Steve Williams
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.
Acted in
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
Mid-South Wrestling Giants, Midgets, Heroes & Villains vol. 1
2007
as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
Ric Flair & The Four Horsemen
2007
as Himself
MLW War Games
2003
MLW Rise of The Renegades
2003
MLW Revolutions
2003
MLW King of Kings
2002
MLW Reloaded
2002
AJPW Giant Baba Memorial Spectacular
2001
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
AJPW October Giant Series 1997 - Day 18
1997
ECW Crossing The Line Again
1997
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
ECW The Doctor is In
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)
AJPW Summer Action Series 1993 - Day 22
1993
WWE Raw
1993
as Dr. Death
WWE Raw
1993
as Kenny Kendall
WWE Raw
1993
as Steve Williams
WCW Starrcade
1992
as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
WCW Halloween Havoc
1992
as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
AJPW October Giant Series 1992 - Day 17
1992
WCW The Great American Bash
1992
as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
WCW Clash of The Champions XIX
1992
as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
WCW Beach Blast
1992
as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
UWF Beach Brawl
1991
as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
WCW Clash of The Champions X: Texas Shootout
1990
as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
WCW Clash of The Champions IX: New York Knockout
1989
as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
WCW Halloween Havoc '89
1989
as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
WCW Clash of The Champions VIII: Fall Brawl '89
1989
as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
NWA The Great American Bash '89: The Glory Days
1989
as Himself
NWA Clash of The Champions VII: Guts & Glory
1989
as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
NWA WrestleWar '89: The Music City Showdown
1989
as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
WCW Clash of The Champions VI: Ragin' Cajun
1989
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 Clash of The Champions V: St. Valentine's Massacre
1989
as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
NWA Starrcade '88: True Gritt
1988
as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
WCW Clash of The Champions IV: Season's Beatings
1988
as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
WCW 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)
The Third Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament
1988
as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
NWA Starrcade '87: Chi-Town Heat!
1987
as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
AWA Monsters of the Mat: volume 1
1986
as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
The First Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament
1986
as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
WCCW Christmas Star Wars '85
1985
as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
WCCW Parade of Champions '85
1985
as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams
Raven vs Sandman Feud
as Dr Death