On Dec. 29th, the wrestling world lost a legend. Dr. Death Steve Williams passed away after a long battle with throat cancer. He was 49 years old. Dr. Death was an All-American at the University of Oklahoma before entering the world of professional wrestling. He was trained by Cowboy Bill Watts and Nature Boy Buddy Landell. Doc made his debut in Mid-South Championship Wrestling where he formed a team with Ted Dibiase in his feaud against Eddie Gilbert and The Nightmare. This is also where he formed his long time friendship with broadcaster Jim Ross. When Mid-Soth became the UWF in 1987, Dr. Death won the World Title beating Big Bubba Rogers for the title. When the UWF and NWA merged, Doc was one of the only wrestlers to actually get a push from the NWA. He began feuding with Kevin Sullivans Varsity Club during this run but would later win the NWA US Tag Team Titles and the NWA World Tag Team Titles when he turned on the Garvin Brothers and joined the Varsity Club. After losing the belts to Dusty Rhodes and Barry Windham, Dr. Death would go on to challenge Ron Simmons for the World Title but could never bring it home. From 1987-1997 Williams would not be pinned. Competeing in All-Japan Pro Wrestling, he would become a main eventer becoming one of the most celebrated foreign wrestlers in history. It wasnt until 1997, when after beating Axl Rotten in under 2 minutes, that Williams would finally be pinned. He lost an impromptu World Title match to Raven ending his ten year run. Dr. Death would then jon the WWE as they held their first ever "Brawl For All" competiton. Dr. Death was signed specifically to win this competition at the urging of Jim Ross. But after winnning his first round match, he was knocked out by Bart Gunn after tearing his hamstring before the KO. Dr. Death would leave the WWE and return to Japan and the independent circuit for many years. In 2004, he underwent surgery for throat cancer and the doctors gave him a clean bill of health. He would later return to the WWE, working for OVW training their young wrestlers,specifically Jake Hager (Jack Swagger), who was a fellow Oklahoma native. Dr. Death was also the innovator of the Gut-wrench Powerbomb known as the Dr. Bomb and also the Back Drop Driver and the Oklahoma Stampede. He passed away Dec. 29th,2009 after his cancer returned. On a personal note, it was Dr. Death who helped mold my love for professional wrestling. As a Oklahoma native myself, it was easy to follow this mountain of a man as a kid. Growing up in the Mid-South area, Dr. Death was a hero in the state of Oklahoma. He could sell out arenas in Tulsa and Oklahoma City regardless of who his opponent was. When I was 7 years old, my dad got off work early one day and came rushing home. He told me to get in the truck and cme with him. I thought I was in trouble. I spent the whole ride trying to figure out what I did wrong. When the truck stopped, I saw we were at a NAPA auto parts store. When we got inside I saw why Dad brought me here. Dr. Death was sitting at a table signing autographs. Now, you have to understand that when I was a kid, my dad was the bigest and toughest man I knew. But when I got to the front of the line to meet Doc, he dwarfed my Dad. His hands were huge and I swear it looked like his back covered half of the counter. He was very friendly to me and even joked with my dad before we left. I followed Docs career the best I could for the next 25 years. I would root for him as a heel, which made the other kids that liked wrestling question my sanity. They thought I was insane for rooting for him and the late Terry Gordy in their battles against the Steiner brothers or The Road Warriors. Outside of my Dad, Doc was always my hero. I tell you this much, I cant wait to see the matches they have in heaven. God just got another main eventer.
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Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go.
