Test will be missed!
Brent 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.”
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBdDKwqa8ZI[/youtube]
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.”
Source: TBO.com
Andrew “Test” Martin, a former WWE wrestler, was found dead in his Tampa, Fla. apartment late Friday night, MyFOXTampaBay.com reported.
Audio: Test on the Bubba The Love Sponge® show test-interview
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Neighbors called police after seeing the 33-year-old motionless over a span of several hours.
The cause of death wasn’t immediately known, but police said foul play isn’t suspected. An autopsy will be performed.
Martin joined the WWE in 1998 and won many of the organization’s major titles before suffering a severe back injury, MyFOXTampaBay.com reported.
He was known for his on and off-screen relationship with Stephanie McMahon, the daughter of WWE head Vince McMahon, FOXSports.com reported.
Source: Fox News.com
March 16th, 2009 at 7:02 am
God not another one gone? Way too young way too soon. This is just sad and comprehension. I realize the body of these performers are put through hell and back and I do know they no tonly pysically but mentlaly are put to task day in and day out. Sadly it has claimed yet another victim and something needs to be done.
March 16th, 2009 at 9:28 am
Probably an O.D. on pain meds. All these guys are hurting, good thing wrestling isn’t real.. I feel for these guys and more for their families. Best wishes go out to all wrestlers and families.
March 16th, 2009 at 9:57 am
WOW when is congress going to start looking into all these wrestler deaths that happen each and every year. R I P Andrew you were one hell of a worker
March 16th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Please people, dont jump to conclusions about former wwe wrestler “test” to young,way to young,last heard on air after chris Benoit died, test sounded like he was incoherent,slurred speach,etc.dispite that he will be missed by fans who liked him”RIP”
March 16th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
It is sad that these guy’s are having to sacrifice themselves and their lives at such a young age for their 15 minutes of fame. I do not understand why our government investigates the NFL and Professional Baseball Players, but does absolutely nothing to help these athletes. It is sad, Test lie so many others were taken way too young. I think the question is, How many more will there be?
March 16th, 2009 at 8:43 pm
This is truly a tragedy, but is there someone else besides the government that people can turn to for responsibility?
March 16th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
The grammar of the five respondants is really outstanding. Mindblowing, almost. Why would people with no grasp of the English language bother to post a comment? At least when Bubba mangles English it’s funny, and he knows he’s doing it. That’s why it’s funny with Bubba, but that’s his job. It’s not funny, however, seeing how poorly educated people in this country are. I know it’s just this certain demographic of wrestling fans, and it does not represent the many Bubba fans that can speak English in an English speaking country. I guarantee these people that have a horrible command of the language are the same type of people that cringe when they hear people speak Spanish, Arabic, Vietnamese, “Ebonics”, etc. in their presence. Same type of people that say “You’re in America, speak English!” Well, right back at you, my friends.
March 17th, 2009 at 7:17 am
Hatley im from upstate ny.I was in Clearwater when i first heard the news.I dont follow wrestling but i heard Test on Bubbas show and he sounded like a great guy.he will be greatly missed.so i guess what im trying to say Brent is hang in their my friend. BE Cool TEST (Andrew) R I P you will be missed.
March 17th, 2009 at 8:04 am
It is a shame about Andrew! These guys and girls who do wrestling for a living and especially the ones that work for Vince are so scared of acting hurt for fear of loosing there jobs is awful. Another awful thing is how Vince fired Andrew only months after his neck fusion surgery, the neck that he broke for the fans of the WWE. I’ve heard that Andrew was quoted saying that he thought that usage of Steroids in wrestling was fine in moderation but not in other sports? hope this doesn’t come back to hurt him. I always liked Test, I thought he was one of the “real” guys in wrestling, not a fake or ass kisser like some others…. Thanks!
March 17th, 2009 at 9:30 pm
Trully trully tragic he will be missed.
March 17th, 2009 at 11:44 pm
I remember when I was kid seeing Test back when he first started in WWF. He was fun to watch and will always be missed. RIP
March 18th, 2009 at 7:46 am
What a shame. I think the big thing with a lot of these guys is that they know what it means to be a wrestler. They understand the long hours, the long road and even the beating their bodies will take. What I think they DON’T count on is two things: 1) I think that they are never mentally prepared for the up and down that comes with being popular, being a baby face then turning heel and becoming unpopular as a new star rises and then fading into nothing eventually. I’m sure it’s very similar for those in the entertainment industry the difference here is this 2) Like Bubba said these guys perform injured on a semi-daily basis and for as many injuries these guys perform through they probably do take tons of pills. Put the two together and you just build a recipe for disaster.
I’ll be honest with you. I couldn’t deal with having 30,000 screaming for you all wanting your autograph one day and the next you can’t get 200 to show up for some random indie circuit.
It takes a huge support system of friends, as well as others that have gone through similar things to be able to handle this stuff. I know I couldn’t.
RIP Andrew
March 18th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
Sorry Brent for your lost. Good friends are hard to find
March 23rd, 2010 at 8:59 pm
Man it is true what I’ve heard, The Life Expectancy of a Wrestler is short. Goodbye Test and thanks for the memories!