Andy Williams (guitarist)

Andrew Williams (born December 12, 1977)[1] is an American musician and professional wrestler, best known as the rhythm guitarist of Every Time I Die. As a professional wrestler, he is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) under the ring name The Butcher where he is best known for his tag team work with The Blade under the name The Butcher and The Blade.

"The Butcher (wrestler)" redirects here. For the wrestler billed as The Butcher in WCW, see Brutus Beefcake. For the Canadian professional wrestler, see Abdullah the Butcher.
Andy Williams
Williams playing at With Full Force 2013
Background information
Birth nameAndrew Williams
Born (1977-12-12) December 12, 1977
Buffalo, New York, U.S.
OriginNorth Tonawanda, New York, U.S.[1]
GenresMetalcore, hardcore punk, Southern rock
Occupation(s)Musician, professional wrestler
InstrumentsGuitar
Years active1998 (1998)–present
Labels
Associated actsEvery Time I Die
Ring name(s)Andy Williams
The Butcher
Billed height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Billed weight273 lb (124 kg)
Billed fromBuffalo, New York
Trained byJosh Barnett
Mikey Everynite[2]
Brandon Thurston[3]
Pepper Parks
DebutMarch 20, 2016

Musical career

Williams had aspired to be a professional wrestler and trained at Renegade Wrestling Association in Ontario, Canada for six months, until he sustained a knee injury. During the layoff, he learnt to play the guitar, and formed Every Time I Die alongside lead guitarist Jordan Buckley and drummer Michael Novak. He has appeared on every release that the band has done, and had not missed a live show, until January 2020, when he wrestled Diamond Dallas Page and Dustin Rhodes at Bash at the Beach.[4] From January to March, Every Time I Die had written and recorded their ninth album, and had been expected to tour the album in June, supporting Parkway Drive and Hatebreed, but this would be delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5] Since he could not tour with the band,[6] he was able to continue working for All Elite Wrestling (AEW), as they are based in Jacksonville, and Florida has deemed wrestling as essential business critical to the state's economy.

Professional wrestling career
Williams (left) wrestling Tarik at a Smash Wrestling event

In the mid-2010s, Williams resumed his training with Josh Barnett, initially as a workout session.[7] He continued working with Barnett, but only sporadically, since he does not live in California.[7] He began attending Grapplers Anonymous, based in Lackawanna, and received further training from long-time friend and professional wrestler Jesse Guilmette.[1] During the summer of 2015, he started working on the independent circuit, and made run-ins at Smash Wrestling where he chokeslammed Tarik,[8] and at Progress Wrestling, where he powerbombed Jimmy Havoc through a table.[9] His first tag match was on a Interspecies Wrestling Halloween show, partnering Wes in a dark match, and defeating Los Dumbfucks.[10] In February 2016, he returned to Smash Wrestling, and had another confrontation with Tarik, who laid him out in the ring.[11] His first singles match was confirmed the following month after the show, but at Any Given Sunday 4, he was defeated by Tarik.[12] During the match, he tore his meniscus, which he had surgery for, before going on tour with Every Time I Die ten days later.[7]

In March 2017, Williams appeared at Joey Janela's Spring Break, successfully teaming with Penelope Ford in an intergender tag team match against Guilmette (under his Braxton Sutter ring name) and his wife Allie.[13] Janela had suggested that Williams should wrestle either Nikolai Volkoff or Glacier at the event, but he declined, preferring the intergender matchup instead.[14] September saw the beginning of Williams and Guilmette regularly teaming with each other, and in their first match at a Pro Wrestling Rampage event, they won the PWR Tag Team Championship, defeating The Upper Echelon (Colby Redd and PB Smooth).[15] However, this reign was short-lived, lasting 63 days. In their first defence of the title, Williams was absent and was replaced by JJ Rumham (as he was playing in Newcastle during the Low Teens tour);[16] the pairing of Guilmette and Rumham were defeated by The Homewreckers (Anthony Gaines and Jet Rebel).[17] Known as The Butcher and The Blade, Williams and Guilmette predominately wrestled in promotions across the Northeast, as well as in Ottawa, where Capital City Championship Combat (C4) is based.

