Andy Williams, the founding guitarist of metalcore band Every Time I Die and a professional wrestler, has died. He was 48.
Williams, a former All Elite Wrestling (AEW) wrestler known as “The Butcher,” died Saturday night (Sept. 5), hours after collapsing following an independent tag-team wrestling match at Mr. Small’s Theatre in Millvale, Pennsylvania, according to TMZ.
“Andy collapsed at the end of his match this evening,” Enjoy Wrestling, the event’s promoter, wrote on X Saturday. “Our doctors on staff tended to him immediately, administering CPR until the ambulance arrived.”
A specific cause of death was not immediately available at press time.
Williams and his longtime wrestling partner, Jesse “The Blade” Guilmette, faced TME at the Enjoy Wrestling event, which organizers canceled following the incident.
Before beginning his professional wrestling career, Williams was the founding rhythm guitarist of New York metalcore band Every Time I Die. He played with the group from its formation in 1998 until its breakup in 2022, appearing on all nine of the band’s studio albums.
Every Time I Die announced its breakup in early 2022, following the release of its ninth and final studio album, 2021’s Radical.
Williams began wrestling professionally in the 2010s while still performing with Every Time I Die. He joined AEW in 2019 as “The Butcher” and remained under contract with the promotion until June 2026.
“All Elite Wrestling is saddened to learn of the passing of Andy Williams, aka The Butcher,” the wrestling company wrote on Instagram. “A trailblazing musician with ETID and Atomic Rule, Williams made a successful transition into the world of professional wrestling and was incredibly respected by his peers both in and out of the ring. Our condolences go out to Williams’ family, friends and fans.”
After Every Time I Die broke up, Williams joined Atomic Rule and continued making music while pursuing his wrestling career. Shortly before his death Saturday, he appeared in a video shared on the band’s Instagram account, saying Atomic Rule was working on new music.
