation X,<ref name="WWF1999"/> and in early 2000, held the WWF Hardcore Championship for a month.<ref name="hardcore"/>

File:T & A Test and Albert - King of the Ring 2000 (cropped).jpg

Test (right) with Albert as T&A at King of the Ring in June 2000

In March 2000, Test turned heel and formed a tag team with Albert known as T & A (Test and Albert), with Trish Stratus as their manager.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They defeated Head Cheese (Al Snow and Steve Blackman) at WrestleMania 2000 on April 2 and The Dudley Boyz at Backlash on April 30.<ref name="pwi107-108">Template:Cite news</ref> At King of the Ring on June 25, T & A took part in a fatal four-way elimination match for the WWF Tag Team Championship, which was won by Edge & Christian.<ref name="pwi107-108"/> T & A and Stratus also feuded with The Hardy Boyz and Lita, whom they lost to in a six-person tag team match at Fully Loaded on July 23.<ref name="pwi107-108"/> At Survivor Series on November 19, T & A and Stratus lost to Blackman, Crash Holly and Molly Holly.<ref name="pwi107-108"/> On the December 28 episode of SmackDown!, Albert attacked Test at the orders of Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley, effectively disbanding T & A and turning Test face again.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Invasion and Un-Americans (2001–2002)

On the January 8, 2001 episode of Raw, Test lost to Albert and Stratus in a handicap match after interference from William Regal.<ref name="WWF2001">Template:Cite web</ref> He defeated Regal to win the WWF European Championship on the January 22 episode of Raw.<ref name="european"/> After successful defenses against the likes of Christian, Regal, Raven, and Eddie Guerrero,<ref name="WWF2001"/> he lost the title to Guerrero at WrestleMania X-Seven on April 1 after interference from Dean Malenko and Perry Saturn.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

During the Invasion storyline, Test developed a friendship with WCW owner Shane McMahon and helped him defeat Big Show in a Last Man Standing match at Backlash on April 29.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At Judgment Day on May 20, Test failed to win the Hardcore Championship from Rhyno in a triple threat hardcore match also involving Big Show.<ref name="pwi110-113">Template:Cite news</ref> He defeated Rhyno for the title on the June 14 episode of SmackDown!, but lost it in a rematch on the June 25 episode of Raw.<ref name="hardcore"/> Test remained loyal to the WWF until the August 9 episode of SmackDown!, when he joined The Alliance by helping Alliance members Chris Kanyon and Diamond Dallas Page defeat the APA (Bradshaw and Faarooq) for the WWF Tag Team Championship, turning heel once again.<ref name="WWF2001"/> At SummerSlam on August 19, Test and The Dudley Boyz defeated the APA and Spike Dudley.<ref name="pwi110-113"/> On the September 27 episode of SmackDown!, Test and Booker T won the WCW Tag Team Championship from The Brothers of Destruction (The Undertaker and Kane), but lost the titles to The Hardy Boyz on the October 8 episode of Raw.<ref name="WCWtag"/> At No Mercy on October 21, Test defeated Kane.<ref name="pwi110-113"/>

On the November 1 episode of SmackDown!, Test and Booker T defeated The Rock and Chris Jericho to win the WWF Tag Team Championship.<ref name="worldtag"/> Test also won the WWF Intercontinental Championship from Edge on the November 5 episode of Raw, becoming a double champion.<ref name="intercontinental"/> On the November 12 episode of Raw, Test and Booker T lost the WWF Tag Team Championship to The Hardy Boyz.<ref name="WWF2001"/> At Survivor Series on November 18, Test lost the Intercontinental Championship back to Edge in a unification match for the WCW United States Championship and the WWF Intercontinental Championship. Later that night, he won a battle royal which granted him on-screen immunity from being fired for a year.<ref name="pwi110-113"/> At No Way Out on February 17, 2002, Test and Booker T failed to win the WWF Tag Team Championship from Spike Dudley and Tazz.<ref name="pwi110-113"/>

File:Test signing autographs before WrestleMania X8, 2008 (cropped).jpg

Test in 2002

As part of the 2002 WWF draft lottery, Test was drafted to the SmackDown! brand.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He competed in the King of the Ring tournament, but lost to eventual winner Brock Lesnar in the semi-finals at the titular event on June 23.<ref name="pwi110-113"/> On the July 4 episode of SmackDown!, Test, Christian and Lance Storm formed The Un-Americans.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On the July 29 episode of Raw, The Un-Americans left SmackDown! and joined the Raw brand, where they attacked The Undertaker.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> At SummerSlam on August 25, Test lost to The Undertaker.<ref name="pwi110-113"/> After losing to the team of Kane, Goldust, Booker T and Bubba Ray Dudley at Unforgiven on September 22,<ref name="pwi110-113"/> The Un-Americans split in brawling fashion and disbanded on the September 30 episode of Raw.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Relationship with Stacy Keibler and departure (2002–2004)

