Sunday, March 15, 2009
Another is Lost
Andrew "Test" Martin, former WWE star, died yesterday at the age of 33 years old, found motionless at his home in Tampa Bay, Florida. Cause of death has not yet be determined, but no foul play is suspected. He was an athletic, well-built individual whose death came unexpectedly, and so like many involved in his trade, it will probably come out his death was due to drugs or some form of substance abuse.
Test had unofficially declared his retirement from professional wrestling near the end of 2007, and I'm not too sure what he was doing to earn a living after that time. And to be honest, I had forgotten about him. Not all WWE performers capture the fans attention, and while he had the look to be one of the main players, his lack of charisma and mic skills cost him a higher slot on the card. To be fair, he worked hard at his craft and the Canadian was always well liked by his peers, but the fans never did embrace him fully.
The 1980s golden age of wrestling have left many performers dead at a very young age: people like Bam Bam Bigelow, Rick Rude, Curt Henning, Miss Elizabeth and Davey Boy Smith. What I am noticing now is that the next generation of performers, from the "attitude" era of the late 90's/early 00's, have encountered similar fates. Eddie Guerrero, Chris Benoit, Crash Holly to name a few, and now Test.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: The list of dead wrestlers is proof that the current "system" imposed by WWE insisting no benefits are given to its wrestlers does not work. At a time during a deep recession, the WWE still managed to declare itself a quarterly dividend to its shareholders just three weeks ago. Is it too much to ask for Vince McMahon et al. to help these guys out, with health insurance or a pension?
Or maybe coming out with a way to protect them from the drugs and partying that have poisoned so many?
Can't they just help take care of its extended family?
R.I.P. Andrew.
# posted by SBP : 11:32 PM
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