This exclusive interview with WWE Superstar Test (aka Andrew
Martin) was conducted by Film-Reviews.net's webmaster Mark
O'Connell. The Interview took place at London's Sports Café on
Wed 2nd July 2003.
Martin) was conducted by Film-Reviews.net's webmaster Mark
O'Connell. The Interview took place at London's Sports Café on
Wed 2nd July 2003.
M (Mark): Do you get to play many wrestling games, and what do you think of your video game likeness?
T (Test): Erm Ive got to play like every game that Ive been on since Ive been here so Ive been on every wrestling game for the past 5 years. Um, I think their great ya know. I dont have any complaints against any of them, I mean theyre so accurate. Theyre so specific, especially now in the deal in the entrance, to all the moves, looks, all the tattoos, its so exact.
M: I find I use your character quite a lot actually because you can perform your finisher from any point in the ring. When your running towards your opponent you can just press L1.
T: Yeah!
M: What new feature would you like to see added to a wrestling game if you could have anything?
T: Well the bra and panties match is a big plus for me!
M: Absolutely!
: Yeah definitely! I think they should bring in I was always a big fan of the womans gravy bowl matches.
M: Yeah, Ive suggested that actually
T: That would be a nice addition or maybe er maybe a Mai Young strip show, just for continuity sakes not that Im a big fan.
M: Well I dont know about that one!
How much control do you have in your characters direction on television?
T: On TV?
M: Yeah.
T: I mean Vince comes up with most of the stuff and the writers. But I mean, Im very hands on like you get a lot of input on what you want to do and what your comfortable with. I mean Vince is very open to anything.
M: Thats cool. So do you prefer being a heel or a babyface?
T: Heel. Its a lot easier to get people to hate you.
M: Who came up with the idea for your Testicles gimmick?
T: Erm, I think that was Vinces idea.
M: And what was he doing when he thought of it?
T: (Laughs) I dont know I really dont want to touch on that one.
M: (laughs) I wouldnt want to touch it either!
T: That was his idea
M: You got a lot of heat when you were part of the Un-Americans. Why was the group broken up?
T: Um, Im not 100% sure like it was anything you can only do so much with something like that. Ya know, its going to run its course. I mean there was some real heat there. You I never really (Pauses) I never disliked the angle at all. I thought it had good heat, and Im all for that. Whenever you can get people to hate you.
M: Yeah.
T: At the same time some of my friends who had fought in the Gulf war, or lost lives were offended by it, ya know. But I can understand where theyre coming from. I think it offended a lot of people in one way. You know, you got to remember this is entertainment.
M: What is your favourite match, or storyline, that you have been involved in?
T: Id have to say my very favourite storyline is now. The one Im involved in now with Stacy and Scott. The one before that was the one that was all with Stephanie. And one of my favourite matches has definitely been with Shane.
M: Yeah that was a good match. Do you think that if you had married Stephanie you would have been the Heavyweight Champion for 10 months?
T: I got no complaints Id take Stace over Steph any day.
M: I know what you mean. I expect your in-laws are a lot nicer too
T: (laughs) right.
M: What is the worst injury you have ever suffered?
T: I fractured a vertebrae in my back. I have 2 bulging discs. You know its a nagging injury I still have, Im still going through so that would probably be the most painful.
M: How did that happen?
T: Doing a hardcore match I took a bump on a piece of steel.
M: Do you get much time to spend with your family, considering the amount of time you are on the road?
T: Im going to see my parents actually. I fly home, well not my home anymore, but I fly home they live in Toronto. I get to spend a day with them tomorrow before I head off to work so I have actually seen them 3 times in the last year.
M: How many hours a week do you spend training, and is it hard maintaining a nutritious diet?
T: Im pretty strict with myself in what I eat. I train for 5 days a week for about an hour and a half. Im pretty good about what I eat. Stacy likes to cheat a lot and eats a lot of junk food. I try to stay good.
M: So your actually going out with her in real life?
T: Yes.
M: Youre a lucky man. On Smackdown5.com, most of my visitors sent in questions on our message board. Most of them were about Stacy. But I havent selected any of them because Im interviewing you. What is your most embarrassing moment?
