Andy Williams was much more than AEW’s The Butcher. He was a longtime guitarist for Every Time I Die, a professional wrestler, and one half of the Butcher and the Blade tag team. Here is what is known about his family, wife, children, career, wrestling journey, music life and personal background.
Andy Williams built an unusual career that connected two very different worlds: heavy music and professional wrestling.
For music fans, he was known as the rhythm guitarist of the influential metalcore band Every Time I Die. For wrestling fans, he became The Butcher, a physically imposing performer who spent years competing in All Elite Wrestling and Ring of Honor.
Williams was born Andrew J. Williams on December 12, 1977, in Buffalo, New York. He grew up in the Buffalo-area music and wrestling environment and eventually turned both of his major interests into professional careers.
He died on September 5, 2026, at the age of 48, after collapsing following a wrestling match in Pennsylvania.
But his story stretches far beyond his final match.
Andy Williams Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Andrew J. Williams |
| Ring name | The Butcher |
| Other ring names | Andy Williams, Billy Goat Williams, Ballsy Malone |
| Born | December 12, 1977 |
| Birthplace | Buffalo, New York, U.S. |
| Died | September 5, 2026 |
| Age | 48 |
| Profession | Musician, guitarist, professional wrestler |
| Instrument | Guitar |
| Best known wrestling promotion | AEW |
| Best known band | Every Time I Die |
| Wrestling partner | The Blade |
| Billed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Billed weight | 273 lb (124 kg) |
| Wrestling debut | March 20, 2016 |
| Music genres | Metalcore, hardcore punk, Southern rock |
Who Was Andy Williams?
Andy Williams was an American musician and professional wrestler.
His two careers developed at different times but eventually became closely connected.
Williams was originally interested in professional wrestling and began training before his music career took off. However, a knee injury interrupted his early wrestling ambitions.
During that period, he learned to play guitar and became involved in music.
That decision ultimately led to the creation of Every Time I Die.
Years later, Williams returned to professional wrestling and eventually achieved international recognition as The Butcher in AEW.
Andy Williams’ Early Life
Williams was born in Buffalo, New York, on December 12, 1977.
He later became associated with nearby North Tonawanda, New York, which was listed as his origin in his wrestling biography.
His early ambitions were strongly connected to professional wrestling.
He initially trained with the Renegade Wrestling Association in Ontario, Canada, spending about six months learning the fundamentals of wrestling.
A knee injury forced him to step away from training.
That setback unexpectedly changed the direction of his life.
While recovering, Williams learned to play guitar and began building a career in music.
How Andy Williams Started Every Time I Die
Williams became one of the founding members of Every Time I Die, a band formed in the Buffalo area.
He played rhythm guitar alongside lead guitarist Jordan Buckley and drummer Michael Novak.
The band became known for its combination of metalcore, hardcore punk and Southern rock influences.
Williams remained part of the group throughout its recording career and appeared on its releases.
For many years, music was his primary professional identity.
His commitment to the band was also notable because he reportedly had an extremely consistent live-show record.
According to his biography, he had not missed a live Every Time I Die show until January 2020, when his wrestling career required him to appear at AEW’s Bash at the Beach.
Every Time I Die Albums and Music Career
Every Time I Die became one of the best-known bands associated with the American metalcore and hardcore scene.
The group released multiple albums during its career, including its final studio album, Radical, in 2021.
Williams and guitarist Jordan Buckley later announced that Every Time I Die had broken up in January 2022.
The breakup marked a major turning point in Williams’ professional life.
With the band no longer touring, he was able to concentrate more heavily on professional wrestling.
Andy Williams’ Wrestling Training
Williams never completely abandoned his childhood interest in wrestling.
During the mid-2010s, he resumed serious training.
He worked with several experienced wrestlers and trainers, including Josh Barnett.
He also trained at Grapplers Anonymous in Lackawanna, New York, and received additional guidance from Jesse Guilmette, his longtime friend and future tag-team partner.
