The metalcore guitarist and independent wrestler collapsed at the end of a tag-team bout before dying hours later at a Pittsburgh-area hospital.
Andy Williams, the longtime rhythm guitarist for metalcore band Every Time I Die who wrestled under the name The Butcher, died at age 48 after collapsing during an Enjoy Wrestling match on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at Mr. Smalls Theatre in Millvale, Pennsylvania, according to NBC News, AEW and CBS Pittsburgh.
Timeline of the Collapse and Response
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Williams collapsed at the conclusion of a tag-team match at Enjoy Wrestling's five-year anniversary show, according to a statement from the promotion cited by multiple outlets. Enjoy Wrestling said its doctors on staff "tended to him immediately, administering CPR until the ambulance" arrived, and Williams was then transported to a hospital. CBS Pittsburgh reported that Williams' agent confirmed his death to KDKA-TV on Sunday morning, September 6. TMZ reported that the Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed the death, though no official cause has been released; at least one report indicated an autopsy was expected after the Labor Day holiday.
No public cause of death has been confirmed by authorities or family as of this reporting, and outlets have been careful to describe the event only as a medical emergency during the match.
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Statements From AEW and the Wrestling Community
AEW, where Williams had wrestled for nearly seven years alongside tag partner The Blade, released a statement saying it was "saddened to learn of the passing of Andy Williams, aka The Butcher," calling him a "trailblazing musician" with Every Time I Die and Atomic Rule who "made a successful transition into the world of professional wrestling." According to Wikipedia, Williams' and The Blade's AEW contracts had expired in June 2026, meaning Saturday's independent show was not an AEW-sanctioned event. Wrestling Inc. reported that condolences poured in from across the wrestling world following the announcement.
A Dual Career in Music and Wrestling
Williams was a founding member of Buffalo-based Every Time I Die, serving as rhythm guitarist from 1998 until the band's breakup in 2022. He later built a prominent wrestling career as The Butcher, becoming known to AEW audiences through his tag team with The Blade. CBS Pittsburgh reported he was remembered locally as a "kind giant" following his death.
