Another One Bites The Dust

I guess that's a pretty flippant post title for writing about someone dying but really, when you've been a pro wrestling fan as long as I have, there are very few deaths in that industry that surprise you anymore. Sure, the Eddie one was a surprise and the Benoit thing was the ultimate of gut punches but moments ago when I read the below, all I could think was, "Here we go again."

FORMER WWE STAR ANDREW 'TEST' MARTIN FOUND DEAD AT AGE 33

PWInsider.com is sad to report that former WWE star 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.

It's a shame. He was out of the business and had made a lot of internet postings about how he was happy to be out due to all the pounding his body had taken. He had also talked a lot about the drug use in the past and present in the major promotions and seemed to be one of few "active" guys willing to discuss it.

At 33, I'd be a little surprised if this was your typical drug-battered heart giving out. Maybe an OD? Maybe a suicide? The above article goes on to state that he recently broke up with Kelly Kelly so maybe there was some depression. Who knows. I'm sure the details will come out in the days ahead.

I still remember his debut on Raw as a "bodyguard" for Motley Crue. He had quite the roller coaster career with highlights being the T&A team with Albert and Trish Stratus, the run as Steph's fiancee [a role that really should have cemented him in the upper echelon for years but instead got undercut], the Un-Americans... even his last run in ECW was interesting. I always kinda dug Test in the ring and thought he had a lot more potential than ever really got shown to the masses.

Another one gone too soon. R.I.P. Andrew Martin.