All Elite Wrestling (2019–present)

On the November 27, 2019 episode of Dynamite, Williams (now known under the ring name The Butcher) made his debut for All Elite Wrestling (AEW) in a post-match attack on Cody, alongside The Blade and The Bunny, establishing themselves as heels.[18] It was later revealed that The Butcher and The Blade had been hired by MJF, furthering his ongoing feud with Cody.[19] On the December 11 episode of Dynamite, The Butcher won his first tag match in AEW when he and The Blade defeated Cody and QT Marshall, who was handpicked by MJF.[20] The following week on the December 18 episode of Dynamite, The Butcher and The Blade were defeated by Cody and his new partner, Darby Allin.[21]

On January 15, 2020, Williams missed a live show in Paris for the first time in twenty-two years, to appear at Bash at the Beach.[22] Teaming with MJF, The Butcher and The Blade defeated Marshall, Diamond Dallas Page and Dustin Rhodes in a six-man tag team match, where he took a Diamond Cutter from DDP.[23] In March 2020, The Butcher and The Blade had a brief feud with the Jurassic Express (Jungle Boy, Luchasaurus and Marko Stunt), which would lead to The Butcher and The Blade ending their alliance with MJF. On the March 11 episode of Dynamite, The Butcher and The Blade teamed with MJF for the second and final time, in a defeat of the Jurassic Express.[24] On the March 18 episode of Dynamite, they were defeated by Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus, following interference by MJF who called for the finisher, allowing Jungle Boy to send The Butcher to the outside and then he and Luchasaurus hit their finisher on The Blade.[25]

During the summer, The Butcher and The Blade began working with Lucha Brothers (Rey Fenix and Penta El Zero Miedo) and later, formed a group, led by Eddie Kingston.[26] However, the group disbanded on the November 18 episode of Dynamite, after The Butcher and The Blade sided with Kingston, while the Lucha Brothers reunited their Death Triangle group with Pac, who had returned the previous week.[27] They feuded with Pac, Penta, and Fenix for the next couple of weeks.[28][29][30]

