You fellas mean the guy that is so passionate about and dedicated to this business that he has almost single handedly (and everyone from CM Punk, to Cody Rhodes has said that Hunter is the best thing that happened to wrestling since he has taken the helm) created the modern Wrestling Renaissance we are currently seeing…You actually think Hunter was determining when he would win and lose? Definitely not…If one thing became clear during the last ten or fifteen years Vince was in charge it was that VINCE WAS IN CHARGE and no wrestler or confidant was going to change his mind when he had his mind made up. He legitimately felt betrayed when Hogan and Savage left, more Savage than Hogan because supposedly Vince thought he was his friend for life. So the click saw the numbers were down and those guys, along with the Undertaker, and some other background guys too, stepped up, and so Vince tolerated behavior from them because he admired their passion and dedication, IN PARTICULAR, Hunter. As he rode and worked with the biggest drug abusers and alcoholics maybe in the whole business at the time. Yet Hunter stayed sober, and also wrangled the others when they were too fucked up to handle their own careers and lives. In particular, Shawn Michaels, whose amazing talent was so instrumental in keeping that company afloat during the end of the New Generation Era and the beginning of the Attitude Era. Michaels credits Hunter for literally saving his life. He always made sure Shawn was where he was supposed to be, and later when Michaels freaked out after losing to Auston, Hunter gave him an ultimatum, and Shawn left and the two didn’t speak for years. Hunter also took a HUGE demotion when he was punished for the Madison Square Garden incident. He took it on the chin like a man, and made the very best of it because he is that goddamn devoted and talented. The upcoming King of the Ring was Hunter’s, and he lost his push, and there was no guarantee he was getting it back. He became a glorified baby sitter for maybe the most difficult star in their history, while having to be punished at the same time for the actions of his friends and bigger stars who couldn’t be punished. He kept going forward. Through horrible injuries and setbacks; and he never used that as an excuse to drink or do drugs, he just worked harder and did more until it worked. The entire locker room was sophomoric in nature for all of the 80s and 90s. Listen to stories from guys like Taker, who is seemingly admired worldwide. Guys like Austin, the Undertaker, William Regal, and even Michaels, who all credit Hunter’s love of the business and his loyalty to his friends is unmatched. He put Scott Hall into rehab like 12 times., and HE PAID FOR IT FOR A FEW OF THOSE TIMES BECAUSE THOUGHT ENOUGH WAS ENOUGH! Vince rewarded Hunter for his loyalty and dedication after he saw Hunter being so reliable and dependable when all his other main guys were not that. A more mature Punk recently said he believes a lot of the villainy he felt about Hunter was really Vince, but Hunter was loyal to Vince because Vince rewarded him for all of the things he did to keep the Attitude Era progressing while it was in its infancy. Hunter was NEVER in a position to tell Vince he should win or lose a match. Vince wouldn’t listen to his own children or even close confidants like Pat Patterson. Everyone thinks because he married Steph that Vince gave him special treatment. Never. He knew he could rely on Hunter as champion. He didn’t trust Steiner or Booker T because they were the enemy when he nearly went bankrupt. They were within a month or so of not being able to secure the minimum amount necessary to keep that company running. So the guys that never wavered and hung on when everyone else jumped ship, Michaels, Taker, Hunte…He felt safer knowing when Hunter was champion that the ship was not going to crash and whether it was Foley or Rock or Austin, or anyone he wrestled, the outcome would be what Vince wanted. It’s crystal clear now. ALL OF THE YOUNG TALENT credit Hunter for being a he voice of reason and one of, if not the very best minds the industry has ever had. The hate on him at this point is just dumb. Means you were not paying attention, and even If everything ever said about him by bitter angry guys who were jealous of his success and foothold…He was literally stone sober during an era where when you hear the truth about the drug use, like Angle taking at least 50 opiates a day for years, or Michaels and Hall and Nash recounting taking 30 Somas each while drinking and telling the story with fondness…Without Hunter some of those guys probably died. And Austin, although his talent was undeniable, would have had to wait a bit before he could do his thing if Hunter didn’t accept the punishment. He earned everything he has accomplished, and by all accounts of other guys who seem to be honest and reliable, Hunter is a genius. But, haters gonna hate…So probably just wasted my time… And literally the criticism here is that Test could have hurt DX, because anyone paying attention saw how terribly Bischoff wrecked the golden goose by completely ruining the NWO in just about a year and a half. It wasn’t a slight on Test, as Hunter trusted him to work with his with at the time and made Test look strong. His big heat draws are that he went over Booker, (who Vince never thought was WWE Champion material because after his purchase of WCW he planned to keep running their show on the other network with Shane at the helm, but after the infamous Booker T/Bagwell match, Vince supposedly scrapped that idea before they made it back to the locker room), Steiner, (who made so many errors in their matches that he ruined his chances on his own). According to Vince himself, who did put belts on Jericho, Goldberg, and other WCW guys, that the plan was to push Steiner all the way to the title, but he performed so poorly, that after their first big match the plan was scrapped, and then the biggest, Sting, who wrestled a specific style like Hogan, but with not so many limitations. BUT, this was a lifelong competitor to Vince, coming to the WWE long after his prime and he was supposed to have him beat one of the biggest stars and champions in the company’s history on the grandest stage of them all, his own creation, Wrestlemania? It wasn’t Hunter’s decision and he would never throw Vince under the bus when criticized for not putting these guys over. Fact of the matter, he was the most solid heel throughout the entire Attitude Era, losing to Foley, Rock, Jericho and Austin because they maintained a level of quality and dependability and losses to them didn’t hurt him. He put in his time, the right way, during an era where there was so much debauchery that dozens of wrestlers died as a result. Vince knew the belt was safe when Hunter had it, and so was the company. His career will be looked at as the quintessential wrestler’s wrestling career. It’s why he and a recovering Michaels have completely crushed their workings with NXT and bringing back longterm and cohesive storytelling. I figured I already wrote a term paper, so why not just make it a dissertation…
This is so sad I was a fan of test he could've been a world champion and should've been one, leave it to triple h to screw some one over so he can get ahead and he of all people should know better
I still don't understand how WWF couldn't use this guy back in the late 90s. One of the biggest missed opportunities. All because big nose had to steal the spotlight. It's sad that Test died so young and never really got the recognition he deserved while being a pro wrestler.
