Source: PWInsider.com
Andrew “Test” Martin was found dead in his apartment in Tampa, Florida at the age of 33, just four days shy of his 34th birthday. We don’t have much in the way of details at this time. Tampa area authorities have declined to officially confirm it is Martin they found but word within the industry has been widespread the last few hours.
After departing WWE, Martin made several appearances for TNA in the summer of 2007, billed as “The Punisher” Andrew Martin, teaming with Sting and Abyss in a a winning bout against AJ Styles, Christian and Tomko. With a feeling his huge physique was neon sign for the impending United States Congress investigation into the business following the Benoit family tragedy and also a feeling that his attitude didn’t jibe well with the TNA locker room, he wasn’t signed and was never brought back.
Through his Myspace.com account, Martin would often write about different views on the wrestling business and was critical of what WWE’s developmental program had turned into after it was moved to Florida. In one blog, he complained that too many of the students would care too much about partying and not enough about studying tapes and learning the business. One talent signed to WWE who was stationed in FCW at the time responded that other than dropping Kelly Kelly (who he was dating) off, Martin had never actually come to the facility.
Martin was arrested for a DUI in April 2008. The police report at the time claimed Martin failed a field sobriety test and that he continued to fall asleep in the arresting officer’s vehicle after being taken into custody. At the time, The Tampa Tribune noted that he had a history of traffic violations but Martin responded, “Considering I don’t drink alcohol or do drugs I don’t know how the DUI is going to stand.” When the newspaper asked Martin if he was still a wrestler, he commented that it was something he “didn’t want to get into.”
As noted, in recent years, Martin had been dating WWE Raw Diva Kelly Kelly and at one point, he publicly praised her for saving his life when he had a medical emergency, believed by some to have been an OD. According to those I spoke to tonight, the two had split recently, about 6-8 weeks back. Although Martin had pushed that he was retiring from the business as far back as December 2007, he was still making appearances overseas. As recently as last month, he worked in Japan on shows promoted by Big Van Vader and was scheduled to leave this week for a European tour of several countries.
