The Millvale Borough Police Department has released a statement detailing the emergency response following the death of professional wrestler and musician Andy Williams, known to wrestling fans as The Butcher. Williams died on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at age 48 after a medical emergency during an Enjoy Wrestling event at Mr. Smalls Theatre in Millvale, Pennsylvania.
Police said officers were dispatched to the venue at approximately 8:45 p.m. following a report involving a male wrestler who had struck his head on a ring post during the event. When officers arrived, they found Williams unresponsive while two physicians who were present with the wrestling organization attended to him.
The department stated that Williams stopped breathing shortly before Ross/West View EMS arrived. CPR was started and an automated external defibrillator, commonly known as an AED, was applied. Emergency medical personnel continued life-saving efforts after reaching the scene and transported Williams by ambulance to Allegheny General Hospital.
Williams was pronounced dead at approximately 9:43 p.m., according to the police statement.
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Police Say Cause and Manner of Death Are Still Pending
While the initial call to police referenced a report that Williams had hit his head on a ring post, investigators said they did not observe visible trauma or any signs suggesting foul play. The Millvale Borough Police Department stressed that the official cause and manner of death have not yet been determined.
“There were no visible signs of trauma and no indications of foul play observed by investigating officers,” the department said.
An autopsy has been completed by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office. However, a final conclusion will not be made until the examination is reviewed alongside any related testing. Police indicated that no additional information about Williams’ cause of death will be released before the medical examiner’s findings are available.
The distinction is important as the wrestling community continues to mourn Williams’ passing. The events described by police establish the emergency timeline at Mr. Smalls Theatre, but they do not provide a medical conclusion about what caused Williams to become unresponsive. Any definitive explanation remains subject to the Medical Examiner’s final determination.
Emergency Response at Mr. Smalls Theatre
The police account provides the clearest public outline so far of the response after Williams’ medical emergency. Officers arrived while medical care was already underway, with two physicians at the venue attending to him before EMS reached the building.
After Williams stopped breathing, CPR and the AED were used before Ross/West View EMS took over continued life-saving measures. He was then transported to Allegheny General Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased less than an hour after police were initially dispatched.
Authorities did not provide further details about the in-ring sequence, the match in progress, or the specific circumstances that preceded the report to police. Their statement instead focused on the emergency actions taken at the venue, the hospital transport, and the pending medical examination.
The Millvale Borough Police Department extended condolences to Williams’ family, friends, colleagues, and those in both professional wrestling and music who have been affected by his death. Williams’ career connected those communities in a particularly meaningful way, as he had a prominent national wrestling profile while also being known for his work in the metal band Every Time I Die.
A Career Defined by The Butcher’s Presence
As The Butcher, Williams was one half of the hard-hitting tag team The Butcher and The Blade alongside The Blade. The duo became known for an imposing presentation, physical ring style, and a look that immediately separated them from much of the modern tag-team landscape.
Williams competed in AEW from 2019 through 2025. During that run, The Butcher and The Blade were regular figures in the company’s tag division and frequently appeared with The Bunny. The group’s arrival gave them a distinctive place in AEW programming, combining The Butcher’s unmistakable size and appearance with The Blade’s complementary in-ring approach.
For many viewers, Williams’ presence made an immediate impact. His frame, long beard, tattoos, and intense demeanor fit the persona’s name, but his work reached beyond visual presentation. Whether competing in tag-team bouts or appearing in broader faction situations, The Butcher brought a rough, deliberate identity to every appearance.
His years in AEW placed him before a global television audience, but his connection to independent wrestling remained significant. He was competing for Enjoy Wrestling at the time of the medical emergency, underscoring the relationship he retained with the independent scene even after years on a major national platform.
Williams’ death has therefore resonated across multiple parts of wrestling: among performers who worked alongside him, fans who followed The Butcher and The Blade in AEW, and supporters of independent promotions where his appearances carried special weight.
Williams’ Lasting Place in Music and Wrestling
Outside the ring, Williams was also widely recognized as a member of Every Time I Die. His work in the metal band gave him a second creative identity and brought him recognition among fans who may have first known him through music rather than wrestling.
That dual career made Williams a familiar and respected figure across two communities that often share a deep appreciation for live performance, physical expression, and larger-than-life personalities. For wrestling fans, he was The Butcher. For music fans, he was a member of a notable metal act. To friends, collaborators, and colleagues, he was a person whose influence extended well beyond either role alone.
The police department specifically acknowledged the impact of the loss on both communities in its message of condolence. That recognition reflects the scope of Williams’ life and career. He was not simply a wrestler who performed under a memorable name, nor solely a musician with a background in the ring. He was an active presence in both worlds.
Tributes and memories from fellow wrestlers have emphasized the personal impact Williams had on the people around him. While public grief has naturally focused on The Butcher’s prominent body of work, the response also speaks to the relationships he formed throughout a career spent in locker rooms, at independent events, and in music settings.
Waiting for the Medical Examiner’s Findings
For now, the official investigation remains incomplete. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office has performed an autopsy, but the cause and manner of death are still pending further examination and associated testing. Police have made clear that the final determination rests with the medical examiner.
It is also important not to draw conclusions from the initial report that prompted officers to respond. Authorities noted that the report involved a wrestler who had struck his head on a ring post, yet investigating officers observed no visible signs of trauma and no evidence of foul play. Those facts, together with the ongoing medical review, mean the available information does not establish a final cause of death.
Williams’ passing is a devastating loss at 48 years old. The immediate focus remains with his family, friends, and colleagues as they grieve, while the wrestling and music communities continue to celebrate the work and presence he brought to both.
The Butcher stood out wherever he performed. From his tag-team work with The Blade to his years in AEW, his independent wrestling appearances, and his role in Every Time I Die, Andy Williams built a career that left a lasting impression. As authorities await the final medical findings, the people who knew his work continue to remember the performer, musician, and colleague behind the larger-than-life persona.
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.