AEW honors The Butcher, Andy Williams
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The gist
AEW honored Andy "The Butcher" Williams, who died at 48, on its Sept 9 Dynamite.
The guitarist-turned-wrestler was remembered by colleagues as a booster of others.
Background
Williams came to wrestling as a second career after success as a guitarist in the metalcore band Every Time I Die. He broke into AEW in its early years as half of the tag team "The Butcher and The Blade" with Jesse Guilmette, debuting in November 2019 after years as a top independent-circuit team. After The Blade was sidelined by injury, Williams wrestled singles for AEW and sister company Ring of Honor; reports said their AEW contracts ended earlier this summer. He is AEW's all-time leader in battle royale eliminations with 26.
How it unfolded
- Sep 5, 2026Andy Williams, known as "The Butcher," passed away at age 48.
- Sep 7, 2026Malakai Black, having just won the PROGRESS Wrestling Men's World Championship, made the moment about his late friend Andy "The Butcher" Williams.
- Sep 9, 2026AEW's Rebel Heart Dynamite opened with a somber tribute to Williams, honoring the life and legacy of the late Atomic Rule and former Every Time I Die guitarist.
- Sep 10, 2026Excalibur became visibly emotional reading a statement about Williams on Dynamite.
- Sep 12, 2026AEW Collision aired from the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Massachusetts, as a tribute to "The Butcher" Andy Williams.
- Sep 27, 2026The city of Buffalo will host a Celebration of Life to honor former AEW star Andy Williams.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- AEW said the world will miss "The Butcher" Andy Williams more than words can describe, and that it will remember and celebrate the life of one of the best people it was blessed to know.
- Colleague
- AEW announcer Excalibur called Williams the most thoughtful, creative, warm and supportive person you could wish for, who used his energy to boost those around him.
- Peer
- Wrestler Effy praised Williams for "always putting over other people."
Still unverified
Reports said Williams' and his partner's AEW contracts ended earlier this summer. Accounts of his death differ: one report said he passed after performing at an Enjoy Wrestling show in Pennsylvania, another said he collapsed during an independent wrestling show in Pennsylvania last weekend, and another cited a medical cause; none of these details is confirmed.