Pro wrestler Andy Williams dies following in-ring collapse in Pennsylvania
3 sources • 3 min read • Latest: Sep 6, 2026, 2:01 PM
Last updated Sep 6, 2026

Professional wrestler Andy Williams died after collapsing during an independent wrestling event at Mr. Small’s Theater in Millvale, Pennsylvania. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed his death following the health crisis that occurred during his match alongside tag-team partner The Blade. Event promoters, Enjoy Wrestling, stated that medical staff provided immediate care and performed CPR before the wrestler was transported to a hospital. The promotion halted the show immediately after the incident. Known as The Butcher during his time with AEW and Ring of Honor, Williams was a prominent figure in the early years of AEW. Beyond his professional wrestling career, he was a founding member of the band Every Time I Die. The wrestling community has issued statements of mourning following the confirmation of his passing.
- •Andy Williams collapsed during an independent wrestling match in Millvale, Pennsylvania.
- •Medical staff at the event administered CPR before transporting the wrestler to a hospital.
- •The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the death of the 48-year-old wrestler.
- •Williams gained prominence in AEW as a member of the tag team with The Blade.
- •The event promoter, Enjoy Wrestling, canceled the remainder of the show following the incident.
- 2:01 PMWrestling Inc — 'The Butcher' Andy Williams Dead, Former AEW Star Dies At Age 48
- 1:47 PMYahoo Sports — Andy 'The Butcher' Williams Passes Away At 48 Years Old (AEW News)
- 1:13 PMCageside Seats — Former AEW wrestler Andy ‘Butcher’ Williams dead at 48 after in-ring collapse
"Reports came in last night that pro wrestler Andy Willliams, better known as The Butcher from his lengthy AEW and Ring of Honor run, collapsed at a independent wrestling show in Pittsburgh. Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp soon confirmed, and the promotion, Enjoy Wrestling, issued a statement saying Williams was “immediately” seen by its medical staff, and given CPR until the ambulance arrived. Enjoy then ended the show, and went to the hospital themselves. An unfortunate internet back-and-forth ensued over new about Williams condition. Then this morning, TMZ reported that Williams had been pronounced dead: The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office tells TMZ … Williams passed away… following his health crisis at Mr. Small’s Theater in Millvale, PA. Enjoy Wrestling posted this moments later. Butcher Forever. Butcher Forever. — Enjoy Wrestling (@EnjoyWrestle) September 6, 2026 According to TMZ’s report, Williams was tagging with his longtime partner The Blade (fka Pepper Parks and Braxton Sutter, real name Jesse Guilmette) when he collapsed. A Josh Barnett trainee from Buffalo, New York, Williams’ start in pro wrestling was delayed by a knee injury, but he was quickly noticed on the indies in the late 2010s and joined AEW with Blade and Blade’s then-wife Bunny (aka Allie) on 2019’s first-ever episode of Dynamite. The act was a prominent one in the early years of Tony Khan’s promotion, mainly as midcarders, but they did get a televised Tag title shot against Lucha Bros in September of 2021. Williams continued in that role with Blade out to injury, and recently the act worked mostly in ROH. Word was their contracts expired in June. Williams also played guitar in the band Every Time I Die from its inception until he and co-founder Jordan Buckley announced the group’s break-up in 2022. This will be an ongoing story, but for now we join the pro wrestling community and Andy Willliams’ friends and family in mourning him. We’ll also hope to watch The Butcher tear it up in the ring or on the guitar in the next life, or whatever follows this one for us all. May he rest in peace.
"Every Time I Die Bassist and former AEW star Andy Williams, known to fans as "The Butcher," died at the age of 48, after collapsing at an event.
"Former AEW star and Every Time I Die guitarist Andy 'The Butcher' Williams passes away.
Sources
External links- Wrestling IncSep 6, 2026, 2:01 PM'The Butcher' Andy Williams Dead, Former AEW Star Dies At Age 48
Every Time I Die Bassist and former AEW star Andy Williams, known to fans as "The Butcher," died at the age of 48, after collapsing at an event.
- Yahoo SportsSep 6, 2026, 1:47 PMAndy 'The Butcher' Williams Passes Away At 48 Years Old (AEW News)
Former AEW star and Every Time I Die guitarist Andy 'The Butcher' Williams passes away.
- Cageside SeatsSep 6, 2026, 1:13 PMFormer AEW wrestler Andy ‘Butcher’ Williams dead at 48 after in-ring collapse
Reports came in last night that pro wrestler Andy Willliams, better known as The Butcher from his lengthy AEW and Ring of Honor run, collapsed at a independent wrestling show in Pittsburgh. Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp soon confirmed, and the promotion, Enjoy Wrestling, issued a statement saying Williams was “immediately” seen by its medical staff, and given CPR until the ambulance arrived. Enjoy then ended the show, and went to the hospital themselves. An unfortunate internet back-and-forth ensued over new about Williams condition. Then this morning, TMZ reported that Williams had been pronounced dead: The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office tells TMZ … Williams passed away… following his health crisis at Mr. Small’s Theater in Millvale, PA. Enjoy Wrestling posted this moments later. Butcher Forever. Butcher Forever. — Enjoy Wrestling (@EnjoyWrestle) September 6, 2026 According to TMZ’s report, Williams was tagging with his longtime partner The Blade (fka Pepper Parks and Braxton Sutter, real name Jesse Guilmette) when he collapsed. A Josh Barnett trainee from Buffalo, New York, Williams’ start in pro wrestling was delayed by a knee injury, but he was quickly noticed on the indies in the late 2010s and joined AEW with Blade and Blade’s then-wife Bunny (aka Allie) on 2019’s first-ever episode of Dynamite. The act was a prominent one in the early years of Tony Khan’s promotion, mainly as midcarders, but they did get a televised Tag title shot against Lucha Bros in September of 2021. Williams continued in that role with Blade out to injury, and recently the act worked mostly in ROH. Word was their contracts expired in June. Williams also played guitar in the band Every Time I Die from its inception until he and co-founder Jordan Buckley announced the group’s break-up in 2022. This will be an ongoing story, but for now we join the pro wrestling community and Andy Willliams’ friends and family in mourning him. We’ll also hope to watch The Butcher tear it up in the ring or on the guitar in the next life, or whatever follows this one for us all. May he rest in peace.
Original reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
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