Music World Mourns Andy Williams, Every Time I Die Guitarist and Wrestling Star, Dead at 48
Andy Williams, renowned as the founding guitarist of Every Time I Die and an AEW professional wrestler known as "The Butcher," has died at 48 after collapsing post-match. His passing marks the end of a remarkable dual career that left a significant impact on both the metalcore music scene and professional wrestling.
Andy Williams, a celebrated figure known for his dual career as the founding rhythm guitarist of the metalcore band Every Time I Die and a professional wrestler, has tragically passed away at the age of 48. Williams, who wrestled under the moniker “The Butcher” in All Elite Wrestling (AEW), died on Saturday, September 5th, following a collapse after an independent tag-team wrestling match at Mr. Small’s Theatre in Millvale, Pennsylvania.
The incident occurred shortly after his match, with Enjoy Wrestling, the event's promoter, confirming on X (formerly Twitter) that Williams collapsed and received immediate medical attention from on-site doctors. CPR was administered until an ambulance arrived, but a specific cause of death was not disclosed at the time of reporting. Williams and his long-standing wrestling partner, Jesse “The Blade” Guilmette, were competing against TME at the event, which was subsequently canceled in light of the tragic incident.
Before embarking on his professional wrestling journey, Williams was a foundational member of the New York metalcore scene. He co-founded Every Time I Die in 1998 and remained with the influential group throughout its entire run until its dissolution in 2022. During his tenure, Williams contributed to all nine of the band’s studio albums, including their ninth and final critically acclaimed release, “Radical,” in 2021. Following Every Time I Die’s breakup, Williams continued his musical endeavors by joining the band Atomic Rule, and was reportedly working on new music shortly before his passing, as indicated by a video shared on Atomic Rule’s Instagram account.
Williams seamlessly transitioned into the world of professional wrestling in the 2010s, initially balancing it with his music career. He joined All Elite Wrestling in 2019, where he gained significant recognition as “The Butcher” and was under contract with the promotion until June 2026. AEW expressed profound sorrow over his death, sharing an Instagram tribute that praised Williams as a “trailblazing musician with ETID and Atomic Rule” who made a “successful transition into the world of professional wrestling” and was “incredibly respected by his peers both in and out of the ring.” The company extended its condolences to his family, friends, and fans, acknowledging his significant impact across both the music and wrestling communities.