WWE employed test for close to 10 years. Few wrestlers get that opportunity of longevity. Test had zero charisma and mic skills man to get to the next level. He was just big with a good look. They even paired test with Stacy Keibler and Trish and neither worked.
Are you guys mental out here? Were we watching the same 90’s wrestling? He had his shot. He had no charisma, he was average at best in every department. HHH definitely was the better direction to go with.
@@maverickrod2443 If best wrestler with most charisma was the way to go then Triple H also wasn't the better choice. Not when you had better wrestlers with more charisma in the roster like Kurt Angle, Tazz, Eddie Guerrero, Raven, Undertaker, even Edge and Christian arguably. Obviously WWE isn't just about charisma or wrestling ability
@ tazz? Eddie? Christian?… raven? 😂😂… none of those guys were going last or hold at 1.. taker has been we been the guy to carry and they gave him his due anyway.. Kurt, Edge got their time. Y’all just like yapping and being mad at dumb things. I bet hogan lives in your mind rent free too
Met Test in 05 and not long before his death, would chat with him over his website fan forum. In a time before social media like we have it now, it was rare for a wrestler to communicate with fans frequently.
The Fact that Test was about to Turn 34 When he Died is a Sad One. Vince Did Test Dirty, Dude had the Look to be a Top Guy and a World Champion 😢 Plus His Big Boot was a Thing Of Beauty
He wasn't overly great in the ring. he wasn't great on the mic. And his big boot was apparently stiff as hell, and more than a couple of wrestlers said he gave them a concussion. I liked him, but he wasn't really done all that dirty.
@@GarthTheDestroyer I’m pretty sure would feel bad now after what happened he isn’t the same person like he was all those years ago he has changed he has matured and most of all he’s not a better person. He went through all kinds of other stuff and he got some help and he’s now a better person
I miss this dude. Damn. He was such a great wrestler and also a great person. You can tell in that interview that he was vulnerable enough to speak from his aching heart. Rest in peace Andrew.
I wouldn’t even say upper card. He was mid.. I never ever wonder… what if test _______. I just remember he was a good looking big guy who never really left an impression outside of that
It didn’t help that he was trained at the Hart wrestling school and after the Screwjob, everyone associated with Bret was buried unless they’d managed to get themselves way over already or had other powerful friends.
Why am I not surprised Triple H is responsible for getting Test's push halted on 2 separate occasions? Another name on the list of talents that have been held back because of one guy's ego.
RIP Test 🙏 He was one of my favorite wrestlers that I lost along with Sean O'Haire , who was another one of wrestlings' biggest "What Ifs?" After Test died, I got his Celtic cross tattoo on my left shoulder as a memorial tribute to him.
Another of Triple H's victims. Maven has said on his RUclips channel that Test didn't play the politics game backstage and wasn't afraid to be honest and speak his mind, which is always going to hinder your chances of moving up the ladder in a place like WWE. His premature death should have been prevented too.
In another shoot interview, Albert said that him and Test were really good friends and that the two of them and Trish would go to parties and he looked really funny when he would dance at a rave.
One thing I remember about Andrew Martin was that Sabu did a shoot interview where he said he hated wrestling Test because he would straight up kick him in the head as hard as he could and one of his fans in the comments section said that if even Sabu says you're being stiff, you know you're being too stiff.
A sad story of someone who had potential. Test had won every title in WWE except for the world title and the US title. He even won the WCW & WWE tag team titles with Booker T during the Invasion storyline. He was one of my favorites during the Attitude Era. He definitely deserves a spot in the WWE HOF!
@@Thefufflylord I blame HHH for being a greedy pos. Vince was just the money man - of course Vince was stupid for letting HHH bury Test but he also allowed him to bury Chyna so there's that.
@@NickZelver Absolutely. I've said it once, but it's worth repeating. Vince McMahon succeeded because everyone else failed. If he'd left to his own devices and booked the way he wanted, the WWF would have been out of business a long time ago.
It was more to do with Triple-H. Hunter was sitting in Vince's booking meeting since 97 and he often used that position to torpedo or hinder careers - Jericho, Van Dam, Angle, Gunn, Goldberg, Booker-T, and, sadly, Test.
