TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Authorities say former professional wrestler Andrew Martin, who was known as "Test" and "The Punisher" to fans, has died at his Tampa home. He was 33.
The former World Wrestling Entertainment champion was found dead at his apartment Friday night. Police say a neighbor reported that she could see into his apartment window and that Martin appeared motionless for several hours.
Police say there was no indication of foul play. A cause of death will be determined after an autopsy.
During his time with Stamford, Conn.-based World Wrestling Entertainment, Martin held the Intercontinental, European and Hardcore belts. He was also a tag-team champion.
Martin most recently worked for TNA Wrestling under the name "The Punisher."
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Raydar Member
Posts: 41262 From: Carrollton GA. Out in the... country. Registered: Oct 1999
I find it interesting--these type of obits. Don't know the guy--his family--what he contributed to the world--yet here he is. Sorry he is dead, but so is the guy down the street. Didn't see his obit on the natl news........
Heart failure would be common for 3 main reasons. One is steroids. One is stress. The life of a wrestler is not only physically stressful from daily high impact athletics but traveling everyday from one place to another takes it toll. Then there is diet. Living on the road doesn't lend itself to great diet. Many of these wrestlers are fat old men who eat high fat foods.
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11:18 AM
wikid_one Member
Posts: 2838 From: Ocean City, MD Registered: Dec 2003
I watch it occasionally. My roommate loves it, and I'll watch when there is nothing else on. Haven't watched recently now that 24 is back on. I've lost a lot of interest in wrestling over the last couple years. I will watch the old stuff on ESPN classic more than any of the "new style" (read: hour and half of talking and 30 min of matches) of wrestling.
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03:49 PM
Xerces_Blackthorne Member
Posts: 6163 From: Mertztown PA Registered: Mar 2008
There's a lot of names on that list I remember from back in the day (early to late 80's). Heart failure, drug related and accidents. That is a tough way to make a living. It turns into a vicious cycle as they have to take the juice to look like they do. As much as it is staged, injuries do occur and prescription medication gets thrown into the mix. Add the hectic traveling, recreational drug use and alcohol to go with all that and you have a toxic cocktail of a lifestyle and the human body can only take so much.
Old names from the 60s- Bear Cat Wright (he was known to slap you in the ring) and Ray Stevenson (a blonde dude who tried his best to look pretty while kicking your butt).
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01:35 AM
rogergarrison Member
Posts: 49601 From: A Western Caribbean Island/ Columbus, Ohio Registered: Apr 99
I watch it occasionally. My roommate loves it, and I'll watch when there is nothing else on. Haven't watched recently now that 24 is back on. I've lost a lot of interest in wrestling over the last couple years. I will watch the old stuff on ESPN classic more than any of the "new style" (read: hour and half of talking and 30 min of matches) of wrestling.
You can insert >Nascar< in place of wrestling, lol......especially the last line. Daytona 500 this year was nearly 12 hours long.
