Wrestleview is saddened to report that Andy Williams, known as The Butcher in AEW, has passed away at age 48.
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office told TMZ that Williams passed away Saturday night. No cause of death is known at the time of this writing.
“Andy Williams – a professional AEW wrestler known as ‘The Butcher,’ died Saturday after experiencing a medical emergency during a tag team match in Pennsylvania, according to authorities.“
PWInsider first reported late Saturday night that Williams suffered a medical emergency at the Enjoy Wrestling event, which took place at the Smalls Theater in Milvale, just north of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Fightful then also confirmed the news.
Fans in attendance said paramedics conducted chest compressions and used a defibrillator, and Williams was taken off in an ambulance. The match was proceeding as normal when Butcher’s legs buckled, and he went down to the floor. His tag team partner The Blade signaled for help and tried to help him back up, but Butcher collapsed again and passed out. They attempted to pour ice on The Butcher before proper medical attention was given.
Enjoy Wrestling issued its own statement on social media, noting that Williams collapsed at the end of his match and that doctors rushed to his aid, administering CPR before an ambulance arrived to take him to the hospital. Enjoy Wrestling canceled the remainder of the show, and everyone was sent home.
Williams and his tag team partner The Blade (Jesse Guilmette) joined AEW in 2019 and were best known in the promotion as The Butcher and The Blade tag team, managed by The Blade’s real-life wife The Bunny, who is one of the TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champions, under the name of Allie. She managed the team up until her departure from AEW in 2023.
This past June, The Butcher and The Blade departed AEW after their contracts expired.
Williams had aspired to be a pro wrestler and trained at the Renegade Wrestling Association in Ontario, Canada, for six months before sustaining a knee injury. During his recovery, he learned to play the guitar and formed the metal band Every Time I Die with Jordan Buckley and Michael Novak.
Wrestleview sends its condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Andy Williams.