T: Most embarrassing I dont really have one. You know, I never really got embarrassed on TV. I cant even nothing comes to mind.
M: Not anything you were supposed to do that went wrong?
T: No.. Ive been really lucky that way. Things have never really been botched so bad that its been embarrassing.
M: I saw the thing where Scott Steiner fell off the steps at Bad Blood
T: (laughs) I felt bad for Scott.
M: Do you think the brand extension has been a success? Would the WWE benefit from some competition like back in the WCW days?
T: I think it will be a success, the brand extension. I mean you got to give it some time. The Internets no offence to you or anything, or your website, I dont know what you write about.
M: Wrestling games mainly
T: The Internet is a in my opinion it hurts our business. Theres nothing ever good on there, or said about anybody. You know, everybodys got a comment to make or say about something negative about whether Triple H has had the belt to long Test sucks Scott Steiner is not a main event guy. What ever goes on, people always have an opinion about everything. And you know, it really bothers me. I got to the point I dont even get on the net anymore, cos theirs nothing positive about any of us on there. And these are all guys that have never gotten in the ring or even tried to do what we do. And you know, they would bash the brand extension and they want to bash everything else. Give it some time and it will come together. I mean how many times is Vince McMahon wrong? I mean hes a clever man. He can do what ever he wants and hes going to make it go no matter what.
M: I personally think its been a success because its given you all more TV time on Pay-Per-Views.
T: Yeah thats what Im talking about. The younger guys like me, and Christian, Edge when he comes back you know the younger guys. Where as the older guys, they dont want to leave their spot.
M: Because it used to be that you would have the main event guys on PPVs and everyone else would be stuck on Velocity.
T: Yeah, I mean its good for me I like it.
M: Do you think you will go for the Intercontinental Title?
T: No, you know, I had it twice before. Id like to get it again but I mean now Christians got it. In my opinion Christians probably the most under-rated wrestler in wrestling. In the business I think hes one of the best. Hes one of my favourites. He makes me laugh.
M: Hes definitely come into his own since he got the hair cut and everything.
T: Yeah definitely, definitely! I think its good for him now. I hope they keep it on him for a while.
M: Ive enjoyed it with him and Booker T. Like when they did the spineroonie contest.
T: (Laughs) yeah that was great!
M: If you could fight against any wrestler, what would your dream match be? Past or present , alive or dead?
T: See I dont know. So many people asked me that today. There are a lot of great guys to work with, guys that I enjoy working with. Ya know, like Christian, like Edge, like Jericho
M: All Canadians!
T: like Val. Yeah thats right, all Canadians, everybody says that. You know, Benoit is one guy I havent worked with actually. Id like to get the chance to work with him.
M: Do you think it was a good idea introducing the boring angle for Lance Storm? Because since then Ive noticed that fans have started chanting it in other matches. If it catches on like the what? thing, it could cause problems.
T: You know, Lance is a hell of a worker. His personality in real life is very dry. People just dont understand that. So I dont know, I mean its something I think you should give it some time. I didnt see how it went last week, but you know the first week I wasnt sure, the next week it started getting some reactions. I mean if it starts getting a reaction like Kurt did with the You Suck chant it would be great.
M: I mean, any reactions a good reaction right?
T: Yeah!
M: Ok, word association. Ill say a word; you say what ever pops into your mind.
Vince McMahon?
T: Genius.
M: Hulk Hogan?
T: The greatest of all time. I mean, no matter how long he goes away, he always comes back and the fans love him. Theres something about him just drives you to him. Ya know, Im actually friends with Terry, and something about him drives you to him.
M: Hes one of my favourite wrestlers of all time.
T: Yeah hes mine too. Hes such a good guy, Terry.
M: At Wrestlemania X8 when he was against the Rock, I actually got excited like I did when I was younger. I havent had that for a while
T: When he and Rock had the match, I mean thats the only time Ive watched a match and sent chills through my body. It was great. Its the greatest match Ive ever seen.