@@Thefufflylord HHH had nothing to do with Gunn's failures He wasn't capable of doing long matches doing asthma, and when he had his main event program with the Rock, the Rock refused to make him look good because he didn't want to work with him
Rest in peace Andrew Martin a.k.a. test you were one of the most baddest mother f in the Wrestling industry you were cool you are funny. You are awesome. You are intimidating and you would’ve helped a lot of people in wrestling and also you really been an awesome world champion RIP big man you were one hell of a wrestler
test's match with shane mcmahon at summerslam '99 is UNDERRATED! a match that had no business being as it good as it should've been. in fact, it was the match of the night.
I remember I got into wrestling in 2007 at the age of 9 I would watch wrestling matches and videos all day and man when I found out about test I was like wow he looks so cool and he quickly became one of my favorites I would watch his old matches a lot unfortunately he was released by wwe just before i started watching wrestling and I would always hope he would return I was very devastated when I heard he passed away rip big man ❤
7:36 What a joke! Both Vince and hhh were on tons of gear back then, so why the hell didn’t they turn a blind eye to Tests increased testosterone? Also Batista, Randy et al were all on gear.
Right WWE picks and chose far too often back in the day depending on your status on the card…Vince was the boss so it is what it is. As for the talent it’s a different story
Test had the talent and potential in wrestling and despite being buried by Triple H in the WWE, his best accomplishment was beating Triple H on Smackdown in 2002……
Andrew lived in the Tampa area. I met him at a club in Tampa. He was there just hanging out with his buddy. He had no reason to be nice to me. But he was. He was super nice. Ironically, that night I also met Brian Christopher. Another guy who was really nice. We talked for a few moments. I think this was just after the whole canadian arrest story. I don't remember. I obviously didn't mention that. Sad that both are gone.
Worth mentioning that he spoke his mind too much and didn't play it smart with backstage politics, and the big boot was known to be so stiff that even Sabu refused to take it more than once.
I am 45 years old now and i remember seeing that match on Summerslam in 1999 back then when he was with Stephanie. I was 18 years old at that time and thought Test was the guy to go with. In my part of the world they do not show pro wrestling on tv so i had no chance to follow it other than online. I always thought that Test aka Andrew looked the part and had the part and could do a decent promo as well. I am not surprised at all that Triple H was part of his career demise when it involved that part with Stephanie. From what i have seen Triple H is a worse primadonna that Shawn Michaels ever was. And of course Opioids. Always Opioids. The American painkiller crisis.
I never compared Test to Kevin Nash back in the day but I can see exactly where the Nash comparisons come from. He was a splitting image of Nash but a way better wrestler. Triple H didn't want anyone being bigger than him as a wrestler. Test is on a long list of wrestlers Triple H buried.
Test had a pretty successful run during one of professional wrestling's most successful eras/years. He won plenty of titles in the year 2001 and by that time as a wrestler, he was great in the ring.
I always say if I could build myself as a wrestler it would be Test, 6’6 285 great power game, and athleticism with underrated technical wrestling & brawling ability, he had the gear and a kickass theme too.
This dude had undertaker level talent as a big guy but his biggest story was of course putting over triple H. He never really reached mid card after that but I still enjoyed seeing him. Great theme song and man that big boot always looked absolutely devastating.
Looking back at the three Canadians that joined the WWE in the same year (Edge, Test and Christian), they all had a pretty good career early on. Things were looking for them by 2001; they were all doing their own thing in the mid-card. Edge is the most successful of 'em all. He remained with WWE and has a storied career there. Christian went onto TNA and did his own thing there, then would soon return to WWE. Test got released eventually, then returned to WWE but unfortunately, got released again and then soon would pass away. Another thing to mention is that Christian and Test were close to each other.
Man I loved Test. He had that cool entrance music, impressive powerhouse move set, the hulking super hero physique and that big boot! He had *almost* everything to be a top guy, but his lack of personality and charisma and bland promo style let him down. He was one of those guys who just couldn't connect with the audience (Shelton Benjamin had this same problem). This wasn't helped that whenever he seemed to get some momentum going, it would usually come a screeching halt and he'd be back where he started. Let's take a brief look; A short European title reign in 2001, loses it to Eddie and then gets saddled in the hardcore division. A short revival when he's suspected of being The Alliance mole, feels betrayed by the WWF and joins The Alliance, which was majorly lacking in star power. Here, he's able to stand out, has a short tag run with Booker, followed by a short IC run and then once again, this all stops as soon as he loses the title. He wasn't even on the Wrestlemania card the next year, which was in his home town! Heck, even the test-icles thing with Stacey was *something* to give him personality, but that took a weird turn when Steiner got involved and they had their never ending feud. Lastly, the ECW run which as you mentioned started out well, then within a blink of an eye, he's gone from the company completely. And of course, the initial stop to his momentum was the wedding with Stephanie. You can't deny that test HOT at the time - just look at how much the fans were behind him in that Summerslam match with Shane. They were ready to accept him as a top guy. Having said that, Triple H was right to shoe horn his way into it. For reasons stated above, I just can't imagine a world where Test is in that top heel position battling the likes of Rock, Kane, Undertaker & Jericho. We'll never know, but I can't see that working and don't forget he was only 2 years into his career at this point where as Triple H was nearing the end of his first decade and had a proven track record. This also has to be said... and this is just from various interviews I've come across over the years is that Test's personality was quite polarising. You either loved the guy and he would do anything for you in return, or he was complete stand off-ish jerk and in the politics of pro wrestling, or frankly any industry, this is huge. If you're not well liked by the right people, you're simply not going to reach the higher level of success than if they did. That interview you quoted from 2007 where he was talking about funerals is interesting and one everyone here should watch (it's not very hard to find). But basically, he seemed completely done with wrestling at that point in his life and wanted to disappear into the shadows. He honestly seemed like a guy who didn't like fame, didn't want to be recognized, didn't even want to be called Test. He just wanted a simple life where he could be amongst society as normal person. The sad reality though is that Test was one of the many chewed up and spat out by the business. Test had a good run and left an impressionable legacy with a career span that most wrestlers would trade places with. And that 1999 entrance... I still listen to that shit at the gym when I'm ready to tear it up!
