Daniel Garcia won AEW’s Butcher Battle Royal on Collision, earning $100,000 to donate to charity in memory of Andy Williams.
Daniel Garcia won the Butcher Battle Royal on Saturday’s AEW Collision, closing an emotional tribute show dedicated to the late Andy “The Butcher” Williams.
The battle royal served as the main event of Collision from the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Massachusetts, with the winner receiving $100,000 to donate to a charity of their choice in Williams’ name.
Garcia and Josh Alexander were the final two wrestlers remaining in the match.
Garcia eventually eliminated Alexander to secure the victory, adding extra significance to the result given his own connection to Buffalo, New York, the same city closely associated with Williams.
The match was one of several tributes to Williams throughout the episode.
After the battle royal, Garcia brought a guitar previously used by Williams during his time with Every Time I Die into the ring, along with a memorial sign. AEW then aired a video tribute accompanied by music from the band.
The final moments of Collision saw members of the AEW locker room gather as Williams’ entrance music played, bringing the tribute episode to a close.
Williams died on September 5 at the age of 48 after suffering a medical emergency during an independent wrestling event in Pennsylvania.
The Butcher had been part of AEW since 2019, most prominently teaming with The Blade and The Bunny.
Throughout Saturday’s Collision, wrestlers and AEW personalities shared memories of Williams, while Tony Schiavone also read a statement from The Blade describing Williams as both an exceptional talent and an even better friend.
AEW had first acknowledged Williams’ passing during the September 9 edition of Dynamite before announcing that Collision would be dedicated to his life and career.
The company also revealed another tribute connected to Williams.
During Collision, Schiavone announced that AEW’s previously unaired The House Always Wins event from 2021 would be released on MyAEW. Williams won a battle royal at that event to earn a TNT Championship match against Darby Allin.
The Butcher had a strong association with battle royals during his AEW career and holds the company record for the most eliminations in battle royal matches.
Saturday’s main event therefore became a fitting way for AEW to honour him.
For Garcia, the victory was ultimately secondary to the purpose of the match.
The night was about Andy Williams.
And the Butcher Battle Royal ensured his name closed the show.