His wrestling training eventually led to appearances on the independent circuit.
Andy Williams’ Independent Wrestling Career
Williams began working regularly on the independent wrestling scene around 2015.
He made appearances for promotions including Smash Wrestling and Progress Wrestling.
His size quickly became part of his wrestling presentation.
At 6-foot-3 and billed at 273 pounds, Williams had a physical presence that helped distinguish him from many other wrestlers.
He eventually began teaming with Jesse Guilmette.
Guilmette would become known as The Blade, and together they became The Butcher and The Blade.
The team worked across independent promotions in the northeastern United States and also appeared in Canada.
The Butcher and The Blade
The partnership with The Blade became one of the most important relationships in Williams’ wrestling career.
The two had known each other for years before establishing themselves as a regular tag team.
In 2017, Williams and Guilmette won the Pro Wrestling Rampage Tag Team Championship.
Their partnership eventually brought them to the attention of larger wrestling promotions.
That journey ultimately led to AEW.
Andy Williams’ AEW Debut
Williams made his AEW debut in November 2019 under the ring name The Butcher.
He appeared on AEW Dynamite alongside The Blade and The Bunny.
The group attacked Cody Rhodes, establishing The Butcher as a villainous character.
The storyline later revealed that MJF had hired The Butcher and The Blade as part of his feud with Cody.
Williams quickly became a recognizable part of AEW’s roster.
The Butcher’s AEW Career
During his AEW career, The Butcher worked with some of the promotion’s biggest names.
He became involved with groups and wrestlers including:
- MJF
- The Blade
- The Bunny
- Eddie Kingston
- The Lucha Brothers
- Matt Hardy
- Private Party
- Kip Sabian
- Andrade El Idolo
- The Best Friends
- Orange Cassidy
- Darby Allin
The Butcher and The Blade were frequently used in tag-team and faction storylines.
Williams also competed in battle royals and singles matches.
One notable opportunity came when The Butcher won a battle royal to become the No. 1 contender for the AEW TNT Championship. He later lost the championship opportunity to Darby Allin.
Injuries During His Wrestling Career
Professional wrestling came with its share of injuries for Williams.
During an independent match in 2016, he tore his meniscus and underwent surgery.
In 2021, he suffered another significant injury when he tore his bicep during an AEW match against Orange Cassidy and Tomohiro Ishii.
Williams was given time away from the ring to recover.
His injuries were especially significant because he had been balancing wrestling with his music career at the time.
Why Did Andy Williams Become a Full-Time Wrestler?
The breakup of Every Time I Die in January 2022 changed Williams’ career trajectory.
With the band finished, wrestling became his primary professional focus.
The Butcher subsequently continued appearing for AEW and later Ring of Honor.
He competed in tag matches, singles matches, battle royals and multi-man contests.
Although he never became one of AEW’s main championship holders, The Butcher remained a recognizable supporting character throughout his time with the promotion.
Andy Williams and Ring of Honor
Williams also competed for Ring of Honor, AEW’s sister promotion.
Beginning in 2023, The Butcher appeared regularly in ROH matches, often alongside The Blade and Kip Sabian.
He continued competing in tag-team and multi-man matches.
His ROH appearances became another part of the later stage of his wrestling career.
When Did Andy Williams Leave AEW?
In June 2026, reports indicated that the contracts of The Butcher and The Blade with AEW had expired.
That brought an end to their nearly seven-year association with the promotion.
By then, Williams had spent years establishing himself as a recognizable name in AEW wrestling.
Andy Williams’ Wife
Information about Andy Williams’ wife is not clearly documented in the biographical information provided by Wikipedia.
Williams generally kept his private life separate from his public professional career.
Because there is no reliable information in the supplied source identifying a wife, it would be inappropriate to name someone based on speculation or social-media claims.
Did Andy Williams Have Children?
Publicly verified information about Andy Williams’ children is not provided in the supplied biography.
There are no reliable details in the source about the number of children he may have had, their names or their ages.
