Andy Williams, the professional wrestler known to AEW fans as "The Butcher" and to metalcore fans as the longtime guitarist of Every Time I Die, died Friday night after collapsing during an independent wrestling match in Pennsylvania. He was 48.

Williams was competing in a tag match for Enjoy Wrestling's "Five Years" event at Mr. Smalls Theater in Millvale, alongside his longtime partner Jesse Guilmette — known in the ring as "The Blade" — when he collapsed near the finish of the bout, according to NBC News. On-site medics performed CPR and used an AED before he was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed the death; a cause has not yet been released. Enjoy Wrestling canceled the remainder of the card.

A Trailblazer in Two Worlds

Williams debuted in AEW in 2019 as one half of "The Butcher and The Blade" alongside Guilmette, remaining with the promotion for seven years until their contracts expired in mid-2025, after which he returned to the independent circuit. Outside the ring, he spent years as rhythm guitarist for the influential metalcore band Every Time I Die, splitting his career between two demanding stages.

AEW paid tribute in an official statement reported by Post Wrestling: "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." Enjoy Wrestling's own tribute was simpler: "Butcher Forever."

"BUTCHER FOREVER."

Tributes poured in across the wrestling world, including from The Young Bucks, Will Ospreay and CM Punk, all of whom shared memories of Williams on social media in the hours after the news broke. An eyewitness at Friday's show, Rich Fann, said Williams "appeared to be struggling near the finish before going down," according to TMZ.

The cause of death awaits findings from the medical examiner. Fans of both his wrestling career and his music are expected to organize tributes in the coming days as the wrestling and metalcore communities mourn a performer who built a rare career bridging both worlds.