Cody Rhodes was hit hard by Andy Williams’ death, and he’s making it clear The Butcher was nothing like the intimidating monster fans saw on television. Cody says Williams was warm, intelligent, artistic and the kind of person who left a mark on every locker room he walked into.
While speaking to FoxNews.com, Cody looked back on Williams’ AEW debut and remembered being part of the moment that brought The Butcher, The Blade and The Bunny onto AEW television. Cody admitted he never got as much time with Williams as he wishes he had, but said everything people are saying about him now is true.
“When I was away from WWE, I actually — him and Blade (also known as Pepper Parks) and Bunny — we had recruited them to do this really fun debut. He came up under the ring and they beat me up, and I definitely didn’t get to spend near enough time with him as a person.”
Cody then pulled the curtain back on who Williams really was once the cameras were off. The Butcher looked like the kind of guy who could rip somebody in half, but Cody said judging him by that image would have completely missed the person underneath it.
“But all the things you’re hearing about him in terms of how warm and charismatic and interesting — not a guy that needed the gig, he had another gig, and super cultured and intelligent. And again, The Butcher — you see this big, just the mustache and the tattoos and the muscles. Maybe if you had judged that book by its cover, you wouldn’t know how truly special, intelligent, artistic, and beautiful of a person that he was.”
Cody said he’s especially grateful that he got to be part of bringing Williams into AEW, even if their time together ended up being way too short.
“I didn’t get to be around him near enough, but I’m really glad I was part of bringing him into that moment and, I wish everyone around him thinking about them, and wish them the best. And they’re very much in my heart today.”
Then Cody got to the part that clearly still stings. He said he told Brandi Rhodes about Williams’ death that morning and admitted the news completely blindsided him because Williams was still so young.
“I told Brandi about that this morning and just such a shock, so young. Beautiful person, and he leaves behind multiple locker rooms of people that he touched, that all of them 100% have a good memory and a good story about him.”
Williams died after collapsing at an Enjoy Wrestling event in Pennsylvania. He received CPR at the venue before being rushed away by ambulance, with the exact cause of death still pending an autopsy.
Cody’s message cuts right past The Butcher gimmick. The giant mustache, tattoos and muscles were the character people saw on TV, but Cody says the guy behind all of it was the complete opposite of what anyone might have expected — and the people who shared a locker room with him won’t forget him.
What do you make of Cody Rhodes’ words about Andy Williams, and what’s your favorite memory of The Butcher? Leave your thoughts and feedback in the comments.
