Test | |
|---|---|
 Test at an ECW live event in 2007 | |
| Born | Andrew James Robert Patrick Martin (1975-03-17)March 17, 1975 Whitby, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | March 13, 2009(2009-03-13) (aged 33) Tampa, Florida, U.S. |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active |
|
| Partner(s) | Stacy Keibler (2001–2005) Barbara Blank (2007–2009) |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Andrew Martin Martin Kane[1] T.J. Thunder[1] Test |
| Billed height | 6 ft 6 in (198 cm)[2] |
| Billed weight | 285 lb (129 kg)[2] |
| Billed from | Toronto, Ontario, Canada[2] |
| Trained by | Leo Burke[1] Dory Funk Jr.[1] Bret Hart[1] |
| Debut | October 26, 1997 |
Andrew James Robert Patrick Martin (March 17, 1975 – March 13, 2009) was a Canadianprofessional wrestler and actor. He was best known for his tenures withWorld Wrestling Federation/Entertainment (WWF/WWE) where he competed under thering nameTest.
After training underBret Hart andLeo Burke, Martin began wrestling on the Canadianindependent circuit in 1997. The following year, he signed with the WWF (now WWE) and initially debuted as an unnamed bodyguard, before adopting the nameTest. During his nine-year tenure, he won theWWE European Championship andWWE Intercontinental Championship once each, theWWE Hardcore Championship twice, and theWCW World Tag Team Championship andWWE World Tag Team Championship withBooker T once each. Martin left WWE in 2004, but returned from 2006-2007 to wrestle on theECW brand. After he briefly appeared forTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) in 2007, Martin would continue wrestling sporadically on the independent circuit until his death in 2009.
Martin was born on March 17, 1975, inWhitby, Ontario,[1] the son of Robert and Margaret Martin.[3] He was the youngest of three children.[4] He attendedHenry Street High School, where he played football, hockey, lacrosse and rugby.[5][6] In the mid-1990s, Martin worked as abouncer andbartender inOshawa.[5][7]
In 1997, while at aPlanet Hollywood restaurant at theSkyDome inToronto, Martin metWWF Canada presidentCarl De Marco, who introduced him toBret Hart. After Hart offered to train him to wrestle, Martin quit both of his jobs and spent eight months training under both Hart andLeo Burke.[5] He made his professional wrestling debut for theInternational Wrestling Alliance (IWA) on October 26, 1997, under thering name Martin Kane, defeating Jamal Hughes and winning abattle royal on the same night.[8]
Martin spent his early career on the Canadianindependent circuit and wrestled under thegimmick of T.J. Thunder,[9] a formerbodyguard forWayne Newton.[7] He continued his training withDory Funk Jr. at Funk's Funkin' Dojo, a training center inOcala, Florida.[1] In 1998, Martin wrestled for theWorld Wrestling Alliance (WWA) in Massachusetts.[10] He also took part in the final event of Wild West Wrestling inSaskatchewan, where he won atriangle match for the WWW Heavyweight Championship against Burke andJohn Cozman.[1]
In May 1998, Martin signed with theWorld Wrestling Federation (WWF).[5] He made his debut on the October 25, 1998 episode ofSunday Night Heat as an unnamed bodyguard for the bandMötley Crüe, who were performing on the show. In a scripted event, Martin threw an overzealous fan off the stage during the band's rehearsal.[1] On the December 14 episode ofRaw is War, he aligned himself withWWF ChampionThe Rock by attacking his rival,Triple H, establishing himself as aheel.[1] Martin made his in-ring debut in atag team match with The Rock on the following episode ofRaw is War, defeatingD-Generation X (Triple H andX-Pac) by disqualification after interference fromKane.[11] He soon joinedThe Corporationstable and received the ring name "Test", since he usuallychecked the mic saying "test...test..."[12][13]
On January 24, 1999, Test made hispay-per-view debut at theRoyal Rumble, where he entered his firstRoyal Rumble match at number 21, but was eliminated bySteve Austin.[14] AtWrestleMania XV on March 28, Test andD'Lo Brown facedJeff Jarrett andOwen Hart for theWWF Tag Team Championship in a losing effort.[15] After being removed from the Corporation, Test turnedface and joinedThe Union, who were known to carry 2x4 boards of wood with them.[16] The Unionfeuded with theCorporate Ministry and defeated them in an eight-manelimination tag team match atOver the Edge on May 23, before quietly disbanding.[14]
