Man, this one hits different. Andy Williams, known to us wrestling fanatics as “The Butcher” and a legendary guitarist for Every Time I Die, died on Saturday, Sept. 5. He was 48. The news broke after he collapsed in the ring during an event in Millvale, Pennsylvania, an absolute shocker for everyone watching.
A Legacy Beyond the Ropes
Honestly, Andy’s path was unique. Born in Buffalo, New York, way back in ’77, he didn’t even start wrestling training like most guys. He got a serious knee injury during his initial training run, and what did he do during recovery? He picked up a guitar! That led to him helping form Every Time I Die in 1998, where he was the rhythm guitarist for over two decades. What an incredible dual career, you know? But then he got back to wrestling seriously in the mid-2010s, training with folks like Josh Barnett, and making his pro debut in 2016. He truly proved it’s never too late to chase your passion.
From Indie Darling to AEW Challenger
We all know “The Butcher” from his partnership with Braxton Sutter, who later became “The Blade.” They were “The Butcher and The Blade” on the independent circuit, tearing it up, and then they made the jump to All Elite Wrestling in late 2019. Remember that surprise AEW debut, attacking Cody Rhodes out of nowhere? That was classic! They became total fixtures in AEW’s tag-team division, going toe-to-toe with absolute giants like the Young Bucks, FTR, the Lucha Brothers, and Jurassic Express. They even challenged for the AEW World Tag Team Championship in 2021. Even after their AEW contracts expired in June 2026, and after Every Time I Die broke up in 2022, Andy kept wrestling independently, still connecting with the music scene. He was always doing his thing.
This tragic Saturday, Sept. 5, he was in a tag-team match with The Blade at an Enjoy Wrestling event at Mr. Smalls Theatre, when he collapsed near the end of it. Medical staff administered CPR, an ambulance took him to the hospital, and the event was canceled, which tells you everything. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed he passed away that night. It’s devastating. He gave us so many bangers with ETID and so many wild wrestling moments. We’re gonna miss The Butcher, but his impact, both in music and in the ring, is something we’ll never forget. What a loss for both worlds.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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