Andy Williams, the pro wrestler known as The Butcher who performed in several promotions including All Elite Wrestling (AEW), died after suffering a medical emergency during a show.
Williams, 48, was in a match with his tag team partner Jesse Guilmette (known as The Blade) at Enjoy Wrestling at Mr. Smalls Theater in Millvale, Pennsylvania, on Friday night. The promotion said Williams collapsed at the end of his match.
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“Our doctors on staff tended to him immediately, administering CPR until the ambulance arrived,” the company said. “We sent everyone home and are at the hospital now waiting for more information.”
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office told TMZ on Sunday that Williams had died. OutKick Dropkick reached out to authorities for comment.
AEW later released a statement on Williams’ death.
“All Elite Wrestling is saddened to learn of the passing of Andy Williams, aka The Butcher. A trailblazing musician with ETID and Atomic Rule, Williams made a successful transition into the world of professional wrestling and was incredibly respected by his peers both in and out of the ring,” the company said. “Our condolences go out to Williams’ family, friends and fans.”
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Williams was also a musician in a band called Every Time I Die.
He started training as a wrestler in the early 2010s and made his debut on the scene in 2015. He and Guilmette began to team up in 2017 and called themselves The Butcher and The Blade. They appeared in several promotions, including AEW, Ring of Honor (ROH), Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) and elsewhere.
The pro wrestling world reacted to word of Williams’ death on social media.
Williams was a guitarist for Every Time I Die from 1998 until the band broke up in 2022.
