Steve Williams
Biography
was an American professional wrestler, author, former collegiate football player, and amateur wrestler at the University of Oklahoma. Williams was known as "Dr. Death", a nickname he acquired in junior high school.
Williams was a three-time professional wrestling world heavyweight champion, having won the UWF World Heavyweight Championship twice and the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship once. In addition to his singles success, Williams achieved notoriety in Japan in tag team competition, winning the World Tag Team Championship eight times with notable tag team partners Terry Gordy, and Vader. He also achieved great tag team success in North America, winning tag team titles in the Mid-South(UWF), World Championship Wrestling, and NWA United States Tag Team Championship as well as winning the World's Strongest Tag Determination League twice with Gordy and Mike Rotunda In 2004, Williams underwent surgery for throat cancer and was declared cancer-free the next year. His return match was against King Kaluha, who he defeated on August 27, 2005 at WrestleReunion 2.[6] According to promoter Sal Corrente, Williams was initially hesitant to work with King Kaluha but was ultimately appreciative about the choice of opponent.
Williams made an appearance at a SmackDown! brand house show on March 11, 2006, in Alexandria, Louisiana, after which he was signed to help train up-and-coming WWE wrestlers in its Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) developmental territory. While acting in that capacity, he made a few appearances on OVW television, where he helped fellow Oklahoma wrestler Jake Hager and briefly working as his tag team partner. He also made an appearance at an August 30 Raw house show, during which he addressed the crowd and announced how happy he was to be cancer free for four years.
Later, he made appearances for Oklahoma-based independent federation Sooner World Class Wrestling (SWCW).He also worked for Southwest Airlines in Colorado.
After the death of longtime rival and friend Mitsuharu Misawa in June 2009, Williams made the decision to retire from wrestling after 27 years. Williams's final match took place August 15 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, for Asylum Championship Wrestling. He defeated Franco D'Angelo for the ACW Heavyweight Championship, which he vacated after the match.
Death
The throat cancer eventually returned and Williams's health gradually worsened. His last public appearance was at the K&S Wrestlefest Wrestling Convention on December 12, 2009, in Carteret, New Jersey. On December 29, 2009, Williams died at St. Anthony Central Hospital in Denver from throat cancer. He was 49 years old.
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Career timeline
Full filmography
- ECW - Unreleased Vol. 3 (2015) as Dr Death Steve Williams
- Legends of Mid-South Wrestling (2013) as Himself
- Wrestling with Satan (2009) as Himself
- Giants, Midgets, Heroes and Villains II (2008) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
- Ric Flair & The Four Horsemen (2007) as Himself
- Mid-South Wrestling Giants, Midgets, Heroes & Villains vol. 1 (2007) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
- MLW Rise of The Renegades (2003)
- MLW Hybrid Hell (2003) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
- MLW Revolutions (2003) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
- MLW War Games (2003)
- MLW Reloaded (2002)
- MLW King of Kings (2002)
- AJPW Giant Baba Memorial Spectacular (2001)
- ECW: Extreme Evolution (2000) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
- WCW Starrcade 1999 (1999) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
- WCW Mayhem 1999 (1999) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
- The Best of The Eliminators (1998) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
- ECW Crossing the Line Again 1997 (1997) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
- AJPW October Giant Series 1997 - Day 18 (1997)
- ECW The Doctor Is In 1996 (1996) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
- ECW High Incident (1996) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
- ECW When Worlds Collide 1996 (1996) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
- WCW Monday Nitro (1995)
- UWF Blackjack Brawl (1994) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
- The Life And Times of Paul Boesch (1994) as Himself (archive footage)
- Raw (1993) as Dr. Death
- Raw (1993) as Kenny Kendall
- Raw (1993) as Steve Williams
- AJPW Summer Action Series 1993 - Day 22 (1993)
- GWF Presents: The Best of USWA (1992) as Steve Williams
- WCW The Great American Bash 1992 (1992) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
- WCW Starrcade 1992 (1992) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
- WCW Beach Blast (1992) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
- WCW Halloween Havoc 1992 (1992) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
- WCW Clash of The Champions XIX (1992) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
- AJPW October Giant Series 1992 - Day 17 (1992)
- UWF Beach Brawl (1991) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
- NWA Clash of The Champions X: Texas Shootout (1990) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
- NWA Live: March 18, 1989 (1989) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
- NWA Chi-Town Rumble (1989) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
- WCW Halloween Havoc 1989 (1989) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
- WCW WrestleWar 1989 (1989) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
- Winners and Losers (1989) as Alec Kerr
- NWA The Great American Bash 1989 (1989) as "Dr Death" Steve Williams
- NWA WrestleWar 1989 (1989)
- NWA Clash of The Champions VIII: Fall Brawl '89 (1989) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
- NWA Clash of The Champions VI: Ragin' Cajun (1989) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
- NWA Clash of The Champions V: St. Valentine's Massacre (1989) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
- NWA Clash of The Champions IX: New York Knockout (1989) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
- NWA Clash of The Champions VII: Guts & Glory (1989) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
- Clash of the Champions (1988) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams (Interview)
- Clash of the Champions (1988) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
- NWA The Great American Bash 1988: Greensboro (1988) as Steve “Dr. Death” Williams
- The Third Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament (1988) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
- NWA Starrcade 1988 (1988) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
- NWA Clash of The Champions III: Fall Brawl '88 (1988) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
- NWA Clash of the Champions II: Miami Mayhem (1988) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams (Interview)
- NWA Clash of The Champions IV: Season's Beatings (1988) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
- NWA Starrcade 1987 (1987) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
- The First Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament (1986) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
- Power Pro Wrestling (1986) as Dr. Death Steve Williams
- AWA Monsters of the Mat: volume 1 (1986) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
- NWA World Championship Wrestling (1985) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
- Mid-South Arena Shows (1985) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
- Mid-South Wrestling: November 11, 1985 (1985) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
- WCCW Parade of Champions '85 (1985) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
- WCCW Christmas Star Wars '85 (1985) as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
- Mid-South Wrestling (1981) as Dr. Death Steve Williams
- Raven vs Sandman Feud as Dr Death