Professional wrestling fans are mourning the loss of Andy “The Butcher” Williams, who passed away Saturday, September 5.
TMZ reports that Williams’ death came after he collapsed in the midst of an All Elite Wrestling tag-team match in Millvale, Pennsylvania.
He was 48 years old.
In addition to wrestling, Williams was also guitarist for popular heavy metal band Every Time I Die.
A Medical Emergency During a Match
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office told TMZ that Williams passed away following a “health crisis” at Mr. Small’s Theater.
At the time, he and his tag-team partner Jesse Guilmette (known as The Blade) were competing in a match at the Enjoy Wrestling event. The match was immediately halted, and the event abruptly canceled.
In a statement issued on X at the time, Enjoy Wrestling wrote that Williams “collapsed at the end of his match this evening. Our doctors on staff tended to him immediately, administering CPR until the ambulance arrived. We sent everyone home and are at the hospital now waiting for more information.”
Williams subsequently passed away, with the X account adding a brief tribute that read simply “Butcher forever.”
An Accident in the Ring
TMZ obtained audio of the 911 dispatch calls made at the time, which indicates that Williams “hit his head” on a ring post.
A second call requeted “emergency lifting assistance,” with the dispatcher confirming that police and EMS had already arrived at the scene. Williams was transported to a nearby hospital, where he subsequently passed away.
A Second Career in Music
During the 1990s, Williams pursued his goal of becoming a professional wrestler by training at the Renegade Wrestling Association in Canada for six months.
During that training, he suffered a serious knee injury that required a lengthy recuperation. He took advantage of the downtime by learning how to play guitar.
That led to a new career in music. In 1998, he formed heavy metal band Every Time I Die with lead guitarist Jordan Buckley and drummer Michael Novak.
Every Time I Die went on to issue nine albums and two EPs, with several singles landing on the Billboard metal charts until the band broke up in 2022.
Fans Pay Tribute
News of Williams’ passing was met with an outpouring of tributes from fans.
“Heartbreaking,” wrote one fan on X.
“I am devastated,” wrote another. “Terrible loss for both wrestling and music. I’m absolutely crying and not afraid to say it.”
Another comment read, “This is so tragic. As a wrestling fan since I was a kid, it always hits hard when I see a wrestler passing away, especially if it happens in the ring. 48 is no age. Rest in peace Butcher.”
One fan paid tribute by sharing a video of Williams in action in the ring, writing, “Andy Williams was a musician and wrestler. He was one of the best people I ever met. Everytime we spoke I left the conversation better for it.I’ll remember Andy for what he was. A dude with an enormous heart that could always put a smile on my face.”