Test then began an on-screen relationship withStephanie McMahon, leading to a "Love Her Or Leave Her"GreenwichStreet Fight against her older brotherShane McMahon atSummerSlam on August 22,[12] which Test won for Shane's blessing.[15] 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 toLas Vegas, Nevada, where they were married in adrive-through ceremony. Stephanie subsequently turned on Test by aligning herself with Triple H atArmageddon.[17] For the remainder of the year, Test briefly feuded with D-Generation X,[14] and in early 2000, held theWWF Hardcore Championship for a month.[18]
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In March 2000, Test turned heel and formed atag team withAlbert known asT & A (Test and Albert), withTrish Stratus as theirmanager.[19] They defeated Head Cheese (Al Snow andSteve Blackman) atWrestleMania 2000 on April 2 andThe Dudley Boyz atBacklash on April 30.[20] AtKing 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 byEdge & Christian.[20] T & A and Stratus also feuded withThe Hardy Boyz andLita, whom they lost to in a six-person tag team match atFully Loaded on July 23.[20] AtSurvivor Series on November 19, T & A and Stratus lost to Blackman,Crash Holly andMolly Holly.[20] On the December 28 episode ofSmackDown!, Albert attacked Test at the orders of Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley, effectively disbanding T & A and turning Test face again.[21]
On the January 8, 2001 episode ofRaw, Test lost to Albert and Stratus in ahandicap match after interference fromWilliam Regal.[22] He defeated Regal to win theWWF European Championship on the January 22 episode ofRaw.[23] After successful defenses against the likes ofChristian, Regal,Raven, andEddie Guerrero,[22] he lost the title to Guerrero atWrestleMania X-Seven on April 1 after interference fromDean Malenko andPerry Saturn.[24]
During theInvasion storyline, Test developed a friendship withWCW owner Shane McMahon and helped him defeatBig Show in aLast Man Standing match atBacklash on April 29.[25] AtJudgment Day on May 20, Test failed to win the Hardcore Championship fromRhyno in a triple threathardcore match also involving Big Show.[26] He defeated Rhyno for the title on the June 14 episode ofSmackDown!, but lost it in a rematch on the June 25 episode ofRaw.[18] Test remained loyal to the WWF until the August 9 episode ofSmackDown!, when he joinedThe Alliance by helping Alliance membersChris Kanyon andDiamond Dallas Page defeat theAPA (Bradshaw andFaarooq) for the WWF Tag Team Championship, turning heel once again.[22] AtSummerSlam on August 19, Test and The Dudley Boyz defeated the APA andSpike Dudley.[26] On the September 27 episode ofSmackDown!, Test andBooker T won theWCW Tag Team Championship fromThe Brothers of Destruction (The Undertaker andKane), but lost the titles to The Hardy Boyz on the October 8 episode ofRaw.[27] AtNo Mercy on October 21, Test defeated Kane.[26]
On the November 1 episode ofSmackDown!, Test and Booker T defeated The Rock andChris Jericho to win the WWF Tag Team Championship.[28] Test also won theWWF Intercontinental Championship fromEdge on the November 5 episode ofRaw, becoming a double champion.[29] On the November 12 episode ofRaw, Test and Booker T lost the WWF Tag Team Championship to The Hardy Boyz.[22] AtSurvivor Series on November 18, Test lost the Intercontinental Championship back to Edge in aunification match for theWCW 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.[26] AtNo Way Out on February 17, 2002, Test and Booker T failed to win the WWF Tag Team Championship from Spike Dudley andTazz.[26]