M: It was an awesome match wasnt it? Ok, Stacy Keibler?
T: The best thing thats ever happened to me.
M: Excellent. Triple H?
T: On top of his game.
M: The Invasion angle?
T: Couldve been but wasnt.
M: I was a bit disappointed by that, the first PPV by WWE
T: There were so many wrestlers, and how many of them worked out? Theres Booker, Hurricane, thats about it you know.
M: A lot of them, I cant even remember who they brought in now. What does the locker room think when newcomers come to the WWE and receive huge pushes straight away, like Goldberg and Brock Lesnar, when other guys have been in the company years?
T: Well I kind of went through that myself when I first came here. It happened to me.
M: You came into the Corporation didnt you?
T: Yeah, right away. And ya know, I understand guys have been in this business for a long time and worked hard to get where they are. Theres these kids coming in right away and getting a push. I mean, are you going to tell me theyd turn it down if it happened to them. (Laughs) what are they going to say, no dont push me!
M: Fair enough. How often do you see wrestlers from the Smackdown roster and which brand do you prefer?
T: Once a month usually, and not any more. I mean we split the Pay Per Views. I think Smackdown has better workers. I think our shows better. I think our shows better written.
M: Yeah.
T: I think I thought Paul Heymen did a really good job when he was writing Smackdown. Im not saying its not all really good now its just we went through a lot of transitions where. Raws the older show and its what people know. So its always going to be, ya know When we first did the split we were there, like me Lance, Jericho and I loved that crew, they were good. I really thought they should have left that they way it was and I thought that show would have really taken off.
M: Due to the large number of injuries lately, is the WWE doing much to limit accidents?
T: Were trying to tone it down a bit especially, everywhere. You know, working all the time like we do, you cant help it.
M: How many matches do you have a week, roughly?
T: Four or five.
M: So you dont get a lot of time for your body to heal.
T: No, I mean your back in it, you know.
M: So youre saving all the big stuff for Pay Per Views?
T: yeah, you try to.
M: Have you ever considered releasing a book, or making a film?
T: Never. I would never write anything about the boys, anything negative about the boys. I shouldnt be writing a book, I havent been in this business long enough. The stuff I write about, probably, I dont want people to know about! And as far as releasing a movie, no I never considered it.
M: Mick foley has done quite well hasnt he, with his books.
T: Mick Foleys a different kind of writer. Mick Foleys a really gifted writer. I talking about this stuff where guys come out and shit on wrestling you know. They write all the stuff that goes on. That HBO sports thing that just aired
M: That Rowdy Roddy Piper thing wasnt it?
T: Piper had no business talking about the boys, and he got fired cos of it. He should have been, ya know.
M: Rightly so. Do you own a console and if so, what are your favourite games?
T: I have a Playstation 2. My favourite games are probably like American Football, hockey, and basketball. I like the wrestling too. Any sports games really.
M: Do you have Smackdown 4?
T: Yeah I have the latest one that come out.
M: What do you do on your days off, if you get any?
T: Sit by the pool and have a couple of beers really
M: How would I go about going backstage at a WWE event?
T: Probably dressing up as somebody and sneaking in! (laughs) Thats probably your best chance!
M: Is it true that Mai Young put anchovies down her underwear when she stink-faced Eric Bishoff at Bad Blood?
T: (Laughs) I know nothing, I see nothing!
M: Thats a yes then (laughs). Do you know when the WWE will next be returning to England, and do you enjoy wrestling in front of the UK fans?
T: Yes, I love wrestling in front of the UK fans. They are some of the greatest fans we have. And, I think Smackdown is going to be here next in October.
M: Cool, because I missed the last one!
T: Oh really? We were just here 3 weeks ago I think.
M: Yeah, thats right. Can I get you to sign a couple of things?
T: (Signs my copy of Smackdown 4: Shut Your mouth, and poses for photos!)
M: Test, it was fantastic talking to you. I look forwards to seeing you wrestle again really soon. On behalf of myself, and our visitors at Smackdown5.com,
Thank you!
T: Thank you!
