What happened
AEW opened the September 9 episode of Dynamite, billed as “Rebel Heart,” with a graphic honoring the life of Andy Williams, according to Fightful, WrestleView, eWrestlingNews, and WrestleZone.
Williams was best known to wrestling fans as The Butcher, a longtime competitor for both AEW and ROH, per Fightful and eWrestlingNews.
Later in the broadcast, the commentary team of Excalibur, Taz, and Tony Schiavone took a moment to pay tribute to Williams on air, as reported by Fightful.
WrestleZone reported that the live crowd joined the commentary team in honoring the wrestler and musician during the opening moments of the show.
What we know
Williams passed away unexpectedly on Friday, September 5, according to Fightful, WrestleView, and eWrestlingNews.
WrestleZone reported that Williams died at the age of 48.
Fightful reported that AEW will continue to honor The Butcher on the September 12 episode of AEW Collision, with WrestleView adding that the show is set to be a tribute broadcast.
As of Fightful’s report, no further details on the Collision tribute segment had been made public.
What is not confirmed
None of the supplied sources detail a cause of death for Williams.
Specific plans for the Collision tribute beyond it being billed as a tribute show had not been announced as of the available reporting.
Why it matters
Andy Williams built a career across both AEW and ROH as The Butcher, making him a familiar and respected figure among wrestling fans, per Fightful.
The tributes across both Dynamite and the upcoming Collision broadcast reflect the impact his passing has had on the AEW roster, commentary team, and fanbase.
Sources
- Fightful: Excalibur, Taz, And Tony Schiavone Pay Tribute To ‘The Butcher’ Andy Williams On AEW Dynamite Rebel Heart
- WrestleView: AEW pays tribute to “The Butcher” Andy Williams during Dynamite, Collision to be a tribute show
- eWrestlingNews: AEW Pays Tribute To Andy ‘The Butcher’ Williams
- Fightful: ‘The Butcher’ Andy Williams Tribute Set For 9/12 AEW Collision
- WrestleZone: AEW Remembers Andy ‘The Butcher’ Williams With Poignant Dynamite Tribute