I remember seeing him win the Immunity Battle Royal at the end of the InVasion angle and thinking they were finally gonna give him a massive push, only to just forget about it within a couple of months. So much potential wasted
Of course it was Triple H who shut down the idea of Test joining the DX. Test was a threat to Triple H, and Triple H was afraid Test might outshine him.
Age and circumstances have numbed my ability to feel sympathy for grown men who destroy themselves for careers in a business where they fake fight each other in spandex
I thought Triple H at first was using his influence to become a bigger star in WWF/E, and Stephanie and HHH actually fall in love and look at him today.
Kinda tipsy and found this video and wasnt gonna comment but i remember as a kid seeing test in his feud with hhh i think.... im 32 rn so do the math.... i thought at the time he looked cooler than hhh.... that feud and vinces treatment of this is maybe why hes not even here.... as a kid i really thought test married steph and really thought he was like a real like prince with muscles etc..... dude was better looking than the haitch..... no homo.... can bet hhh waas jealous and did his best to bury and ruin him.... i was rooting for the guy .... rip test
How many career downfalls could be associated with the words "But then Triple H stepped in!"
Rhyno 😢
however heard afew podcasts trips did help him stay in wwe, and seems to be in a genuinely good place.
Fuck trips frat boy energy tho.
@@pip7967yeah same.
You fellas mean the guy that is so passionate about and dedicated to this business that he has almost single handedly (and everyone from CM Punk, to Cody Rhodes has said that Hunter is the best thing that happened to wrestling since he has taken the helm) created the modern Wrestling Renaissance we are currently seeing…You actually think Hunter was determining when he would win and lose? Definitely not…If one thing became clear during the last ten or fifteen years Vince was in charge it was that VINCE WAS IN CHARGE and no wrestler or confidant was going to change his mind when he had his mind made up.
He legitimately felt betrayed when Hogan and Savage left, more Savage than Hogan because supposedly Vince thought he was his friend for life.
So the click saw the numbers were down and those guys, along with the Undertaker, and some other background guys too, stepped up, and so Vince tolerated behavior from them because he admired their passion and dedication, IN PARTICULAR, Hunter. As he rode and worked with the biggest drug abusers and alcoholics maybe in the whole business at the time. Yet Hunter stayed sober, and also wrangled the others when they were too fucked up to handle their own careers and lives. In particular, Shawn Michaels, whose amazing talent was so instrumental in keeping that company afloat during the end of the New Generation Era and the beginning of the Attitude Era.
Michaels credits Hunter for literally saving his life. He always made sure Shawn was where he was supposed to be, and later when Michaels freaked out after losing to Auston, Hunter gave him an ultimatum, and Shawn left and the two didn’t speak for years.
Hunter also took a HUGE demotion when he was punished for the Madison Square Garden incident. He took it on the chin like a man, and made the very best of it because he is that goddamn devoted and talented.
The upcoming King of the Ring was Hunter’s, and he lost his push, and there was no guarantee he was getting it back. He became a glorified baby sitter for maybe the most difficult star in their history, while having to be punished at the same time for the actions of his friends and bigger stars who couldn’t be punished.
He kept going forward. Through horrible injuries and setbacks; and he never used that as an excuse to drink or do drugs, he just worked harder and did more until it worked.
The entire locker room was sophomoric in nature for all of the 80s and 90s. Listen to stories from guys like Taker, who is seemingly admired worldwide.
Guys like Austin, the Undertaker, William Regal, and even Michaels, who all credit Hunter’s love of the business and his loyalty to his friends is unmatched. He put Scott Hall into rehab like 12 times., and HE PAID FOR IT FOR A FEW OF THOSE TIMES BECAUSE THOUGHT ENOUGH WAS ENOUGH!
Vince rewarded Hunter for his loyalty and dedication after he saw Hunter being so reliable and dependable when all his other main guys were not that. A more mature Punk recently said he believes a lot of the villainy he felt about Hunter was really Vince, but Hunter was loyal to Vince because Vince rewarded him for all of the things he did to keep the Attitude Era progressing while it was in its infancy.
Hunter was NEVER in a position to tell Vince he should win or lose a match. Vince wouldn’t listen to his own children or even close confidants like Pat Patterson. Everyone thinks because he married Steph that Vince gave him special treatment. Never.
He knew he could rely on Hunter as champion. He didn’t trust Steiner or Booker T because they were the enemy when he nearly went bankrupt. They were within a month or so of not being able to secure the minimum amount necessary to keep that company running. So the guys that never wavered and hung on when everyone else jumped ship, Michaels, Taker, Hunte…He felt safer knowing when Hunter was champion that the ship was not going to crash and whether it was Foley or Rock or Austin, or anyone he wrestled, the outcome would be what Vince wanted.