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As part of the2002 WWF draft lottery, Test was drafted to the SmackDown! brand.[30] He competed in theKing of the Ring tournament, but lost to eventual winnerBrock Lesnar in the semi-finals at thetitular event on June 23.[26] On the July 4 episode ofSmackDown!, Test, Christian andLance Storm formedThe Un-Americans.[31] On the July 29 episode ofRaw, The Un-Americans left SmackDown! and joined the Raw brand, where they attackedThe Undertaker.[32] AtSummerSlam on August 25, Test lost to The Undertaker.[26] After losing to the team of Kane, Goldust, Booker T and Bubba Ray Dudley atUnforgiven on September 22,[26] The Un-Americans split in brawling fashion and disbanded on the September 30 episode ofRaw.[33]
On the October 21 episode ofRaw, Test, now trading his trademark leather pants for normal wrestling trunks, defeated D-Lo Brown after a fast count fromspecial guest refereeStacy Keibler.[34] He received Keibler as his on-screen girlfriend and "imageconsultant", 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", andHulk Hogan's "Hulkamaniacs". This culminated with Test cutting off his long hair and turning face.[35][36] In March 2003, Test began teaming withScott Steiner and feuded withLa Résistance (René Duprée andSylvain Grenier),[37][38] whom they lost to atJudgment Day on May 18.[39]
Following Judgment Day, Test turned heel once again due to his mistreatment of Keibler,[40][41] who parted ways with Test on the June 2 episode ofRaw, despite being contractually obligated to remain as his manager.[42] He then announced his intentions to "make her hiswhore".[43] AtBad Blood on June 15, Steiner defeated Test for Keibler's managerial services.[39] On the August 18 episode ofRaw, Test defeated Steiner after feigning a knee injury to regain Keibler's services.[44] AtUnforgiven on September 21, Test again defeated Steiner, forcing him to become hismanservant.[39] Two weeks later onRaw, 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.[45][46] Test quietly freed Steiner from his obligation and the pair treated Keibler like a slave.[47] On the December 1 episode ofRaw,general managerMick Foley fired Test and Steiner, freeing Keibler as their manager.[48]
At theRoyal Rumble on January 25, 2004, Test was scheduled to enter the titular match at number 21, but was found knocked out backstage by officials andRaw Sheriff Stone Cold Steve Austin.[49] After it was revealed Foley attacked and replaced him, Test would gain revenge on the February 2 episode ofRaw, when he andRandy Orton attacked Foley in a backstage area.[50] In July, Test hadspinal fusion surgery performed by Dr.Lloyd Youngblood due to a neck injury, which was estimated to keep him out of action for a year.[12][51] On November 1, it was announced that Test was released from his WWE contract.[52]
Test made his in-ring return on May 28, 2005, for Italian Championship Wrestling (ICW), teaming withBilly Gunn to defeatMideon andTama.[53] AtWrestleReunion 2 on August 27, Test participated in an eight-man tag team match alongsideSteve Corino,The Masked Superstar andThe Original Evil Clown, losing to D'Lo Brown,The Blue Meanie,Tom Prichard andDusty Rhodes.[54] On October 5, he appeared forWorld Series Wrestling (WSW) inMelbourne, defeatingSamoa Joe.[55] Later that month, he began wrestling for the Nu-Wrestling Evolution promotion in Italy, where he remained until January 2006.[56]
On March 22, 2006, WWE.com announced that Test had verbally agreed to return to WWE.[57] Starting on June 20,vignettes began to play duringECW on Sci Fi, announcing that Test was debuting on theECW brand.[58][59] Test officially made his return on the July 4 episode ofECW, defeatingAl Snow.[60] Later that month, Test aligned with the fellow ECW newcomers,Mike Knox,Big Show andMatt Striker to feud with the "ECW Originals", which consisted ofRob Van Dam,Sabu andThe Sandman.[61][62] On the August 1 episode ofECW, Test and Knox defeated Sandman andTommy Dreamer in anExtreme Rules match, with Test pinning Dreamer.[63] Under the Extreme Rules stipulation, Test and Knox lost toSabu and Van Dam on the September 5 episode ofECW,[64] and Test defeated Van Dam on the October 3 episode ofECW.[65] AtSurvivor Series on November 26, Test was a member of Team Big Show (Big Show, himself,Montel Vontavious Porter,Finlay andUmaga), losing to Team Cena (John Cena,Kane,Bobby Lashley, Sabu and Van Dam).[66]
