Andy Williams Dead at 48 After Collapsing During Wrestling Match; Cause of Death Not Yet Released

Former Every Time I Die guitarist and professional wrestler Andy Williams has died at the age of 48. He collapsed during a wrestling match in Pennsylvania.

Williams, who wrestled under the ring name "The Butcher", collapsed towards the end of a match at Enjoy Wrestling's five‑year anniversary event at Mr. Smalls Theatre in Millvale on Saturday, 5 September. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed his death.

Williams was competing alongside longtime tag‑team partner The Blade against TME when he collapsed. Fightful reported that Williams' legs 'buckled' before he fell to the floor. The Blade attempted to help him up, but Williams reportedly collapsed again and lost consciousness.

Enjoy Wrestling said its medical staff attended to Williams immediately and administered CPR until an ambulance arrived. The promotion sent attendees home and cancelled the remainder of the event.

Reports from the show also said paramedics performed chest compressions and used a defibrillator before Williams was taken to hospital. Fightful attributed those details to people who attended the event.

What Happened During the Match?

The match was part of Enjoy Wrestling's five-year anniversary show, with Williams and The Blade challenging TME for the tag-team championship. Williams and The Blade had also participated in a wrestling seminar through the promotion on Friday, one day before the event.

The collapse occurred while Williams remained active in both music and professional wrestling. No official cause of death had been released as of publication, and the available reports do not establish what caused him to collapse.

That distinction is important because emergency treatment such as CPR or the reported use of a defibrillator does not, by itself, establish a medical diagnosis or cause of death.

A Career in Music and Wrestling

Williams was a founding member and guitarist of Every Time I Die, the influential metalcore band formed in Buffalo, New York. He remained with the group until its final show on 11 December 2021, before the band formally broke up in January 2022.

The band's split was announced by Williams and three other members in January 2022 after that final performance. Williams had spent more than two decades with Every Time I Die, helping establish the band as one of the better‑known acts in the metalcore scene.

He later continued his music career beyond Every Time I Die, while remaining active as a professional wrestler.

Shortly before the wrestling event, Williams discussed Atomic Rule's new material in a video, saying the band had finished writing songs and was tracking them for demos. He also teased announcements that were expected in the coming weeks.

Alongside his music career, Williams became a professional wrestler and was best known as The Butcher. He became widely recognised after joining All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he teamed with The Blade, whose real name is Jesse Guilmette.

The Butcher and The Blade became regular fixtures on AEW programming and were also associated with The Bunny. Williams later continued wrestling on the independent circuit.

What Was Andy Williams' Cause of Death?

Williams' death was confirmed after he collapsed during the Enjoy Wrestling match and was taken to hospital following emergency treatment at the venue.

Enjoy Wrestling said its doctors administered CPR until an ambulance arrived, while Fightful reported that people at the event saw paramedics use chest compressions and a defibrillator.

The Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office subsequently confirmed Williams' death to TMZ, but no official cause of death had been publicly released at the time of publication.

For now, the confirmed circumstances are that Williams collapsed during his match on 5 September, received emergency medical treatment and was taken to hospital before his death was confirmed at 48.

Any claim that he died from a specific medical condition would be premature until an official cause is released.