Andy Williams, the professional wrestler known as The Butcher, has passed away at the age of 48.
TMZ reported on Sunday that the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed Williams’ death following a medical emergency he suffered on Saturday at an independent wrestling event in Pennsylvania.
A cause of death has not been announced.
Williams was competing alongside longtime tag team partner Jesse Guilmette, ‘The Blade’, against TME at Enjoy Wrestling’s Five Years event at Mr. Smalls Theatre in Millvale when he collapsed around the conclusion of the match.
Enjoy Wrestling stated that medics on hand immediately attended to Williams and administered CPR until an ambulance arrived. The remainder of the event was canceled.
POST Wrestling reported on the incident on Saturday night, with Rich Fann among those in attendance.
Fann said Williams appeared to be struggling near the finish before going down. The Blade attempted to help his partner before signaling for assistance, with medical personnel subsequently performing chest compressions and using an AED.
Enjoy Wrestling appeared to confirm the sad news on Sunday morning.
Butcher Forever.
— Enjoy Wrestling (@EnjoyWrestle) September 6, 2026
Tributes and condolences quickly began to pour in from the wrestling world, including from The Young Bucks, Will Ospreay, Taz, Kyle Fletcher, Adam Pearce, Swerve Strickland, Willow Nightingale, Josh Alexander, Matt Hardy, Corey Graves, Jade Cargill, Lio Rush, Frankie Kazarian, Christopher Daniels, Athena, Amazing Red, RJ City, Sammy Guevara, Paige, Anthony Bowens, Matthew Rehwoldt, Amanda Huber, Bryce Remsburg, Bear Bronson, Brandon Cutler, Vincent, William Regal, Will Washington and QT Marshall, with many more expected in the hours and days ahead.
WWE Champion CM Punk posted a photo with Andy at Disneyland, California, in an Instagram Story.
Williams had recently returned to regular independent wrestling alongside The Blade after the pair’s AEW contracts expired in June.
The Buffalo-based team had been with AEW since 2019. The Butcher, The Blade and The Bunny debuted on the November 27 edition of Dynamite by attacking Cody Rhodes.
Williams later recalled that Ring of Honor, before its purchase by Tony Khan, had approached The Butcher & The Blade shortly before AEW.
The pair became regulars in AEW’s tag division during the company’s early years and were associated at various times with The Bunny, Eddie Kingston and the Hardy Family Office. Among their most prominent matches was a Falls Count Anywhere contest with The Young Bucks in July 2020.
Williams continued wrestling singles matches while The Blade was sidelined by a serious back injury. His final AEW appearance came on the February 22, 2025 edition of Collision, in a match with Gabe Kidd.
Their contracts subsequently expired in June, ending a run of more than six years with the promotion.
Williams had remained active on the independent circuit. Last month, he faced Josh Barnett, one of the figures who helped him during his development as a wrestler, at PRODUCE Volume 3 in Brooklyn.
Professional wrestling was the second major career of Williams’ life.
Born December 12, 1977, in the Buffalo area, he was a founding guitarist of Every Time I Die when the metalcore band formed in 1998.
Williams remained with the group throughout its run of more than two decades. Every Time I Die released nine studio albums before announcing its breakup in January 2022.
A lifelong wrestling fan, Williams began pursuing the profession while already established internationally as a musician. He worked his first full singles match in 2016 and began teaming regularly with Jesse Guilmette, The Blade, the following year.
The combination eventually carried Williams from the independent circuit to national television at an age when most wrestlers are already well into their careers.
After Every Time I Die ended, Williams eventually returned to music with new band Atomic Rule. The band’s lineup also includes James Henderson, Travis Bennington and Kevin Boutot. As recently as Saturday, he posted a video on Instagram marking progress on new recordings by the band.
Everyone at POST Wrestling would like to extend their condolences to the family and friends of Andy Williams.
