Andrew Martin

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.

Martin spent his early career on the Canadian independent circuit and wrestled under the gimmick of T.J. Thunder, 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. He soon joined The Corporation stable and received the ring name "Test", since he usually checked the mic saying "test...test..."

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. 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. After being removed from the Corporation, Test turned face and joined The Union, who were known to carry 2x4 boards of wood with them. 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. For the remainder of the year, Test briefly feuded with D-Generation X, They defeated Head Cheese (Al Snow and Steve Blackman) at WrestleMania 2000 on April 2 and The Dudley Boyz at Backlash on April 30. 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.

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. Test defeated Regal to win the WWF European Championship on the January 22 episode of Raw.

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. 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. Test 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. Test 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. On the July 29 episode of Raw, The Un-Americans left SmackDown! and joined the Raw brand, where they attacked The Undertaker. At SummerSlam on August 25, Test lost to The Undertaker.

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. Test 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. In March 2003, Test began teaming with Scott Steiner and feuded with La Résistance (René Duprée and Sylvain Grenier), whom they lost to at Judgment Day on May 18.

Following Judgment Day, Test turned heel once again due to his mistreatment of Keibler, who parted ways with Test on the June 2 episode of Raw, despite being contractually obligated to remain as his manager. Test then announced his intentions to "make her his whore". At Bad Blood on June 15, Steiner defeated Test for Keibler's managerial services. At Unforgiven on September 21, Test again defeated Steiner, forcing him to become his manservant. Test quietly freed Steiner from his obligation and the pair treated Keibler like a slave. On the December 1 episode of Raw, general manager Mick Foley fired Test and Steiner, freeing Keibler as their manager.

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. 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. 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. On November 1, it was announced that Test was released from his WWE contract.

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. 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. On October 5, he appeared for World Series Wrestling (WSW) in Melbourne, defeating Samoa Joe. Later that month, he began wrestling for the Nu-Wrestling Evolution promotion in Italy, where he remained until January 2006.

Return to WWE (2006–2007)

On March 22, 2006, WWE.com announced that Test had verbally agreed to return to WWE. Starting on June 20, vignettes began to play during ECW on Sci Fi, announcing that Test was debuting on the ECW brand. Test officially made his return on the July 4 episode of ECW, defeating Al Snow. 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 Tommy Dreamer, Rob Van Dam, Sabu and The Sandman. On the August 1 episode of ECW, Test and Knox defeated Sandman and Tommy Dreamer in an Extreme Rules match, with Test pinning Dreamer. Under the Extreme Rules stipulation, Test and Knox lost to Sabu and Van Dam on the September 5 episode of ECW, and Test defeated Van Dam on the October 3 episode of ECW. 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).

At December to Dismember on December 3, Test competed in the Extreme Elimination Chamber match for the ECW World Championship, eliminating Hardcore Holly and Rob Van Dam, before being pinned by Bobby Lashley, the eventual winner. On the January 16, 2007 episode of ECW, Test competed in a triple threat match for the ECW World Championship, which Lashley won. Test failed to win the title from Lashley the following week, and at the Royal Rumble on January 28, when he got himself counted out. Two nights later on ECW, 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 by The Undertaker, who was trying to intimidate Lashley. This would end up being his final televised match in the company.

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". Test was officially released from his WWE contract on February 27. Martin released a statement through his MySpace saying that the release was mutual and he had requested it.

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. 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.

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. 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. However, Martin wrestled two more matches in Japan in 2009, defeating Lance Hoyt on February 1 and Mitsuya Nagai on February 3.

Personal life Martin dated WWE Diva Stacy Keibler from 2001 until 2005. 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. 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. A neighbor noticed Martin had been lying motionless on his couch for some time, prompting them to call authorities. 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. Toxicology analysis revealed that Martin's death was caused by an accidental overdose of the prescription pain medication oxycodone.

Filmography

Championships and accomplishments Pro Wrestling Illustrated Ranked No. 37 of the 500 top singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2001 Wild West Wrestling WWW Heavyweight Championship (1 time) WWF European Championship (1 time) WWF Hardcore Championship (2 times) WWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Booker T WCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Booker T