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Friend Of 'Test' In Shock Over Pro Wrestler's Death

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By KEITH MORELLI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 16, 2009

Updated: 03/16/2009 07:01 pm

Andrew "Test" Martin

TAMPA - Friends of Andrew Martin, a professional wrestler known in the ring as "Test," are in shock today, trying to come to terms with how a bigger-than-life man who loved to ride his Harley to the beach and body slam opponents ended up dead in his Harbour Island home.

Prescription drugs including painkillers and steroids were found in Martin's home, Tampa police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said today.

"We're awaiting the toxicology report to determine if any of those painkillers and steroids played a role in his death," McElroy said.

Police do not suspect foul play.

A cause of death won't be known for weeks, said Dick Bailey, spokesman for the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner's Office, which performed Martin's autopsy over the weekend.

It was the lack of state income tax, the weather and proximity to Tampa International Airport that led Martin, along with several other professional wrestlers, to the Tampa Bay area, said one of Martin's best friends, Brent Hatley.

Hatley, executive producer of the "Bubba The Love Sponge" radio show on WHPT, 102.5 FM, said he has known Martin for almost a decade. Martin was a guest on the morning show from time to time, "basically, whenever he wanted," Hatley said.

Hatley and Martin developed a strong friendship, Hatley said this morning.

"We used to hang out all the time. Andrew was just a good personal friend of mine," Hatley said.

Martin's unexpected death was a shock, Hatley said.

"It's a huge loss," he said. "When I found out about it, I was floored, completely shocked, filled with sorrow … and guilt."

Hatley said he went to the Southeastern Conference men's basketball tournament about 6:30 p.m. Friday at the St. Pete Times Forum.

When attending events at the Forum, Hatley usually parks at Martin's nearby home and walks from there. But he didn't do that Friday night.

"Usually, I'd stop in to see how he's doing," Hatley said. "If I would have stopped by there, I might have gotten him to the hospital."

Martin was found dead about 8 p.m. Friday, police said. The 33-year-old had appeared with World Wrestling Entertainment intermittently from the late 1990s until 2007. He also wrestled with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.

Hatley said Martin had just returned from wrestling in Japan and was to have left today for Europe. Tuesday would have been Martin's 34th birthday.

"He had been doing really well," Hatley said.

Martin had been training in Tampa, working out with mixed marshal arts fighters.

Without speculating on the cause of death, Hatley pointed to the number of other professional wrestlers who have died young, including Brian "Crush" Adams, 43; Eddie Guerrero, 38, and Curt Hennig, 44. The list is long. Some deaths are attributed to abuse of performance enhancement drugs, some to just the physical demands of the job.

"Andrew, along with these other guys, are big. He was 6-foot-8 and weighted about 285 pounds," Hatley said.

Their size, athleticism and work schedules all add to the physical stress, he said.

"These guys wrestle four to five nights a week," he said.

Martin, a native of Whitby, Ontario, liked doing things outside when he wasn't in the ring. He rode his motorcycle around town and loved to skip over the waves in personal water crafts.

"He was big hockey fan, being from Canada," Hatley said.

"He was a great friend, one of the most honest people I've ever met."

Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760.

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