T (Test): Erm Ive got to play like every game that Ive been on since Ive been here so Ive been on every wrestling game for the past 5 years. Um, I think their great ya know. I dont have any complaints against any of them, I mean theyre so accurate. Theyre so specific, especially now in the deal in the entrance, to all the moves, looks, all the tattoos, its so exact.
M: I find I use your character quite a lot actually because you can perform your finisher from any point in the ring. When your running towards your opponent you can just press L1.
T: Yeah!
M: What new feature would you like to see added to a wrestling game if you could have anything?
T: Well the bra and panties match is a big plus for me!
M: Absolutely!
: Yeah definitely! I think they should bring in I was always a big fan of the womans gravy bowl matches.
M: Yeah, Ive suggested that actually
T: That would be a nice addition or maybe er maybe a Mai Young strip show, just for continuity sakes not that Im a big fan.
M: Well I dont know about that one!
How much control do you have in your characters direction on television?
T: On TV?
M: Yeah.
T: I mean Vince comes up with most of the stuff and the writers. But I mean, Im very hands on like you get a lot of input on what you want to do and what your comfortable with. I mean Vince is very open to anything.
M: Thats cool. So do you prefer being a heel or a babyface?
T: Heel. Its a lot easier to get people to hate you.
M: Who came up with the idea for your Testicles gimmick?
T: Erm, I think that was Vinces idea.
M: And what was he doing when he thought of it?
T: (Laughs) I dont know I really dont want to touch on that one.
M: (laughs) I wouldnt want to touch it either!
T: That was his idea
M: You got a lot of heat when you were part of the Un-Americans. Why was the group broken up?
T: Um, Im not 100% sure like it was anything you can only do so much with something like that. Ya know, its going to run its course. I mean there was some real heat there. You I never really (Pauses) I never disliked the angle at all. I thought it had good heat, and Im all for that. Whenever you can get people to hate you.
M: Yeah.
T: At the same time some of my friends who had fought in the Gulf war, or lost lives were offended by it, ya know. But I can understand where theyre coming from. I think it offended a lot of people in one way. You know, you got to remember this is entertainment.
M: What is your favourite match, or storyline, that you have been involved in?
T: Id have to say my very favourite storyline is now. The one Im involved in now with Stacy and Scott. The one before that was the one that was all with Stephanie. And one of my favourite matches has definitely been with Shane.
M: Yeah that was a good match. Do you think that if you had married Stephanie you would have been the Heavyweight Champion for 10 months?
T: I got no complaints Id take Stace over Steph any day.
M: I know what you mean. I expect your in-laws are a lot nicer too
T: (laughs) right.
M: What is the worst injury you have ever suffered?
T: I fractured a vertebrae in my back. I have 2 bulging discs. You know its a nagging injury I still have, Im still going through so that would probably be the most painful.
M: How did that happen?
T: Doing a hardcore match I took a bump on a piece of steel.
M: Do you get much time to spend with your family, considering the amount of time you are on the road?
T: Im going to see my parents actually. I fly home, well not my home anymore, but I fly home they live in Toronto. I get to spend a day with them tomorrow before I head off to work so I have actually seen them 3 times in the last year.
M: How many hours a week do you spend training, and is it hard maintaining a nutritious diet?
T: Im pretty strict with myself in what I eat. I train for 5 days a week for about an hour and a half. Im pretty good about what I eat. Stacy likes to cheat a lot and eats a lot of junk food. I try to stay good.
M: So your actually going out with her in real life?
T: Yes.
M: Youre a lucky man. On Smackdown5.com, most of my visitors sent in questions on our message board. Most of them were about Stacy. But I havent selected any of them because Im interviewing you. What is your most embarrassing moment?
T: Most embarrassing I dont really have one. You know, I never really got embarrassed on TV. I cant even nothing comes to mind.
M: Not anything you were supposed to do that went wrong?
T: No.. Ive been really lucky that way. Things have never really been botched so bad that its been embarrassing.
M: I saw the thing where Scott Steiner fell off the steps at Bad Blood
T: (laughs) I felt bad for Scott.
