Pro Wrestler and Musician Andy The Butcher Williams Dies at 48

Professional wrestler Andy Williams, known to fans of All Elite Wrestling as “The Butcher” and to heavy metal enthusiasts as the rhythm guitarist for Every Time I Die, died Friday after suffering a medical episode during a match near Pittsburgh, according to multiple news reports. He was 48.

Williams collapsed in the ring while participating in a tag-team match with his longtime partner, Jesse “The Blade” Guilmette, at Mr. Small’s Theater in Millvale, Pennsylvania, according to reporting by TMZ and the New York Post. The event was organized by Enjoy Wrestling.

Medical personnel and doctors ran into the ring when it became apparent that Williams was in distress, providing CPR before he was rushed to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to a representative for the Pittsburgh-based organization Love Wrestling, as reported by Fox News and the New York Post. Organizers canceled the remainder of the event following the incident, and officials have not yet determined an official cause of death.

Witness Rich Fann described the scene to POST Wrestling, stating that Williams appeared to be in difficulty before going down. Guilmette attempted to help him and called for assistance from the audience and crew.

Once they saw, both the crew, the paramedics and the crowd worked in unison,

Rich Fann via POST Wrestling and the New York Post

Fann told POST Wrestling that responders cleared a path, used an automated external defibrillator, and administered chest compressions before transporting Williams from the venue. Following the confirmation of his death, the Love Wrestling group shared a brief message on social media stating, “Butcher Forever,” according to the New York Post.

A Dual Career in Pro Wrestling and Heavy Metal

Outside of his career in the squared circle with All Elite Wrestling, Williams built a prominent background in the music industry as a founding and enduring member of the Buffalo heavy metal band Every Time I Die. He played rhythm guitar for the group across two decades, contributing to its heavy sound and prominent touring schedule before the band’s breakup. In the wrestling world, Williams performed alongside Guilmette as part of the tag-team duo known as The Butcher and The Blade. The team established a presence across independent promotions before joining All Elite Wrestling, where Williams combined his imposing physical presence with a distinct aesthetic shaped by his rock background.