Former WWE star Andrew "Test" Martin was found dead in his Tampa, Fla. apartment on Friday night. Martin, reportedly a heavy steroid abuser, was just 33 years old.
Martin wrestled on and off for the WWE between 1998 and 2006 and was a former tag team, Intercontinental and European champion before being released from the company's ECW brand. He briefly resurfaced for a short time for the Nashville-based TNA in 2007 but was later
released by the company, reportedly due to concerns over his size amid an investigation by the US Congress into steroid use in professional
wrestling.
Martin, who was arrested on a drunk driving charge in Florida a year ago, has the type of physique WWE chairman Vince McMahon craves but showed little charisma behind the microphone, which hurt his career.
"At approximately 8:00pm on Friday, March 13, 2009, Tampa Police Officers responded to the Post Harbour Apartments, located at 725 Harbour Place Drive to check on the welfare of Mr. Andrew J. Martin. A neighbor reported that she could see into his apartment through a window and that Mr. Martin appeared motionless for several hours," Lieutenant William Ferguson of the Tampa Police Department said in a statement.
"Officers entered the apartment and discovered Mr. Martin to be deceased. At this time there is no indication of foul play. The deceased was transported to the Medical Examiners Office for an autopsy to determine the cause of death. The date of the autopsy is undetermined at this time. The next of kin has been notified of the death."
Martin, 33, had been scheduled to travel to Europe on March 16 for an independent wrestling tour.
"This is with the crew from Ireland," he wrote on his MySpace page. "These guys hold a special place in my heart because they stuck by
me when I was going thru some hard times and we all ended up becoming good friends."
Martin was best known outside the ring for his prowess with the ladies, dating former WWE diva Stacy Keibler and current star Barbie "Kelly Kelly" Blank.
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