Hardcore Championship: Jan. 17, 2000
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Test’s first title victory in the WWE came less than 14 months after his debut.
Facing the Big Boss Man for the Hardcore Championship, Test came out on top in a typical hardcore bout that incorporated much of the surrounding environment at the New Haven Coliseum.
After interference from Albert, Test eliminated his future tag-team partner from the equation before utilizing the Boss Man’s nightstick in a unique top-rope elbow drop to put his opponent down for the count.
Test went on to hold the Hardcore Championship for 36 days, which at the time was the belt’s second-longest reign ever, an admirable achievement given the title’s usual high turnover rate.
European Championship: Jan. 22, 2001
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After being attacked by his former tag team partner Albert at the turn of the year, Test officially embarked on a singles career in the then-WWF.
It didn’t take long for him to taste success.
Having eliminated William Regal at the 2001 Royal Rumble, Test earned himself a shot at the European Championship the following night.
In a relatively short contest, Test delivered a Scoop Slam to Regal before hitting his now-trademark big elbow drop from the top rope to get the 1-2-3 and win his second piece of gold in the WWE.
He held the title until WrestleMania X-Seven, where Eddie Guerrero defeated him after interference from the Radicalz.
WCW Tag Team Championship: Sept. 27, 2001
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While embroiled in the Invasion storyline of 2001, Test began to team with fellow Alliance member Booker T, who had defecting a few months prior.
The duo made an instant impact, bringing home the WCW Tag Team Championships within a month, defeating the legendary pairing of the Brothers of Destruction on SmackDown.
Despite having teamed with Albert for almost a year, this marked Test’s first piece of tag team gold.
However, the reign was fairly short lived, as he and Booker T would surrender the belts to the Hardy Boyz less than two weeks later on an episode on Monday Night Raw.
WWF Tag Team Championship: Nov. 1, 2001
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As the Championship merry-go-round of the Invasion storyline continued, Test and Booker once again got in on the act with a WWF Tag Title win at the start of November.
Facing the star-studded pairing of The Rock and Chris Jericho, the Alliance members took advantage of their adversaries’ uneasy relationship to secure a huge victory. Test got the pin on The Rock after the big man delivered a classic Big Boot to the Great One.
Once again though, their reign did not last long.
For the second time in five weeks, they lost their title to the Hardy Boyz, though admittedly, Test had little to do with this defeat, in which Jeff Hardy pinned Booker T with a Schoolboy.
In total, Test’s two tag-title reigns lasted a 22 days. But if it hadn’t been for the nature of the Invasion storyline, then these tenures could have lasted a whole lot longer.
Intercontinental Championship: Nov. 5, 2001
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Just days after winning the WWF Tag Team Championships, Test won his first intercontinental title by defeating Edge on Monday Night Raw.
The victory gave him the impressive honor of being one of the few men to hold both the IC and tag title simultaneously, sharing company with the likes of Steve Austin and Triple H.
However, in what became a predictable trend, he wasn’t champion for long.
In a rematch of their Raw encounter, Test defended his title against Edge at Survivor Series on Nov. 18, with both the IC and US titles on the line.
After countering an attempted Full Nelson Slam, the Rated R Superstar rolled Test up to for the win. However it was not all doom and gloom for Test—victory in a Battle Royal later in the night guaranteed him immunity from being fired for an entire year.
It brought a close to a eventful and successful year for the former tag-team star.
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Though he never tasted the top titles, Test did establish himself as a solid mid-carder in the WWE.
Always capable of a solid match, I personally find it surprising that he didn’t make it further than he did in the company.
Though he did once say that he never “kissed enough ass”.
Unfortunately, integrity and professionalism may have been what ultimately held his talent back.
Nonetheless, many will remember Andrew “Test” Martin.
bleacherreport