It’s crystal clear now. ALL OF THE YOUNG TALENT credit Hunter for being a he voice of reason and one of, if not the very best minds the industry has ever had.
The hate on him at this point is just dumb. Means you were not paying attention, and even If everything ever said about him by bitter angry guys who were jealous of his success and foothold…He was literally stone sober during an era where when you hear the truth about the drug use, like Angle taking at least 50 opiates a day for years, or Michaels and Hall and Nash recounting taking 30 Somas each while drinking and telling the story with fondness…Without Hunter some of those guys probably died. And Austin, although his talent was undeniable, would have had to wait a bit before he could do his thing if Hunter didn’t accept the punishment. He earned everything he has accomplished, and by all accounts of other guys who seem to be honest and reliable, Hunter is a genius.
But, haters gonna hate…So probably just wasted my time…
And literally the criticism here is that Test could have hurt DX, because anyone paying attention saw how terribly Bischoff wrecked the golden goose by completely ruining the NWO in just about a year and a half. It wasn’t a slight on Test, as Hunter trusted him to work with his with at the time and made Test look strong.
His big heat draws are that he went over Booker, (who Vince never thought was WWE Champion material because after his purchase of WCW he planned to keep running their show on the other network with Shane at the helm, but after the infamous Booker T/Bagwell match, Vince supposedly scrapped that idea before they made it back to the locker room), Steiner, (who made so many errors in their matches that he ruined his chances on his own). According to Vince himself, who did put belts on Jericho, Goldberg, and other WCW guys, that the plan was to push Steiner all the way to the title, but he performed so poorly, that after their first big match the plan was scrapped, and then the biggest, Sting, who wrestled a specific style like Hogan, but with not so many limitations. BUT, this was a lifelong competitor to Vince, coming to the WWE long after his prime and he was supposed to have him beat one of the biggest stars and champions in the company’s history on the grandest stage of them all, his own creation, Wrestlemania? It wasn’t Hunter’s decision and he would never throw Vince under the bus when criticized for not putting these guys over.
Fact of the matter, he was the most solid heel throughout the entire Attitude Era, losing to Foley, Rock, Jericho and Austin because they maintained a level of quality and dependability and losses to them didn’t hurt him.
He put in his time, the right way, during an era where there was so much debauchery that dozens of wrestlers died as a result. Vince knew the belt was safe when Hunter had it, and so was the company.
His career will be looked at as the quintessential wrestler’s wrestling career.
It’s why he and a recovering Michaels have completely crushed their workings with NXT and bringing back longterm and cohesive storytelling.
I figured I already wrote a term paper, so why not just make it a dissertation…
@@hahajones Jesus Christ man !
@@hahajonesnobody’s is going to read all of that shit lol.
His WWE Entrance Theme will Never get old
Test. Test. Test. Test.... test. Test. Test. Test..... iconic. Period
Which one?
Yes I agree with you it was great
This is so sad I was a fan of test he could've been a world champion and should've been one, leave it to triple h to screw some one over so he can get ahead and he of all people should know better
I listen to his wwe theme on spotify before its so catchy
I still don't understand how WWF couldn't use this guy back in the late 90s. One of the biggest missed opportunities. All because big nose had to steal the spotlight. It's sad that Test died so young and never really got the recognition he deserved while being a pro wrestler.
Yeah the WWF really struggled in the late 90's due to the lack of main event Test matches 🙄 wise up ffs. Idiot.
WWE employed test for close to 10 years. Few wrestlers get that opportunity of longevity. Test had zero charisma and mic skills man to get to the next level. He was just big with a good look. They even paired test with Stacy Keibler and Trish and neither worked.
Are you guys mental out here? Were we watching the same 90’s wrestling? He had his shot. He had no charisma, he was average at best in every department. HHH definitely was the better direction to go with.
@@maverickrod2443 If best wrestler with most charisma was the way to go then Triple H also wasn't the better choice. Not when you had better wrestlers with more charisma in the roster like Kurt Angle, Tazz, Eddie Guerrero, Raven, Undertaker, even Edge and Christian arguably. Obviously WWE isn't just about charisma or wrestling ability
@ tazz? Eddie? Christian?… raven? 😂😂… none of those guys were going last or hold at 1.. taker has been we been the guy to carry and they gave him his due anyway.. Kurt, Edge got their time. Y’all just like yapping and being mad at dumb things. I bet hogan lives in your mind rent free too
Still one of my favorites wrestlers…his big boot is still unmatched
i loved him
Seconded!
Totally agree ...no one has a better " big boot" than test
Met Test in 05 and not long before his death, would chat with him over his website fan forum. In a time before social media like we have it now, it was rare for a wrestler to communicate with fans frequently.
The Fact that Test was about to Turn 34 When he Died is a Sad One.
Vince Did Test Dirty, Dude had the Look to be a Top Guy and a World Champion 😢 Plus His Big Boot was a Thing Of Beauty
He wasn't overly great in the ring. he wasn't great on the mic. And his big boot was apparently stiff as hell, and more than a couple of wrestlers said he gave them a concussion.
I liked him, but he wasn't really done all that dirty.
Sounds more like HHH did him dirty.
Why are you capitalizing everything?
Good wrestler but didn’t have the charisma.
@@GarthTheDestroyer I’m pretty sure would feel bad now after what happened he isn’t the same person like he was all those years ago he has changed he has matured and most of all he’s not a better person. He went through all kinds of other stuff and he got some help and he’s now a better person
Sad. He ruled. Test was a really awesome guy, like a cross between Edge, Triple H, and Kevin Nash.