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AtDecember to Dismember on December 3, Test competed in theExtreme Elimination Chamber match for theECW World Championship, eliminatingHardcore Holly and Van Dam, before being pinned by Lashley, the eventual winner.[67] On the January 16, 2007 episode ofECW, Test competed in a triple threat match for the ECW World Championship, which Lashley won.[68] Test failed to win the title from Lashley the following week,[69] and at theRoyal Rumble on January 28, when he got himself counted out.[70] Two nights later onECW, Test once again failed to win the ECW World Championship from Lashley; and afterwards tried attacking Lashley with a steel chair only to be choke-slammed byThe Undertaker, who was trying to intimidate Lashley. This would end up being his final televised match in the company.[71]
On February 18, WWE commentatorJim Ross confirmed on his blog that Test had been suspended for 30 days for violating the WWE "Wellness Program".[72] Test was officially released from his WWE contract on February 27.[73] Martin released a statement through hisMySpace saying that the release was mutual and he had requested it.[74]
Martin debuted inTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) as aface under his real name on the August 2, 2007 episode ofTNA Impact!. He allied himself withAbyss andSting and helped them defeatA.J. Styles andChristian Cage in a tag team ladder match.[75] AtHard Justice on August 12, Martin wrestled his first and only match for TNA, teaming with Sting and Abyss to defeatChristian's Coalition (Cage,Tomko, and Styles) in aDoomsday Chamber of Blood match.[76]
On December 19, 2007, Martin announced that he would embark on a final tour of Ireland before retiring from professional wrestling in March 2008.[77] He spent his retirement tour wrestling for American Wrestling Rampage (AWR), facing the likes ofGangrel, The Sandman andRené Duprée, whom he lost to in seven consecutive matches in November.[78] However, Martin wrestled two more matches in Japan in 2009, defeatingLance Hoyt on February 1 andMitsuya Nagai on February 3.[79]
Martin dated WWE DivaStacy Keibler from 2001 until 2005.[80] He was also in a two-year relationship with Barbara Blank, better known in WWE asKelly Kelly, that ended weeks before his death in March 2009.[12]
On September 14, 2007, and April 5, 2008, Martin was arrested fordriving under the influence inHillsborough County andPasco County, Florida. He was booked into jail both times, but was released the following day after postingbail.[81][82][83] In August 2008, Martin entered a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center inWest Palm Beach, Florida, after reaching out to WWE, his former employer, for help regarding his substance abuse.[4]
On March 13, 2009, Martin was found dead in hisTampa, Florida apartment, four days prior to what would have been his 34th birthday.[12] A neighbor noticed Martin had been lying motionless on his couch for some time, prompting them to call authorities.[4] 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.[84] Toxicology analysis revealed that Martin's death was caused by an accidental overdose of the prescription pain medicationoxycodone.[4] His body was cremated and his remains were flown to his family in his hometown of Whitby.[4]
Forensic pathologistBennet Omalu later examined Martin's brain and determined that he suffered from severechronic 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'sdouble-murder and suicide.[9]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Biography | Himself | Documentary; episode: "The Life and Death ofOwen Hart" |
| 2001 | 18 Wheels of Justice | Nicolas James Barton | Episode: "The Cage" |
| 2002 | Fear Factor | Himself | Television series[85] |
| 2002 | Kim Possible | Steel Toe (voice) | Episode: "Pain King vs. Cleopatra" |
| 2003 | Girls Gone Wild: Live from Spring Break | Himself | Music video[86] |
| 2003 | TheNew Tom Green Show | Himself | Television series[87] |
| 2007 | Grindhouse | Nazi Boxer | Film; segment: "Werewolf Women of theSS"; uncredited |
| 2010 | Medium Raw: Night of the Wolf | Benjamin Jacobs | Television film; posthumous release[88] |
Yes, Test has been suspended for violating the WWE Wellness Program. I assume this is a 30 violation.
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