Here are some more great reader comments and stories about the late Andrew ‘Test’ Martin. Thanks so much for all the feedback! I’m sure he’s looking down reading all of these!
It’s hard to say even hello to begin… My name is Sébastien Després, I am a thirty year old french fan of wrestling since my childhood. I am terribly saddened by the news of Mr Martin’s death, all the more because I saw him wrestle on November the 11th in Lyons, France on the American Wrestling Extreme Rampage Tour ’08, which was organized by the people with whom Andrew would have travelled Europe again in a few days if not for this tragedy. As a member of a “lifestyle” website mostly about music and tattoos and my webmaster, I could spend the all afternoon in and outside the building, the Halle Tony Garnier where usually big concerts take place, being the largest Hall of this part of France.A lot of big names were here, such as Sunny, Scott Garland, Eugene, Balls Mahoney, Tatanka, Joe E Legend, and especially the most important for me Sabu, Test and the Hitman for his goodbye tour promoting his book, thus not wrestling. Before the show on his way to the autographs session we exchanged some words about a possible interview. He gently told us it would be difficult, but he recognized me when later I went toward him to take a pic and we talked a bit and he was really funny. Because of TNA just being broadcasted on the cable for some months now, some people only knew him as Test when the majority of people in the attendance didn’t seem to know him. Nonetheless they where amazed at the size and looks of this athlete. Knowing this, I told him “I may be the only one to remember you as the Punisher in TNA!”. He then shared a laugh with Scotty 2 Hotty, blinked at me and said with a smile “this is a mistake I’m trying to forget” and told me to enjoy the show. A really nice and kind guy. Andrew Martin was main-eventing the show against René Duprée who was greatly diminished due to a ankle or heel problem in the afternoon making him walk with a lot of pain. Test made the saying so true to me this night that you need a great heel to make a face look good. He got the most heat of the night, playing the heel character with ease and intensity. You could see he enjoyed the crowd reactions, putting out all the “bad guy”‘s tricks from yelling at the announcers, beating outside the ring and the use of a steel chair which in the end cost him the match when it slapped back from the ropes… Along with the fact that I saw Bret Hart “for real”, seeing Andrew Martin wrestle was the best memory of this event. I remember it made me think, regarding the other matches, that on the main event, that was what “professionnal” meant, the upper level. It is a great showman, with a real quality of heart that left… I have witnessed the love for his job, apart from this love/hate relationship with the business side of wrestling, and most of all the love and respect for the lambda fans, guys like me. It was a give/give relationship, simple and true, far from politics and more down to earth problems. We were not one and the same for him, and wherever he is, he will definitly not be one lost among the others for me, he’ll always stand out as unique. Thank you for your time. I send you my photo with him. I already miss him.
My favorite test memory was when he fought brock lesner at the king of the ring everone knew brock was goin to win but it was such a great match he did an amazing job ans the match he did with edge for the ic n us titles that was a really good match such a shame the wwe didn’t give he the time to become a primetime player. He left us way way to soon he might b gone but never ever forgotten r.I.p. Michael
On regards of the memories part: In the late ’90’s I was one of those people that done the thing you was supposed to, hated the heels and loved the faces and well then, there was only one person that always was different, that was Test. No matter what, he was always that person that I just loved I don’t know what it was, but I constantly cheered for him. I also remember the first time he called all his fans “Testicles,” it was weird yet so funny and great at the same time. Lately I’ve been singing the “Test” entrance song in my head and wishing he’d come back to WWE and thinking he’d be much better than some of the trash we’re currently getting. I now know that will never happen but in my head, Test will always be one of my favorite wrestlers and entertainers in a while. “Test, Test, Test.” (Jay Malone)
Hello, now i never really met test but around the 2003 or 04 i was at a show in Norfolk, Virginia anyway Bubba Ray Dudley and Dvon were leaving after the show and stopped all of a sudden to get out and shake my hand thats because i was in a wheelchair and it was a very cold night, anyway Andrew almost crashed into Bubba and Dvons rental car when they stopped which i thought was kind of funny David Grooms
When I think back on Martin’s career, the thing that really sticks into my head is “Testicles”. I think he was a good wrestler, I’m not going to say that he was one of the greatest because he wasn’t but he was a good wrestler, a solid guy that’d always provide entertainement for the midcard. I remember seeing him return to the WWE in about 07, at that stage he had so much potential and I was so annoyed when he was released. It was also a huge dissapointment that things didn;t go well with TNA, I honestly believe he could have been a great uppermidcarder with them right now. I think the one memory that will stick in everyone’s mind is his storyline with Triple H and Steph McMahon. As well as his tendencie for always making us all jealous for his girls. RIP, Andrew. That’s from all the “Testicles”. (Josh Connolly)
I remember at a wwe live event in buffalo a few years back test was arriving backstage, and seen my brother and myself, (my broker had cf and was on oxygen and wanted to see the wrestlers backstage) and came right over to us and talked for a while and even gave him a shirt and an autograph and a picture, then at the show he seen us 3rd row ringside and waved us to the guard rail and hugged him after his match, my brother died a couple of weeks later but that was the happiest i’ve seen my brother in years, Andrew will always have a special place in my familys haerat and i am said this happened to him. hunter buffalo ny
Hey my name is David I’m 19 and I remember when 11 years old I was goin to my first wrestling event in a long time. I was outside and a couple of wrestlers drove by but Test drove up and was in a silver car so I ran over to his window. I was like hey Test your great man, he was talking to me for a bit and seemed very nice he said thanks kid and I asked him if he was wrestling tonight he said yup nodding his head so I asked him if he was gonna win and with a big smile on his face he laughed a lil bit and told me to wait and find out. He actually lost the tag titles that night to the Hardys but I’ll never forget him after that night.
Hey, Ryan! I know we haven’t chatted in a while, dude, but I just had to send my condolences to any and all members of the Martin Family for the untimely loss of Andrew. I had no idea he was approaching his 34th birthday in a few days. Whether you liked his character “Test”, or hated it; he brought a unique style to the ring for a man his size. He will be missed tremendously throughout the sports-entertainment world. Goodbye, Test! Thanks for the memories, dude! (RKey)
I have been a fan of wrestling for as long as I can remember. My favorite memory of Test is when he was in the storyline with Stephanie. I felt for Test when HHH crashed the wedding. I am unsure how to handle the shock of this. Andrew was a wonderful wrestler and Im sure he was a wonderful man who would have made a great father. My prayers are with his family and friends in their time of need. RIP ANDREW you will be greatly missed. (Tiffani)
Hey, just like to say great job on the coverage man. I remember seeing him live with my buds back at Summerslam 99, whatta preformer! Anyways, keep the coverage coming man. Its a sad time for us all. Take it easy yo – Shez
Do you have any memories of Andrew ‘Test’ Martin? I’d love to hear about them. Send me an email at Webmaster@ProWrestlingSCOOPS.com