He always looked like a jacked christain cage to me.
he came before edge
*PLEDGE*
Is beyond boring
Out of all of the big men in wrestling, Test had by far one of the best Big Boots in the business.
One of my favs R.I.P TEST
I miss this dude. Damn. He was such a great wrestler and also a great person. You can tell in that interview that he was vulnerable enough to speak from his aching heart. Rest in peace Andrew.
He is another guy that HHH buried for his own gain.All I can say is rip Test
But Test's is the Biggest Tragedy of them all.
@@conradojavier7547test wasmt the best in the ring
He was really good, but HHH was the right choice here. Test was upper mid card but not in the same league as Austin, Rock, Taker, HHH, Foley, etc...
I wouldn’t even say upper card. He was mid.. I never ever wonder… what if test _______. I just remember he was a good looking big guy who never really left an impression outside of that
@nopulse-h4p I think you're missing the point
One of the most badass wrestlers ever
Never got the push he should have gotten
It didn’t help that he was trained at the Hart wrestling school and after the Screwjob, everyone associated with Bret was buried unless they’d managed to get themselves way over already or had other powerful friends.
He got plenty of pushes. He's just not Austin, or The Rock, or The Undertaker etc.
He was average at best and did pretty well with his limited abilities. You’re only saying that because he’s dead. Virtue signalling
Test got a million pushes. They even paired him with Stacy Keibler and he flopped
He was average, supported by his looks and size. No chrisma
Why am I not surprised Triple H is responsible for getting Test's push halted on 2 separate occasions? Another name on the list of talents that have been held back because of one guy's ego.
RIP Test 🙏 He was one of my favorite wrestlers that I lost along with Sean O'Haire , who was another one of wrestlings' biggest "What Ifs?" After Test died, I got his Celtic cross tattoo on my left shoulder as a memorial tribute to him.
His 2002 theme is still a banger, to this day. May he rest in peace.
Another of Triple H's victims. Maven has said on his RUclips channel that Test didn't play the politics game backstage and wasn't afraid to be honest and speak his mind, which is always going to hinder your chances of moving up the ladder in a place like WWE. His premature death should have been prevented too.
You ever thought that maybe Maven could've been kicked out of WWE for poor behavior and maybe thar wasn't disclosed? 😅
It’s all about the game and how you play it….. test wasn’t it…..
In another shoot interview, Albert
said that him and Test were really good friends and that the two of them and Trish would go to parties and he looked really funny when he would dance at a rave.
The same thing with him and Val Venis being good friends
He was so good. A big, strong, agile mountain of a man.
One thing I remember about Andrew Martin was that Sabu did a shoot interview where he said he hated wrestling Test because he would straight up kick him in the head as hard as he could and one of his fans in the comments section said that if even Sabu says you're being stiff, you know you're being too stiff.
Rvd told some funny test stories on cafe de Rene that I recommend
Test was one of a Kind and a good wrestler.its a shame what happend to him. And typical Triple H , to push a Talent down the ladder.
Vince let too many people persuade him so many careers ruined
One of the many, many careers Paul Levesque destroyed. Andrew Martin will always be one of wrestling's biggest what-ifs.
He was back in the mid 2000s, was juiced out of his head and a raving drug addict. There’s you’re answer to what if
In his last days, he was in a show in France where he played an American heel against Rene Dupree from La Résistance. Bret Hart appeared too.
Triple Hthe king of ruining careers
Test should’ve been champion on the WWECW show.
A sad story of someone who had potential. Test had won every title in WWE except for the world title and the US title. He even won the WCW & WWE tag team titles with Booker T during the Invasion storyline. He was one of my favorites during the Attitude Era. He definitely deserves a spot in the WWE HOF!
Leave it to HHH to politic his way up
Well, if your boss is stupid enough to let you sit in his creative meetings since 97, you can't entirely blame Hunter.
@@Thefufflylord I blame HHH for being a greedy pos. Vince was just the money man - of course Vince was stupid for letting HHH bury Test but he also allowed him to bury Chyna so there's that.
@@NickZelver Absolutely. I've said it once, but it's worth repeating. Vince McMahon succeeded because everyone else failed. If he'd left to his own devices and booked the way he wanted, the WWF would have been out of business a long time ago.
He was very underrated r i p test
He had the greatest big boot ever. I miss Test even today, huge part of my childhood.
Definitely should've been a main eventer. Unfortunately, he was sandbagged with a stupid ring name & crappy booking.
It was more to do with Triple-H. Hunter was sitting in Vince's booking meeting since 97 and he often used that position to torpedo or hinder careers - Jericho, Van Dam, Angle, Gunn, Goldberg, Booker-T, and, sadly, Test.
@@Thefufflylord HHH had nothing to do with Gunn's failures
He wasn't capable of doing long matches doing asthma, and when he had his main event program with the Rock, the Rock refused to make him look good because he didn't want to work with him
@@MrSniperfox29 Gunn's even mentioned that Paul was the one that had his career torpedoed.
Thanks for this video. It was a respectful tribute to a tragic figure in wrestling.
Rest easy brother.🕊️
R.I.P. Andrew " Test " Martin.
