It saddens me to report that the legendary Steve "Dr. Death" Williams has passed away at the age of 49 after a long bout with cancer.

Steve had a reputation as one of the toughest men to ever lace up a pair of wrestling boots.  He was famous across the globe for his hard hitting style and gritty realism each time he stepped into the ring.  Alongside partners like Terry Gordy and Rick Steiner, Steve proved his abilities each time out. His extensive work in Japan along with successful runs in the United States have made him a true great in the industry. 

I had the opportunity to interview Steve after his throat cancer had begun to take hold.  The experience was so moving that I even wrote about it in my recent book.  Despite the obvious illness and pain he was going through, Williams answered every question cheerfully and thoughtfully.  For that moment, it made you feel silly to let your own problems get you down while someone who was going through much harder trials than most of us could imagine would push on with a smile on his face.  He was a strong man in the ring and, as we learned in the later years of his life, he was even stronger out of it.

My thoughts and prayers, along with those of all of us at World Wrestling Insanity, are with the family, friends, and fans of Steve Williams.  He is already missed immensely.

May 14, 1960 – December 30, 2009