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Andrew "Test" Martin Feared He'd Die Young
Posted By: Wrestling-Radio.com on Mar 16, 2009
The ex-WWE intercontinental champion was found dead by police on Friday night, aged just 33-years-old. It is suspected he was killed by a drugs overdose.
The 6ft 6in Canadian-born star had recently spent time in rehab, paid for by his former employers.
Friends say he was increasingly worried about his own mortality after seeing wrestling pals including Eddie Guerrero, Scott 'Bam Bam' Bigelow, Mike 'Awesome' Alfonso and Brian 'Crush' Adams pass away at young ages.
He was also distraught on hearing the news that his former friend Chris Benoit, 40, had killed wife Nancy and seven-year-old son Daniel before committing suicide in Atlanta in 2007.
Like Test, they had all encountered problems with steroids, painkillers, alcohol or other drugs.
In 2007 he conducted an interview for Liam Phillips' upcoming movie The Circus, which looks at premature deaths in the wrestling business.
He told the documentary-maker: "This has been the worst year of my life, without question.
"I've just turned 32-years-old and I went to eight funerals this year.
"I shouldn't be going to eight funerals at 32-years-old.
"As bad as this may sound, it opened my eyes and made me take my foot out of the grave.
"It made me ask: 'What am I doing? Do I want to join that club? Hell no - I don't want to join that club.'"
After hearing of Test's passing, Liam said: "Andrew was open with me about everything and especially when speaking about his fears of joining the ever-expanding list of deceased wrestlers.
"This fear comes across in the documentary and is chilling to hear in the aftermath of his death.
"I immediately felt it was important for his message to be heard, and I think it will reach more people because they will consider the source."
WWE commentator and former head of talent relations Jim Ross has paid tribute to the man he hired and spoke more about the demons the grappler encountered.
JR - who himself had a spell in hospital this weekend after suffering chest pains - said: "Andrew left WWE over two years ago and had wrestled off and on, briefly in TNA, and also on the independent circuit primarily on international tours.
"I spoke at length with Andrew, as did my wife, last year in Orlando at WrestleMania 24. He seemed very happy and looked to be healthy and in great physical condition.
"He spoke of his real estate endeavours and the fact that he was strongly considering going back to school and becoming accredited as a physical therapist."
Writing on his blog, Jim added: "Late last summer, reacting on the suggestion of others, WWE reached out to Andrew to ask if he needed some help handling some alleged personal issues that he was rumoured to have been experiencing.
"Andrew had been gone from WWE for over two years but had remained friends with many still associated with WWE.
"The rumours of Andrew's issues were true and he was afforded the opportunity by WWE to attend The Hanley Center Rehabilitation facility in West Palm Beach, Florida for several weeks beginning in August of 2008.
"Andrew successfully completed the WWE funded program and was highly regarded by the Hanley Center with being such an asset to them.
"Since being released from the facility, after successfully completing the program, Andrew had been doing well in his 12 Step AA program and was in contact with WWE with regular phone calls.
"Ironically, Friday was the day for his regularly scheduled touching base' but when called his voice mail box was full."
Autopsy results revealing the cause of Test's death are expected in the next month.
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