M: Do you think the brand extension has been a success? Would the WWE benefit from some competition like back in the WCW days?
T: I think it will be a success, the brand extension. I mean you got to give it some time. The Internets no offence to you or anything, or your website, I dont know what you write about.
M: Wrestling games mainly
T: The Internet is a in my opinion it hurts our business. Theres nothing ever good on there, or said about anybody. You know, everybodys got a comment to make or say about something negative about whether Triple H has had the belt to long Test sucks Scott Steiner is not a main event guy. What ever goes on, people always have an opinion about everything. And you know, it really bothers me. I got to the point I dont even get on the net anymore, cos theirs nothing positive about any of us on there. And these are all guys that have never gotten in the ring or even tried to do what we do. And you know, they would bash the brand extension and they want to bash everything else. Give it some time and it will come together. I mean how many times is Vince McMahon wrong? I mean hes a clever man. He can do what ever he wants and hes going to make it go no matter what.
M: I personally think its been a success because its given you all more TV time on Pay-Per-Views.
T: Yeah thats what Im talking about. The younger guys like me, and Christian, Edge when he comes back you know the younger guys. Where as the older guys, they dont want to leave their spot.
M: Because it used to be that you would have the main event guys on PPVs and everyone else would be stuck on Velocity.
T: Yeah, I mean its good for me I like it.
M: Do you think you will go for the Intercontinental Title?
T: No, you know, I had it twice before. Id like to get it again but I mean now Christians got it. In my opinion Christians probably the most under-rated wrestler in wrestling. In the business I think hes one of the best. Hes one of my favourites. He makes me laugh.
M: Hes definitely come into his own since he got the hair cut and everything.
T: Yeah definitely, definitely! I think its good for him now. I hope they keep it on him for a while.
M: Ive enjoyed it with him and Booker T. Like when they did the spineroonie contest.
T: (Laughs) yeah that was great!
M: If you could fight against any wrestler, what would your dream match be? Past or present , alive or dead?
T: See I dont know. So many people asked me that today. There are a lot of great guys to work with, guys that I enjoy working with. Ya know, like Christian, like Edge, like Jericho
M: All Canadians!
T: like Val. Yeah thats right, all Canadians, everybody says that. You know, Benoit is one guy I havent worked with actually. Id like to get the chance to work with him.
M: Do you think it was a good idea introducing the boring angle for Lance Storm? Because since then Ive noticed that fans have started chanting it in other matches. If it catches on like the what? thing, it could cause problems.
T: You know, Lance is a hell of a worker. His personality in real life is very dry. People just dont understand that. So I dont know, I mean its something I think you should give it some time. I didnt see how it went last week, but you know the first week I wasnt sure, the next week it started getting some reactions. I mean if it starts getting a reaction like Kurt did with the You Suck chant it would be great.
M: I mean, any reactions a good reaction right?
T: Yeah!
M: Ok, word association. Ill say a word; you say what ever pops into your mind.
Vince McMahon?
T: Genius.
M: Hulk Hogan?
T: The greatest of all time. I mean, no matter how long he goes away, he always comes back and the fans love him. Theres something about him just drives you to him. Ya know, Im actually friends with Terry, and something about him drives you to him.
M: Hes one of my favourite wrestlers of all time.
T: Yeah hes mine too. Hes such a good guy, Terry.
M: At Wrestlemania X8 when he was against the Rock, I actually got excited like I did when I was younger. I havent had that for a while
T: When he and Rock had the match, I mean thats the only time Ive watched a match and sent chills through my body. It was great. Its the greatest match Ive ever seen.
M: It was an awesome match wasnt it? Ok, Stacy Keibler?
T: The best thing thats ever happened to me.
M: Excellent. Triple H?
T: On top of his game.
M: The Invasion angle?
T: Couldve been but wasnt.
M: I was a bit disappointed by that, the first PPV by WWE
T: There were so many wrestlers, and how many of them worked out? Theres Booker, Hurricane, thats about it you know.
M: A lot of them, I cant even remember who they brought in now. What does the locker room think when newcomers come to the WWE and receive huge pushes straight away, like Goldberg and Brock Lesnar, when other guys have been in the company years?