For a biography published after his death, this distinction is important because family information should not be filled in from unverified social-media posts.
Andy Williams’ Family
Williams was born into a family in the Buffalo, New York area, but detailed information about his parents and siblings is limited in the supplied biographical record.
His public career focused primarily on music and professional wrestling.
The most clearly documented personal connection in his professional life was his long relationship with Jesse Guilmette, better known as The Blade.
Andy Williams’ Height and Weight
As a professional wrestler, Williams was billed at:
- Height: 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 meters)
- Weight: 273 pounds (124 kilograms)
His large frame was an important part of The Butcher character.
His appearance and physical style helped create the intimidating persona that became associated with him in AEW.
Andy Williams’ Net Worth
A reliable, independently verified figure for Andy Williams’ net worth is not available in the supplied sources.
Online celebrity websites may publish estimated figures, but those numbers should not be treated as confirmed unless they are supported by financial records or credible reporting.
Williams had income from two major professional careers—music and wrestling—but his actual earnings, investments and assets were not publicly disclosed in the biography provided.
Did Andy Williams Own a Car?
There is no reliable information in the supplied biography identifying a specific car owned by Andy Williams.
Although fans sometimes search for celebrity cars, Williams did not publicly build his profile around luxury vehicles or automobile collecting.
It would therefore be misleading to claim that he owned a particular make or model without a reliable source.
Andy Williams’ Lifestyle
Williams’ public lifestyle was closely tied to his two professions.
For years, he spent substantial time touring with Every Time I Die while also pursuing wrestling.
His career required a demanding combination of live music performances, travel, rehearsals, recording and wrestling appearances.
After Every Time I Die broke up, professional wrestling became his central career.
Rather than presenting himself primarily as a celebrity, Williams was known for his work as a performer in two highly specialized communities.
Andy Williams and Dyslexia
Williams also spoke publicly about having dyslexia.
During an appearance on Renee Paquette’s podcast The Sessions, he discussed the condition.
That disclosure gave fans another insight into the person behind both the musician and wrestling character.
Andy Williams’ Wrestling Accomplishments
Williams’ documented wrestling accomplishments included the Pro Wrestling Rampage Tag Team Championship, which he won with The Blade.
He was also ranked No. 315 in the PWI 500 in 2020, placing him among the 500 singles wrestlers recognized by Pro Wrestling Illustrated that year.
His greatest recognition, however, came from his years as The Butcher and his partnership with The Blade.
Andy Williams’ Legacy
Andy Williams leaves behind a career that is unusual even by professional wrestling standards.
He first became known to many fans through music as a member of Every Time I Die.
He then transformed a longtime interest in wrestling into a second professional career.
As The Butcher, he became part of AEW during the company’s formative years and remained associated with the promotion for nearly seven years.
His partnership with The Blade became one of the defining features of his wrestling career.
For music fans, he will be remembered as a guitarist who helped shape Every Time I Die.
For wrestling fans, he will be remembered as The Butcher.
For both communities, his career demonstrated that a performer could build a lasting identity in two very different forms of entertainment.
Andy Williams’ Death
Andy Williams died on September 5, 2026, at the age of 48.
He collapsed after a wrestling match at an Enjoy Wrestling event at Mr. Smalls Theatre in Millvale, Pennsylvania.
Medical personnel responded at the venue and CPR was performed before he was transported to hospital.
His death was subsequently confirmed by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office.
A cause of death has not been publicly released.
Williams’ death came only months after reports that his AEW contract with The Blade had expired.
He was 48.
Final Takeaway
Andy Williams’ life cannot be reduced to his final wrestling appearance.
He was a musician, guitarist, professional wrestler and tag-team performer who spent decades building a career across music and wrestling.
From forming Every Time I Die in the Buffalo area to becoming AEW’s The Butcher, Williams repeatedly reinvented himself without abandoning his original passion for professional wrestling.
His story is ultimately one of two careers: the guitarist behind Every Time I Die and the wrestler behind The Butcher.