On the October 21 episode of Raw, Test, now trading his trademark leather pants for normal wrestling trunks, defeated D-Lo Brown after a fast count from special guest referee Stacy Keibler.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He received Keibler as his on-screen girlfriend and "image consultant", who told him he should embrace his fanbase and call them his "Testicles", in line with The Rock's fan group, the "People", Kane's "Kaneanites", and Hulk Hogan's "Hulkamaniacs". This culminated with Test cutting off his long hair and turning face.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In March 2003, Test began teaming with Scott Steiner and feuded with La Résistance (René Duprée and Sylvain Grenier),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> whom they lost to at Judgment Day on May 18.<ref name="pwi115-116">Template:Cite news</ref>

Following Judgment Day, Test turned heel once again due to his mistreatment of Keibler,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> who parted ways with Test on the June 2 episode of Raw, despite being contractually obligated to remain as his manager.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He then announced his intentions to "make her his whore".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At Bad Blood on June 15, Steiner defeated Test for Keibler's managerial services.<ref name="pwi115-116"/> On the August 18 episode of Raw, Test defeated Steiner after feigning a knee injury to regain Keibler's services.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At Unforgiven on September 21, Test again defeated Steiner, forcing him to become his manservant.<ref name="pwi115-116"/> Two weeks later on Raw, after they failed to win the World Tag Team Championship from The Dudley Boyz, Steiner attacked Keibler, blaming her for the loss and for him having to take orders from Test.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Test quietly freed Steiner from his obligation and the pair treated Keibler like a slave.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On the December 1 episode of Raw, general manager Mick Foley fired Test and Steiner, freeing Keibler as their manager.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

At the Royal Rumble on January 25, 2004, Test was scheduled to enter the titular match at number 21, but was found knocked out backstage by officials and Raw Sheriff Stone Cold Steve Austin.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After it was revealed Foley attacked and replaced him, Test would gain revenge on the February 2 episode of Raw, when he and Randy Orton attacked Foley in a backstage area.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In July, Test had spinal fusion surgery performed by Dr. Lloyd Youngblood due to a neck injury, which was estimated to keep him out of action for a year.<ref name="pwinsider"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On November 1, it was announced that Test was released from his WWE contract.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Independent circuit (2005–2006)

Test made his in-ring return on May 28, 2005, for Italian Championship Wrestling (ICW), teaming with Billy Gunn to defeat Mideon and Tama.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At WrestleReunion 2 on August 27, Test participated in an eight-man tag team match alongside Steve Corino, The Masked Superstar and The Original Evil Clown, losing to D'Lo Brown, The Blue Meanie, Tom Prichard and Dusty Rhodes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On October 5, he appeared for World Series Wrestling (WSW) in Melbourne, defeating Samoa Joe.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Later that month, he began wrestling for the Nu-Wrestling Evolution promotion in Italy, where he remained until January 2006.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Return to WWE (2006–2007)

File:AndrewMartinECWLive.jpg

Test making his entrance on ECW

On March 22, 2006, WWE.com announced that Test had verbally agreed to return to WWE.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Starting on June 20, vignettes began to play during ECW on Sci Fi, announcing that Test was debuting on the ECW brand.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Test officially made his return on the July 4 episode of ECW, defeating Al Snow.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Later that month, Test aligned with the fellow ECW newcomers, Mike Knox, Big Show and Matt Striker to feud with the "ECW Originals", which consisted of Rob Van Dam, Sabu and The Sandman.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On the August 1 episode of ECW, Test and Knox defeated Sandman and Tommy Dreamer in an Extreme Rules match, with Test pinning Dreamer.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Under the Extreme Rules stipulation, Test and Knox lost to Sabu and Van Dam on the September 5 episode of ECW,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Test defeated Van Dam on the October 3 episode of ECW.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At Survivor Series on November 26, Test was a member of Team Big Show (Big Show, himself, Montel Vontavious Porter, Finlay and Umaga), losing to Team Cena (John Cena, Kane, Bobby Lashley, Sabu and Van Dam).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