Rest in peace Andrew Martin a.k.a. test you were one of the most baddest mother f in the Wrestling industry you were cool you are funny. You are awesome. You are intimidating and you would’ve helped a lot of people in wrestling and also you really been an awesome world champion RIP big man you were one hell of a wrestler
Another victim of the Kliq.
test's match with shane mcmahon at summerslam '99 is UNDERRATED! a match that had no business being as it good as it should've been. in fact, it was the match of the night.
I remember I got into wrestling in 2007 at the age of 9 I would watch wrestling matches and videos all day and man when I found out about test I was like wow he looks so cool and he quickly became one of my favorites I would watch his old matches a lot unfortunately he was released by wwe just before i started watching wrestling and I would always hope he would return I was very devastated when I heard he passed away rip big man ❤
7:36 What a joke! Both Vince and hhh were on tons of gear back then, so why the hell didn’t they turn a blind eye to Tests increased testosterone? Also Batista, Randy et al were all on gear.
Right
WWE picks and chose far too often back in the day depending on your status on the card…Vince was the boss so it is what it is. As for the talent it’s a different story
He was awesome
HHH has so much blood on his hands
Oh grow up, he died of a drug overdose because he was a drug addict. Nothing to do with HHH
Sure does. Test and Chyna.
Great video
Worked with Andrew at a bar in Oshawa, solid guy, was sad to hear about his ending
He had a great big boot better than hogans and when he came off the ropes it looked awesome seeing a guy that big doing aerial stuff
he was the only Test I liked back in high school. R.I.P🌹
I never thought Test was as good as some think he was. However, still sad to hear how it all ended.
So much potential big dude had the moves and a big ol boot 🥾
@3:40 HHH’s power play. If he didn’t do that, we would be looking at a very different WWE today.
Would’ve been a multi time champ today
Test had the talent and potential in wrestling and despite being buried by Triple H in the WWE, his best accomplishment was beating Triple H on Smackdown in 2002……
Andrew needs to be on Dark Side Of The Ring .
I hope so. That would be awesome episode. Also, is there any news of them doing another season?
I've been asking for that too
@ yeah I also been asking for the public enemy the ring boys scandal the Ashley Massaro kill and a whole Lotta others
Andrew lived in the Tampa area. I met him at a club in Tampa. He was there just hanging out with his buddy. He had no reason to be nice to me. But he was. He was super nice. Ironically, that night I also met Brian Christopher. Another guy who was really nice. We talked for a few moments. I think this was just after the whole canadian arrest story. I don't remember. I obviously didn't mention that. Sad that both are gone.
I met him during the height of his UnAmerican story incase anyone was wanting to know.
I remember Andrew Martin very well. Back then I had the biggest crush on him. Because of the way he treated Stephanie McMahon. Rip Andrew
Such a shame and so young. That big boot looked devastating. He had the size and look to be a major player and wwe fumbled the ball with him.
Intercontinental champion
European champion
Hardcore champion
Tag team champion
One of my favorites very sad story rest in peace Andrew Martin 😢
He was my favorite for a long time...I miss him a lot. He was awesome.
Worth mentioning that he spoke his mind too much and didn't play it smart with backstage politics, and the big boot was known to be so stiff that even Sabu refused to take it more than once.
I am 45 years old now and i remember seeing that match on Summerslam in 1999 back then when he was with Stephanie. I was 18 years old at that time and thought Test was the guy to go with. In my part of the world they do not show pro wrestling on tv so i had no chance to follow it other than online.
I always thought that Test aka Andrew looked the part and had the part and could do a decent promo as well.
I am not surprised at all that Triple H was part of his career demise when it involved that part with Stephanie. From what i have seen Triple H is a worse primadonna that Shawn Michaels ever was.
And of course Opioids. Always Opioids. The American painkiller crisis.
Rip Test. 🙏 ❤
Holy fuck, I didn't know he died. That sucks :(
R.I.P. Mr Martin.
Triple H buried a lot of people to be where he’s at right now! Don’t hate the player hate the game!
So did Hogan. Thank for the company going public right.
I'm going to be controversial but he should of won the title at December to dismember instead of boring lashley
*should have
@matturner6890 sorry
Triple HHH, the biggest back stabber in WWE history. And, beyond...
Same group that got Owen, got him
Triple H personally helped kill off so many other wrestlers.
I never compared Test to Kevin Nash back in the day but I can see exactly where the Nash comparisons come from. He was a splitting image of Nash but a way better wrestler. Triple H didn't want anyone being bigger than him as a wrestler. Test is on a long list of wrestlers Triple H buried.
Nash has Charisma while Andrew had none. I loved test to death but fact is the guy could not carry a promo worth a dime.
Test had a pretty successful run during one of professional wrestling's most successful eras/years. He won plenty of titles in the year 2001 and by that time as a wrestler, he was great in the ring.
I was a big fan of Test! He was huge, had a nice body, was very handsome, and also a good wrestler. How on earth did he not become bigger?
Backstage politics are you could see.
I always say if I could build myself as a wrestler it would be Test, 6’6 285 great power game, and athleticism with underrated technical wrestling & brawling ability, he had the gear and a kickass theme too.
This dude had undertaker level talent as a big guy but his biggest story was of course putting over triple H. He never really reached mid card after that but I still enjoyed seeing him. Great theme song and man that big boot always looked absolutely devastating.