T: Well I kind of went through that myself when I first came here. It happened to me.
M: You came into the Corporation didnt you?
T: Yeah, right away. And ya know, I understand guys have been in this business for a long time and worked hard to get where they are. Theres these kids coming in right away and getting a push. I mean, are you going to tell me theyd turn it down if it happened to them. (Laughs) what are they going to say, no dont push me!
M: Fair enough. How often do you see wrestlers from the Smackdown roster and which brand do you prefer?
T: Once a month usually, and not any more. I mean we split the Pay Per Views. I think Smackdown has better workers. I think our shows better. I think our shows better written.
M: Yeah.
T: I think I thought Paul Heymen did a really good job when he was writing Smackdown. Im not saying its not all really good now its just we went through a lot of transitions where. Raws the older show and its what people know. So its always going to be, ya know When we first did the split we were there, like me Lance, Jericho and I loved that crew, they were good. I really thought they should have left that they way it was and I thought that show would have really taken off.
M: Due to the large number of injuries lately, is the WWE doing much to limit accidents?
T: Were trying to tone it down a bit especially, everywhere. You know, working all the time like we do, you cant help it.
M: How many matches do you have a week, roughly?
T: Four or five.
M: So you dont get a lot of time for your body to heal.
T: No, I mean your back in it, you know.
M: So youre saving all the big stuff for Pay Per Views?
T: yeah, you try to.
M: Have you ever considered releasing a book, or making a film?
T: Never. I would never write anything about the boys, anything negative about the boys. I shouldnt be writing a book, I havent been in this business long enough. The stuff I write about, probably, I dont want people to know about! And as far as releasing a movie, no I never considered it.
M: Mick foley has done quite well hasnt he, with his books.
T: Mick Foleys a different kind of writer. Mick Foleys a really gifted writer. I talking about this stuff where guys come out and shit on wrestling you know. They write all the stuff that goes on. That HBO sports thing that just aired
M: That Rowdy Roddy Piper thing wasnt it?
T: Piper had no business talking about the boys, and he got fired cos of it. He should have been, ya know.
M: Rightly so. Do you own a console and if so, what are your favourite games?
T: I have a Playstation 2. My favourite games are probably like American Football, hockey, and basketball. I like the wrestling too. Any sports games really.
M: Do you have Smackdown 4?
T: Yeah I have the latest one that come out.
M: What do you do on your days off, if you get any?
T: Sit by the pool and have a couple of beers really
M: How would I go about going backstage at a WWE event?
T: Probably dressing up as somebody and sneaking in! (laughs) Thats probably your best chance!
M: Is it true that Mai Young put anchovies down her underwear when she stink-faced Eric Bishoff at Bad Blood?
T: (Laughs) I know nothing, I see nothing!
M: Thats a yes then (laughs). Do you know when the WWE will next be returning to England, and do you enjoy wrestling in front of the UK fans?
T: Yes, I love wrestling in front of the UK fans. They are some of the greatest fans we have. And, I think Smackdown is going to be here next in October.
M: Cool, because I missed the last one!
T: Oh really? We were just here 3 weeks ago I think.
M: Yeah, thats right. Can I get you to sign a couple of things?
T: (Signs my copy of Smackdown 4: Shut Your mouth, and poses for photos!)
M: Test, it was fantastic talking to you. I look forwards to seeing you wrestle again really soon. On behalf of myself, and our visitors at Smackdown5.com,
Thank you!
T: Thank you!
More Information
Any information taken from this
interview MUST be credited soley to
www.Film-Reviews.net and may not
be duplicated without permission.
interview MUST be credited soley to
www.Film-Reviews.net and may not
be duplicated without permission.
Scroll down for more
exclusive photos!
exclusive photos!
Exclusive Photos!
A suprise attack!
Test and Mark O'Connell
All Images copyright
2006 Mark O'Connell,
and may not be
reproduced without
permission.
2006 Mark O'Connell,
and may not be
reproduced without
permission.
Mark makes Test apologise
Navigation