File:Test (Andrew Martin).jpg

Test at December to Dismember in December 2006

At December to Dismember on December 3, Test competed in the Extreme Elimination Chamber match for the ECW World Championship, eliminating Hardcore Holly and Van Dam, before being pinned by Lashley, the eventual winner.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On the January 16, 2007 episode of ECW, Test competed in a triple threat match for the ECW World Championship, which Lashley won.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Test failed to win the title from Lashley the following week,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and at the Royal Rumble on January 28, when he got himself counted out.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Two nights later on ECW, Test once again failed to win the ECW World Championship from Lashley in his final televised match in the company.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On February 18, WWE commentator Jim Ross confirmed on his blog that Test had been suspended for 30 days for violating the WWE "Wellness Program".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Test was officially released from his WWE contract on February 27.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Martin released a statement through his MySpace saying that the release was mutual and he had requested it.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2007)

Martin debuted in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) as a face under his real name on the August 2, 2007 episode of TNA Impact!. He allied himself with Abyss and Sting and helped them defeat A.J. Styles and Christian Cage in a tag team ladder match.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At Hard Justice on August 12, Martin wrestled his first and only match for TNA, teaming with Sting and Abyss to defeat Christian's Coalition (Cage, Tomko, and Styles) in a Doomsday Chamber of Blood match.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Later career (2007–2009)

On December 19, 2007, Martin announced that he would embark on a final tour of Ireland before retiring from professional wrestling in March 2008.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He spent his retirement tour wrestling for American Wrestling Rampage (AWR), facing the likes of Gangrel, The Sandman and René Duprée, whom he lost to in seven consecutive matches in November.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> However, Martin wrestled two more matches in Japan in 2009, defeating Lance Hoyt on February 1 and Mitsuya Nagai on February 3.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Personal life

Martin dated WWE Diva Stacy Keibler from 2001 until 2005.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was also in a two-year relationship with Barbara Blank, better known in WWE as Kelly Kelly, that ended weeks before his death in March 2009.<ref name="pwinsider"/>

On September 14, 2007, and April 5, 2008, Martin was arrested for driving under the influence in Hillsborough County and Pasco County, Florida. He was booked into jail both times, but was released the following day after posting bail.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In August 2008, Martin entered a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in West Palm Beach, Florida, after reaching out to WWE, his former employer, for help regarding his substance abuse.<ref name="tbt"/>

Death

On March 13, 2009, Martin was found dead in his Tampa, Florida apartment, four days prior to what would have been his 34th birthday.<ref name="pwinsider">Template:Cite web</ref> A neighbor noticed Martin had been lying motionless on his couch for some time, prompting them to call authorities.<ref name="tbt">Template:Cite web</ref> Painkillers and steroids were found in his apartment, and he appeared to have died during a meal since a half-eaten pizza and soda were found near his body.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Toxicology analysis would reveal that Martin's death was caused by an accidental overdose of the prescription pain medication oxycodone.<ref name="tbt"/> His body was cremated and his remains were flown to his family in his hometown of Whitby.<ref name="tbt"/>

Forensic pathologist Bennet Omalu later examined Martin's brain and determined that he suffered from severe chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a brain condition caused by repeated concussions and subconcussive head injuries. Fellow Canadian wrestler and one of Martin's idols, Chris Benoit, also suffered from CTE before his death in June 2007, and it was theorized to be a factor in Benoit's double-murder and suicide.<ref name="espn">Template:Cite web</ref>

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2001	Biography	Himself	Documentary; episode: "The Life and Death of Owen Hart"
2001	18 Wheels of Justice	Nicolas James Barton	Episode: "The Cage"
2002	Fear Factor	Himself	Television series<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2002	Kim Possible	Steel Toe (voice)	Episode: "Pain King vs. Cleopatra"
2003	Girls Gone Wild: Live from Spring Break	Himself	Music video<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2003	The New Tom Green Show	Himself	Television series<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2007	Grindhouse	Nazi Boxer	Film; segment: "Werewolf Women of the SS"; uncredited
2010	Medium Raw: Night of the Wolf	Benjamin Jacobs	Television film; posthumous release<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Championships and accomplishments

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • Ranked No. 37 of the 500 top singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2001<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Wild West Wrestling
  • WWW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)<ref name="hof"/>
• World Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Entertainment
  • WWF Intercontinental Championship (1 time)<ref name="intercontinental">Template:Cite web</ref>
  • WWF European Championship (1 time)<ref name="european">Template:Cite web</ref>
  • WWF Hardcore Championship (2 times)<ref name="hardcore">Template:Cite web</ref>
  • WWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Booker T<ref name="worldtag">Template:Cite web</ref>
  • WCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Booker T<ref name="WCWtag">Template:Cite web</ref>

See also

• List of premature professional wrestling deaths

External links

• Template:IMDb name
• Template:Professional wrestling profiles