Andy "The Butcher" Williams Passes Away After Collapsing During Pro Wrestling Match

Andy Williams, who performed in professional wrestling as The Butcher, passed away on Saturday, September 5, following a medical emergency at the end of a pro wrestling match, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office has informed TMZ.

Williams was performing for Enjoy Wrestling on Saturday night at the promotion's Five Year Anniversary show from Mr. Smalls Theatre in Millvale, Pennsylvania, when he collapsed at the end of his match. Williams' tag team partner The Blade immediately called for medical help and CPR was performed on Williams before an ambulance arrived, when paramedics took over.

Following news of Williams' passing, Enjoy Wrestling wrote, "Butcher Forever." Tributes have poured in for Williams across the pro wrestling world.

Andy Williams initially trained to become a pro wrestler in the 1990s but he was forced to stop due to a knee injury, ultimately resuming his training in the mid-2010s. Williams made his pro wrestling debut in 2015 and he began teaming with long-time tag team partner The Blade in 2017, initially on the independent wrestling scene, before they signed with All Elite Wrestling in November 2019.

The Butcher and The Blade were initially introduced as MJF's hired goons and they were utilised across AEW programming until January 2024 in a number of factions, including Eddie Kingston's Family, the Hardy Family Office/Andrade Family Office, and a trio with Kip Sabian. After The Blade underwent spinal fusion surgery in February 2024, The Butcher worked singles matches until his final AEW match against Gabe Kidd on a February 2025 episode of AEW Collision. The Butcher and The Blade exited AEW earlier this year when their contracts expired.

The Butcher remained active on the independent wrestling scene and he and The Blade reunited in March 2026.

Outside of professional wrestling, Williams was the guitarist and co-founder of metalcore band Every Time I Die. The popular group was active from 1998 until they broke up in January 2022.

Cultaholic Wrestling extends its condolences to Andy Williams' family and friends.