Now you will not swell the routOf lads that wore their honours out,
Runners whom renown outran
And the name died before the man.
-From A. E. Housman's "To an Athlete Dying Young"
I've been meaning to note the death of another young wrestler, Andrew "Test" Martin a couple weeks ago. He died only a few days before his 34th birthday in his living room, apparently while eating a pizza. His death was not a "surprise" in the sense that he had known addictions, and police did release the fact that they found steroids in his place. As several people have written though, what does it mean that the "premature" death of one more in a long line of wrestlers is no longer really a surprise? And what is premature in a business where pain killers and steroids/HGH (functional enablers and aesthetic enhancers) are still relatively common? As you can see in the video below, even the wrestlers know the gig at this point. Test knew the deal, Test was addicted, Test went to rehab, Test wanted to be huge still, Test wanted to somehow transition out of the business, Test...we have no idea what Test was thinking, but Test was only 33 years old. But...Test abused things that can kill you. Please watch the video below and if you have a moment, let me know (via a comment) how you make sense of freewill within the context of addiction, even when you see the accumulation of YouTube tribute videos to guys you've wrestled, traveled with, and who were your age. Did Test die young, or did he simply pass away at the "right" age given the abuse he gave his body? Either way, pro wrestling has lost a total of 3 more guys under 50 in the past few weeks...
What's the addiction? Drugs or ego? If it's drugs and there's a physical addiction involved, then it's not unique. You can find the same deathbed deals about smoking cigarettes in any oncology center in the country.
ReplyDeleteIf the addiction is ego, that's different. Martin talks about "partying" but not steroids. Sounds like there's a cocktail of drugs involved but steroids aren't mentioned.
That is a real tragedy about Test and all of the other early deaths of wrestlers. Maybe the finger should be pointed at the WWE demanding better regulation. But how can you regulate competition that is not "real", it's "fake". Why is it that when players in the MLB juice, it is called " tarnishing an era", but it's just accepted in the world of wrestling? Is there no "harm to the kids" with all the viewers tuning in each week? I do not think that Test wanted to die. He did want to continue in the world of theatrical wrestling. If you want to play the sport, you have to wear the uniform. If you want to perform on the stage of wrestling, you have to wear the costume, it's just applied from the inside out.
ReplyDeleteMohamed Rasheed.
ReplyDeleteI think that Test died because it was his time. God does not make mistakes. Yeah he was a steroid addict, but there are plenty steroid addicts that live to see many more years than 33. So the question if he died "prematurely" is irrelevant in my eyes.
Brian Mendoza,
ReplyDeleteI feel that Andrew "Test" Martin died because of the business. The entertainment business and the wrestling media, to me, is a difficult career to stay in, and to stay fit for. I feel that Test had personal issues just like the video said. "Through out the 333 days on the road, you forget who you are," and the fact that he lost himself through out his career made him become someone he didn't want to be, and that is an addict. So i feel that, the fact that test did attend 8 funerals in one year did scare him, but it didn't change his bad habits. I grew up watching wrestling, and i enjoyed it, but i wouldn't let wrestling end my life. Rest in Paradise to Andrew "Test" Martin.
"Test" was a victim of the business. Pro wrestling is a business synonymous with drugs, whether they are street drugs or performance enhancing drugs. Wrestlers are forced to travel and be on the road a majority of the year. To deal with the stress of this lifestyle many of these wrestlers use drugs as an escape. As he mentioned in the video most of these people understand this lifestyle prior to joining the business. Unfortunately, "test" was taken too early and ultimately was a victim of the harsh life of professional wrestling.
ReplyDeletemike gonzalez
Unfortunately for Test, his realization of the extremity and reality of the business he came to love so much was too late only before being the result of his demise. Test, only a year before his death, stated he and wrestlers alike had two choices: "get out of the club", or lie beside those who have already passed due to steriod and other drug use and abuse. While the business of being a professional wrestler can be enthralling and enjoyable for the thrills and glory, the high demand for rock-solid bodies and the use of substances to attain that image will inevitably take a toll on the bodies of those who use them. Despite the realization and understanding of the potential consequences, wrestlers challenge themselves, and instead give their profession a deeper meaning to their lives beyond the possible negative outcome.
ReplyDelete- It is very sad that "Test" died at such a young age but it was his choice. I feel that there is a choice for everything and with it comes different consequences and you must live with it. Test chose steroids because it was part of thew business. Being a wrestler means being huge and being jacked up on whatever is going to make you bigger. Even though he tried to quit and went through rehab, being physically bigger was just more important than his health.
ReplyDeleteYet another wrestler dies due to a drug related issue. But still the light has not shine on the industry because there are probably still many wrestlers who are doing drugs. The addiction is can be fought and won, it just that the wrestlers choose not to because with the drugs come fame and money for most. I don't remember his name but he was a friend of Mark "The Hammer" Coleman in Pride, he was addicted to pain killers. He was able to get off of it going through rehab. All these athlete have a choice but they choose to have all the fame and glamor so as a result they have to keep up with those who are getting the fame. The only way to do so is to start using drugs. The world will never be rid of drug because there is a supply and demand for the item.
ReplyDelete"Test" Martin died young. He died because of the business. He died due to the drugs AND his ego. The average life expectancy for men is in the mid 70's and "Test" died at 33. Okay, it make sense that he was more susceptible to dying at a younger age, but at 33, that's really young. He didn't even reach half the average life expectancy for males in the United States!
ReplyDeleteInteresting how he mentioned in the interview, "It's the nature of the business".
Test died very, very young. In this century, no one really thinks about death at the age of 30 at all. I think given his addiction to drugs he died at the "right" age. Its sad to say, but when someone abuses the body in those ways death its bound to happen, it just hapened sooner than expected to Test.
ReplyDeleteJessie Sanchez said...
ReplyDeleteIt is sad to hear another wrestler passed away from steroid use. Through my classes this semester it has opened my eyes to how many athletes use performing enhancing drugs even when they know the risk. Fortunately he was not insane like Chris Benoit who murder his family. Sadly in the WWE steroid use is part of the culture and is not about to go away.
I believe Andrew "Test" Martin died because of business. Like he said, "you lose track of who you are." His ego made him do what he needed to do in the wrestling business. I believe he died at the "right age" because of his drug abuse. I also remember watching a documentary about Mark Kerr in "The Smashing Machine." He said something about taking opiates which is something he wouldn't want or normally do but he took it anyways. Luckily, he survived his overdose and discontinued his addiction!
ReplyDeleteRussell Rabanal KIN 164
Sadly, yet another wrestler is dead because of steroids. How many more have to die in order for something to be done? More importantly, why isnt anything being done to prevent these deaths? Maybe because in the wrestling industry you need to be bigger and stronger. Wrestling is all about big guys making a spectacle of themselves. These events boost ratings. The reality of the business is that money is most important. But why are they regulating professional sports and not wrestling? So should there be a difference between professional sports and sports entertainment? The truth of the matter is that there is no difference.
ReplyDeleteIt's disturbing to hear the amount of funerals that Test said that he attended in the past year. In his voice it sounded like he wanted to change and clean up because he said that he didn't want to end up laying next to all of the other people that he lost in his life. Test said he had always had an interest in wrestling, but to hear him say that once he got into the business that his perspective changed, it's a sad story to hear that he died so young, even with the abuse he did to his body.
ReplyDelete-Chris Roman KIN 164