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Multiple sources, including Dave Meltzer and PWinsider.com's Mike Johnson; are reporting that Andrew "Test" Martin was found dead in his apartment in Tampa.
Martin was 33 years old. He was 4 days away from his 34th birthday on
St. Patrick's Day. No further details are available at this time.
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Former WWE wrestler found dead in Tampa
Andrew "Test" Martin was 33
By: Ric Russo / MyFox Tampa Bay
TAMPA - Another former professional wrestler with ties to the Bay Area has been found dead.
Andrew James Martin, better known to fans as 'Test,' was found dead in his apartment in Hillsborough County according to a release issued by the Tampa Police Department.
Foul play is not suspected.
Officers were dispatched to Martin's unit at the Post Harbour complex just after 8 p.m. Friday to conduct a welfare check.
A neighbor contacted authorities after observing a motionless Martin, 33, through a window over a span of several hours.
TPD officers entered the apartment and found the former World Wrestling Entertainment performer to be deceased.
Martin, who worked as a bouncer in his native Canada before being discovered, joined the WWE in 1998. He won several of the organization's major championships before suffering a severe back injury.
In July 2004 Martin underwent spinal fusion surgery and was released from his WWE contract a few months later.
He attempted several comebacks, most recently with the TNA organization, but health problems forced Martin to announce his retirement in December 2007.
Martin also ran afoul of the law on two occassions since calling it quits, getting arrested on driving under the influence charges in both Pasco and Hillsborough counties.
The official cause of death is not known at this time. An autopsy will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death.
Martin is the fourth former professional wrestlers to pass away in the Bay Area in the past two years.
- Scott 'Bam Bam' Bigelow, 46, was found dead of a drug overdose in his Pasco County home on January 19, 2007.
- Mike Alfonso - who wrestled under the moniker Mike Awesome - committed suicide in his Hillsborough County home on February 17, 2007. He was 42.
- Brian Adams, 44, died of a drug overdose in his Tampa home in August 2007. He performed under several names in his professional wrestling career, working mostly as a tag-team wrestler.
In February 2003, Curt Henning, who wrestled as 'Mr. Perfect,' during
his stint with the WWE, was found dead in a Tampa hotel room. He was scheduled
to wrestle at the Fairgrounds the day he died; the official cause of death
in that case was determined to be cocaine intoxication.
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"You were my world my best friend the one i always
ran to u were always there for me..what happened to our plan...Why did
god take u away from me...my heart is always with u and u only..I know
your in heaven watching over me now my angel..."
The
Real Barbie Blank aka Kelly Kelly
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Prescription painkillers and steroids found in apartment
of dead pro wrestler Andrew "Test" Martin
By EIisabeth Parker, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Tuesday, March 17, 2009
TAMPA — Today would have been Andrew Martin's 34th birthday.
The professional wrestler known as "Test" planned to leave Monday to celebrate in France, Sweden and Belgium, according to his MySpace page.
But authorities found his body Friday night at about 8 o'clock. Officers have since disclosed that they discovered prescription drugs, including painkillers and steroids in the Harbour Place apartment.
A neighbor had become suspicious after watching him lie motionless on a couch for hours and called police. It appeared Mr. Martin was in the middle of a meal when he died, said police spokeswoman Laura McElroy. There was a half-eaten pizza and soda nearby.
Officers do not suspect foul play. There were no signs of trauma to Mr. Martin, she said. "He was obviously very healthy, McElroy said. The mystery of his death will likely be solved by his toxicology report.
Mr. Martin last performed for the World Wide Entertainment wrestling show in February 2007.
Fans have been speculating on numerous Web sites about why professional wrestlers have died young, including two locally.
Former professional wrestler Brian "Crush" Adams, 44, died Aug. 13, 2007, in his New Tampa home. An autopsy report found a mix of prescription drugs, a pain reliever, muscle relaxer and anxiety medication.
And on Jan. 19, 2007, ex-wrestler Scott Charles "Bam Bam" Bigelow, 45, died in his home in Hudson. Cause of death: multiple drugs, an autopsy revealed.
Many wrestling deaths cite coronary problems, which can be linked to excessive steroid use. Pro wrestlers are not tested for performance-enhancing drugs such as steroids.
The job is gruelling, and requires long days and the ability to work while injured.
More than 40 fans and friends left messages on Mr. Martin's MySpace page.
One remembered watching Mr. Martin exhibit self control when a fan "spat in your face and you were cool enough to stop the security guards from throwing him out for the sake of the kids who came with him so they could stay at the show."
On his page, Mr. Martin listed his dad as his hero and that "a good scary movie on the couch with my girl is a good night."
Elisabeth Parker can be reached at eparker@sptimes.com or (813)226-3431.
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Test killed by 'Hillbilly heroin'
MIKE ALDREN and SIMON ROTHSTEIN
Published: Today
FORMER WWE wrestler Andrew 'Test' Martin died after overdosing on the painkiller known as 'hillbilly heroin', The Sun can reveal.
The Hillsborough County medical examiner announced that the cause was Oxycodone intoxication and ruled the manner of death was accidental overdose.
Oxycodone is the addictive ingredient found in the painkiller OxyContin.
The pill, dubbed Hillbilly Heroin, is widely abused and linked to hundreds of deaths in the US including that of including that of Test's fellow wrestler Sensational Sherri Martel and Hollywood Actor Heath Ledger.
The grappler was found dead at his apartment in Tampa, Florida, on March 14.
Police say a neighbour reported that she could see into his apartment window and that Martin appeared motionless for several hours.
During his time with World Wrestling Entertainment, Martin held the intercontinental, European and Hardcore belts. He was also a tag team champion.