Looking back at the three Canadians that joined the WWE in the same year (Edge, Test and Christian), they all had a pretty good career early on. Things were looking for them by 2001; they were all doing their own thing in the mid-card. Edge is the most successful of 'em all. He remained with WWE and has a storied career there. Christian went onto TNA and did his own thing there, then would soon return to WWE. Test got released eventually, then returned to WWE but unfortunately, got released again and then soon would pass away. Another thing to mention is that Christian and Test were close to each other.
"Test had too much TESTosterone in his blood..." :p
Got to meet him at a grand opening for toys r us. He signed my Raw magazine that had a article of him. Was a cool guy too.
Test vs dominik dijakovic dream match
You left out the part where he was notoriously difficult to work with in all companies.
Knew him personally, did you?
Best big boot in the business.
Test >>> drew barrymore
He was one of my fav!
HHH held back a lot of people over the years… it’s good to see him making amends with the amount of people getting a push now…
Man I loved Test. He had that cool entrance music, impressive powerhouse move set, the hulking super hero physique and that big boot! He had *almost* everything to be a top guy, but his lack of personality and charisma and bland promo style let him down. He was one of those guys who just couldn't connect with the audience (Shelton Benjamin had this same problem).
This wasn't helped that whenever he seemed to get some momentum going, it would usually come a screeching halt and he'd be back where he started. Let's take a brief look; A short European title reign in 2001, loses it to Eddie and then gets saddled in the hardcore division. A short revival when he's suspected of being The Alliance mole, feels betrayed by the WWF and joins The Alliance, which was majorly lacking in star power. Here, he's able to stand out, has a short tag run with Booker, followed by a short IC run and then once again, this all stops as soon as he loses the title. He wasn't even on the Wrestlemania card the next year, which was in his home town! Heck, even the test-icles thing with Stacey was *something* to give him personality, but that took a weird turn when Steiner got involved and they had their never ending feud. Lastly, the ECW run which as you mentioned started out well, then within a blink of an eye, he's gone from the company completely.
And of course, the initial stop to his momentum was the wedding with Stephanie. You can't deny that test HOT at the time - just look at how much the fans were behind him in that Summerslam match with Shane. They were ready to accept him as a top guy. Having said that, Triple H was right to shoe horn his way into it. For reasons stated above, I just can't imagine a world where Test is in that top heel position battling the likes of Rock, Kane, Undertaker & Jericho. We'll never know, but I can't see that working and don't forget he was only 2 years into his career at this point where as Triple H was nearing the end of his first decade and had a proven track record.
This also has to be said... and this is just from various interviews I've come across over the years is that Test's personality was quite polarising. You either loved the guy and he would do anything for you in return, or he was complete stand off-ish jerk and in the politics of pro wrestling, or frankly any industry, this is huge. If you're not well liked by the right people, you're simply not going to reach the higher level of success than if they did.
That interview you quoted from 2007 where he was talking about funerals is interesting and one everyone here should watch (it's not very hard to find). But basically, he seemed completely done with wrestling at that point in his life and wanted to disappear into the shadows. He honestly seemed like a guy who didn't like fame, didn't want to be recognized, didn't even want to be called Test. He just wanted a simple life where he could be amongst society as normal person. The sad reality though is that Test was one of the many chewed up and spat out by the business.
Test had a good run and left an impressionable legacy with a career span that most wrestlers would trade places with. And that 1999 entrance... I still listen to that shit at the gym when I'm ready to tear it up!
The best Big Boot ever in the history of wrestling!
I remember seeing him win the Immunity Battle Royal at the end of the InVasion angle and thinking they were finally gonna give him a massive push, only to just forget about it within a couple of months. So much potential wasted
Of course it was Triple H who shut down the idea of Test joining the DX. Test was a threat to Triple H, and Triple H was afraid Test might outshine him.
when i was a teen i was a big fan ....... R.I.P test !!!!
He was perfect😩 still made he died before I could be old enough to marry him. Rip Andrew “Test”Martin. HHH was so jealous of Test
Guys saying he should have been a world champ. No. He was a solid wrestler. But he lacked that “it” factor.
Triple H really blocked this man's opportunity to be a star
Fantastic Big Boot I remember from back then
I swear hhh is a weasel. The guy was one of the worst in ring wrestlers, slow, lumbering and zero athleticism.
RIP Test
Once they threw him into that T&A team, I knew it was over.
Age and circumstances have numbed my ability to feel sympathy for grown men who destroy themselves for careers in a business where they fake fight each other in spandex
Did Test and Wrath have the same finisher? @1:56?
Tests main issue that despite the look, he didnt really have much ring presence or charisma
i am still waiting for Big Bill/Will Morrisey to be like Test...
R.I.P
I thought Triple H at first was using his influence to become a bigger star in WWF/E, and Stephanie and HHH actually fall in love and look at him today.
Kinda tipsy and found this video and wasnt gonna comment but i remember as a kid seeing test in his feud with hhh i think.... im 32 rn so do the math.... i thought at the time he looked cooler than hhh.... that feud and vinces treatment of this is maybe why hes not even here.... as a kid i really thought test married steph and really thought he was like a real like prince with muscles etc..... dude was better looking than the haitch..... no homo.... can bet hhh waas jealous and did his best to bury and ruin him.... i was rooting for the guy .... rip test
So much BS about Brey Wyatt but he was no where as good as Andrew Martin!
I really liked the McMahon Helmsley arc though.
WWE: who's TesT?
Do somebody have a TesT today?
Guy really could've been a top heel.