Championships and accomplishments

References
  1. Roberts, Sam (December 27, 2016). "Andy Williams - Every Time I Die, Wrestling, Buffalo NY, etc - #SRShow". Retrieved December 30, 2020 – via YouTube.
  2. Doyle, Kip. "Interview: Every Time I Die's Andy Williams". The Daily Public. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  3. Monday, Zach (June 10, 2019). "BEYOND WRESTLING "SECRET SHOW: BOSTON"". The Indy Corner. Retrieved December 30, 2020. Thurston is the Head Trainer at Grappler's Anonymous in Buffalo, NY.
  4. Hubbard, Sean (February 4, 2020). "IN DEPTH: IN THE RING WITH ANDY WILLIAMS (EVERY TIME I DIE)". Discovered Magazine. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  5. Kennelty, Greg (January 29, 2020). "EVERY TIME I DIE Recording A New Album". Metal Injection. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
    "Yeah!!! Every Time I Die Have Finished Recording Album #9". Wall of Sound (AU). March 10, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  6. Kennelty, Greg (November 2, 2020). "EVERY TIME I DIE Will Not Release New Album Until Touring Can Happen Again". Metal Injection. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  7. "ANDY WILLIAMS OF EVERY TIME I DIE TALKS WRESTLING". January 26, 2018. Retrieved December 30, 2020 – via YouTube.
  8. Hartmann, Graham (June 10, 2015). "Every Time I Die Guitarist Andy Williams Lays the Smackdown at Pro Wrestling Show". Loudwire. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  9. "WATCH EVERY TIME I DIE'S ANDY WILLIAMS POWERBOMB A PROFESSIONAL WRESTLER THROUGH A TABLE". Alternative Press. June 14, 2015. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  10. Pasbani, Robert (November 3, 2015). "EVERY TIME I DIE's Andy Williams Made His Pro Wrestling Debut Over The Weekend". Metal Injection. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  11. "Every Time I Die Guitarist Andy Williams' Time In The Ring Didn't Go Well Last Weekend". theprp.com. February 22, 2016. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  12. Pasbani, Robert (March 22, 2016). "EVERY TIME I DIE's Andy Williams Loses His Pro Wrestling Debut Match". Metal Injection. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  13. Csonka, Larry (March 31, 2017). "Csonka's GCW (Joey Janela's Spring Break!) Review 3.30.17". 411Mania.com. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
    Pantoja, Kevin (April 1, 2017). "Kevin's GCW Joey Janela's Spring Break Review". 411Mania.com. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  14. Reid, Sêan (June 22, 2017). "Interview: Every Time I Die – Wrestling With Consistency". Already Heard. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  15. Kreikenbohm, Philip. "PWR Heroes & Villains 4". cagematch.net. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  16. Sayce, Rob (July 5, 2017). "EVERY TIME I DIE, COMEBACK KID AND KNOCKED LOOSE HAVE ANNOUNCED A TOUR". Rocksound. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  17. Kreikenbohm, Philip. "PWR 10th Anniversary Weekend Spectacular - Tag 2". cagematch.net. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  18. Renner, Ethan (November 27, 2019). "AEW DYNAMITE LIVE RESULTS: CHRIS JERICHO VS. SCORPIO SKY TITLE MATCH". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  19. ".@The_MJF has a response to Cody". Twitter. December 5, 2019. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  20. Renner, Ethan (December 11, 2019). "AEW DYNAMITE LIVE RESULTS: TEXAS STREET FIGHT". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  21. Renner, Ethan (December 18, 2019). "AEW DYNAMITE LIVE RESULTS: JERICHO VS. JUNGLE BOY, TAG TITLE MATCH". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  22. Micciche, Steve (January 16, 2020). "The big man @andycomplains was the only member of ETID to never miss a show, until today. It took 22 years. But to get into a ring with DDP and whoop ass is a perfect reason to play hookie. Stage left missed ya. Thanks Paris for the cool show". Twitter. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  23. Renner, Ethan (January 15, 2020). "AEW DYNAMITE LIVE RESULTS: BASH AT THE BEACH". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  24. Renner, Ethan (March 11, 2020). "AEW DYNAMITE LIVE RESULTS: MYSTERY PARTNER MATCH, BLOOD & GUTS RULES". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  25. Renner, Ethan (March 18, 2020). "AEW DYNAMITE LIVE RESULTS: EXALTED ONE REVEAL, BLOOD & GUTS ADVANTAGE". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  26. Renner, Ethan (August 22, 2020). "AEW DYNAMITE LIVE RESULTS: TNT TITLE MATCH, DEADLY DRAW FINALS". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  27. Renner, Ethan (November 18, 2020). "AEW DYNAMITE LIVE RESULTS: PAC RETURNS, WORLD TITLE CONTRACT SIGNING". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  28. Klyn, Parker (November 25, 2020). "AEW DYNAMITE LIVE RESULTS: WOMEN'S TITLE MATCH, MOXLEY-OMEGA BUILD". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  29. Klyn, Parker (December 9, 2020). "AEW DYNAMITE LIVE RESULTS: STING INTERVIEW, OMEGA TITLE WIN FALLOUT". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  30. Klyn, Parker (December 23, 2020). "AEW DYNAMITE LIVE RESULTS: HOLIDAY BASH". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  31. "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2020". The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  32. Kreikenbohm, Philip. "PWR Tag Team Championship". cagematch.net. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
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