Independent wrestler Ganon Jones Jr. has announced that he is stepping away from professional wrestling in the aftermath of Andy “The Butcher” Williams’ passing.
Jones Jr., known as “The All Star,” was part of Williams’ final match at an Enjoy Wrestling event on Saturday, September 5. Williams teamed with The Blade against Jones Jr. and Duke Davis, who competed together as TME. Williams died after the event, and Jones Jr. has now shared an emotional statement explaining why he cannot presently continue wrestling.
The decision is not based on a physical issue or a loss of love for the profession. In fact, Jones Jr. said his body feels well and that he had been enjoying one of the happiest periods of his career. Instead, he identified the emotional consequences of September 5, particularly the effect the night had on his daughter, as the reason he needs to leave the ring for now.
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A Third Reason To Walk Away
Jones Jr. explained that he had always expected his eventual departure from wrestling to come under one of two circumstances: when his body could no longer handle the demands of the ring, or when wrestling stopped being enjoyable. Neither of those situations applies to him now.
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“I always told myself I would walk away from wrestling for two reasons: either my body no longer allows it, or I’m no longer having fun,” Jones Jr. wrote. “My body feels fine, and I’ve been having the time of my life… yet here I am.”
He described September 5 at Enjoy Wrestling as one of the worst nights of his life. Jones Jr. said he has continuously thought about Williams, Williams’ family, the match itself, and what occurred afterward. The loss has remained at the front of his mind in the days since.
Jones Jr.’s daughter was in attendance that night to support her father. He recalled that she had been cheering and enjoying the show until the events surrounding the match changed the atmosphere entirely. The experience frightened her deeply, and her response made Jones Jr. reassess his responsibilities outside the ring.
“My daughter was there that night cheering me on, yelling, and having fun… until she wasn’t,” Jones Jr. said. “The events from that night scared her more than anything I can remember.”
After he was eventually able to look at his phone, Jones Jr. saw a message from his daughter that read, “I am not letting u do wrestling anymore. I am crying.” He said that message revealed what he called a third reason to step away from wrestling.
Fatherhood Comes Before “The All Star”
Jones Jr. made clear that he does not feel ready to be finished as a wrestler. Still, he said he cannot justify leaving home to perform while his daughter is left with fears about whether he will return to her.
“I cannot, in good conscience, leave the house to be The All Star when I have a little girl at home wondering if I’ll ever come back,” Jones Jr. wrote. “She doesn’t deserve to have those thoughts, and I refuse to put her through that.”
That distinction is central to Jones Jr.’s announcement. This is not presented as a conventional retirement based on declining physical condition, a lack of opportunities, or dissatisfaction with his career. It is a deeply personal decision made after a traumatic experience and with the needs of his family in mind.
Professional wrestling can ask a great deal of the people who participate in it, especially on the independent scene. Wrestlers spend long hours traveling, take physical risks in front of live audiences, and often build their careers one booking at a time. For performers with families, those demands extend beyond the venue and the locker room. Jones Jr.’s statement addresses that reality directly, focusing not on his own disappointment but on his daughter’s sense of security.
He said that, at this moment, being a father has to take precedence over continuing as “The All Star.”
“But right now, I need to be a Dad before I can be The All Star,” Jones Jr. said. “So, I’m stepping away.”
Williams’ Final Match
Williams’ final bout came at the Enjoy Wrestling event when he and longtime partner The Blade faced the TME pairing of Jones Jr. and Duke Davis. The Butcher and The Blade were widely recognized as a powerful tandem, and Williams’ passing has prompted an outpouring of grief throughout wrestling.
For Jones Jr., the circumstances surrounding that match have clearly made the loss especially difficult to process. He stated that hardly an hour has passed without thoughts of Williams and those closest to him. He also emphasized that he will never stop thinking about Williams, whom he remembered as one of the kindest people he had met.
The statement does not provide a timetable for Jones Jr.’s possible return. He said he hopes this is not a permanent goodbye, while also acknowledging that he does not currently feel prepared to leave wrestling behind for good. That leaves the door open for a future comeback, but Jones Jr. was equally firm that he must take time away now.
“I hope this isn’t forever, because I don’t feel ‘ready’ to leave yet,” he wrote.
Gratitude For Wrestling And Its Community
Even as he steps back, Jones Jr. spoke warmly about the role wrestling has played in his life. He credited the industry with giving him major memories, meaningful friendships, distinctive experiences, and the chance to develop his identity as “The All Star.”
His message included appreciation for the fans who supported him, the people who shared locker rooms with him, and those who encouraged him throughout his career. It was not a rejection of wrestling, but an acknowledgment that his relationship with it must change while he puts his family first.
“Wrestling has given me some of the greatest memories of my life,” Jones Jr. wrote. “It has given me friendships, experiences, and moments I’ll carry with me forever. It has allowed me to become The All Star, and I will always be grateful for every person who ever cheered for me, believed in me, shared a locker room with me, or simply gave me a reason to keep going.”
Jones Jr. also encouraged fans to continue backing the wrestling community. His message called on supporters to attend events, cheer for performers, and value the people in their lives while they can.
“Please keep supporting wrestling. Keep showing up. Keep cheering. Keep loving your people while they’re here,” he said.
An Uncertain But Understandable Goodbye
There is an understandable uncertainty in Jones Jr.’s farewell. He has not declared a permanent in-ring retirement, nor has he put forward a date for a return. What he has done is establish a necessary boundary after an event that altered how his daughter views his profession and how he views the risks and emotional weight carried by his family.
For now, Jones Jr. is stepping away from the ring. The decision follows the death of a fellow wrestler who left a lasting impression on him personally, and it comes with a clear message about prioritizing loved ones over professional ambition.
Jones Jr. closed his statement by remembering Williams with affection and sadness: “We lost one of the kindest souls I’ve ever met, and I’ll never stop thinking about him. This isn’t goodbye forever. At least I hope it isn’t. Rest easy, Big Andy.”
Whether “The All Star” ultimately returns to wrestling remains to be seen. At present, Ganon Jones Jr. has chosen to focus on being there for his daughter and honoring the impact of a devastating night that he says will remain with him.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.