Steve Williams

[Steve Williams GALLERY]

[Terry Gordy/Dr Death] [Varsity Club]

Check out Steve Williams’s WWE Alumni profile here!

Title History

• Mid-South Tag Team titles w/Ted DiBiase defeating the RockNRoll Express (May 3, 1995);
• Mid-South Tag Team titles w/Ted DiBiase defeating the Eddie Gilbert & Nitemare (December 26, 1985);
• UWF World Tag Team titles w/Ted DiBiase (recognized-March 1986);
• UWF Heavyweight title defeating Big Bubba Rogers (July 11, 1987);
• United States Tag Team titles w/Kevin Sullivan defeating the Fantastics (Starrcade 1988);
• All Japan Tag Team titles w/Terry Gordy defeating Stan Hansen and Gen’ichiro Tenryu (March 6, 1990);
• All Japan Tag Team titles w/Terry Gordy defeating Dan Spivey & Stan Hansen (December 7, 1990);
• All Japan Tag Team titles w/Terry Gordy defeating Stan Hansen & Dan Spivey (July 6, 1991);
• Real World Tag Team Tournament winners w/Terry Gordy (December 6, 1991);
• NWA World Tag Team Titles w/Terry Gordy defeating Dustin Rhodes & Barry Windham (GAB 1992);
• All Japan Tag Team titles w/Bam Bam Bigelow defeating Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada (January 30, 1993);
• All Japan’s Triple Crown Heavyweight title defeating Mitsuharu Misawa (July 28, 1994);
• All Japan Tag Team titles w/Johnny Ace defeating Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama (May 23, 1996);
• All Japan Tag Team titles w/Gary Albright defeating Kenta Kobashi & Johnny Ace (July 25, 1997);

Career Highlights

University of Oklahoma:

• 1981: Steve Williams is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, where he played football and wrestled..
• Steve set a then record for the fastest pinfall by pinning Perr Kaufman in twenty seconds..
• Steve Williams was named an All American..
• Steve was scouted and trained by “Cowboy” Bill Watts when he was a senior in college..

Mid South:

• 1982: Steve Williams had his first pro match with Billy Starr in Shreveport, LA..
• Steve Williams teamed with Andre the Giant against Big John Studd & Super Destroyer (Scott Irwin)..
• May 3, 1985: Steve Williams & Ted DiBiase defeated the Rock’n’Roll Express for the Mid-South Tag Team titles..
• December 26, 1985: Steve Williams & Ted DiBiase reclaimed the Mid-South Tag Team titles from Eddie Gilbert & Nightmare..
• March 1986: Steve Williams & Ted DiBiase were recognized as the first UWF World Tag Team champions..
• November 27, 1986 – UWF: Steve Williams defeated Michael Hayes.
• July 11, 1987 – The Great American Bash: Steve “Dr. Death” Williams defeated Big Bubba Rogers to win the UWF title..

National Wrestling Alliance:

• November 26, 1987 – Starrcade: UWF heavyweight champion Steve Williams defeated Barry Windham to retain the title.
• July 10, 1988 – The Great American Bash: Jimmy Garvin, Ronnie Garvin, Steve Williams & The Road Warriors (Road Warrior Animal & Road Warrior Hawk) defeated Al Perez, Ivan Koloff, Kevin Sullivan, Mike Rotunda & The Russian Assassin in a tower of doom match.
• December 7, 1988 – Clash of the Champions 4: Steve Williams defeated The Italian Stallion.
• December 26, 1988 – NWA Starrcade: Kevin Sullivan and Steve Williams defeated Bobby Fulton and Tommy Rogers to win the NWA United States tag team titles.
• April 2, 1989 – Clash of the Champions 6: Mike Rotunda and Steve Williams defeated The Road Warriors to win the NWA world tag team titles.
• May 7, 1989 – WrestleWar: The Road Warriors defeated Steve Williams and Mike Rotunda by disqualification.
• August 6, 1989 – The Great American Bash: The Road Warriors (Road Warrior Animal & Road Warrior Hawk), The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane) & Steve Williams defeated The Fabulous Freebirds (Jimmy Garvin, Michael Hayes & Terry Gordy) & The Samoan Swat Team (Fatu & Samu) in war games rules match.
• September 12, 1989 – Clash of the Champions 8: Steve Williams defeated Mike Rotunda.
• October 28, 1989 – Halloween Havoc: Fatu, Samu and Samoan Savage defeated Steve Williams, Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane.
• November 15, 1989 – Clash of the Champions 9: Steve Williams defeated The Super Destroyer.
• February 10, 1990 – Clash of the Champions 10: Steve Williams defeated Samoan Savage.

All Japan Pro Wrestling:

• March 6, 1990: Terry Gordy & Steve Williams defeated Stan Hansen & Genichiro Tenryu for the All Japan Tag Team titles..
• December 7, 1990: Terry Gordy & Steve Williams re-claimed the All Japan Tag Team titles..
• July 6, 1991: Terry Gordy & Steve Williams defeated Stan Hansen & Dan Spivey for their 3rd All Japan Tag Team titles..
• December 6, 1991: Terry Gordy & Steve Williams won the annual Real World Tag Team Tournament in Tokyo..

World Championship Wrestling:

• June 16, 1992 – Clash of the Champions 19: Steve Williams and Terry Gordy defeated Jeff and Larry O’Day in the 1st round. Steve Williams and Terry Gordy defeated The Steiner Brothers in the quarter-finals.
• June 20, 1992 – Beach Blast: WCW world tag team champions The Steiner Brothers vs. Terry Gordy and Steve Williams ended in a time limit draw to retain the titles.
• July 12, 1992 – The Great American Bash: Steve Williams and Terry Gordy defeated Nikita Koloff and Ricky Steamboat in the semi-finals. Steve Williams and Terry Gordy defeated Barry Windham and Dustin Rhodes to win the tournament and vacant NWA world tag team titles.
• 1992: Terry Gordy & Steve Williams defeated the Steiner Brothers to unifying the NWA and WCW tag team titles..
• August 22, 1992 – Worldwide: NWA/WCW Unified tag team champions Terry Gordy and Steve Williams defeated The Steiner Brothers in a dark match, in a best 2 out of 3 falls match to retain the titles.
• September 26, 1992 – Worldwide: The Steiner Brothers defeated Terry Gordy and Steve Williams.
• September 26, 1992 – Saturday Night: NWA/WCW world tag team champions Steve Williams and Terry Gordy defeated Chris Sullivan and Larry Santo to retain the titles.
• October 3, 1992 – Saturday Night: Barry Windham and Dustin Rhodes defeated Steve Williams and Terry Gordy to win the NWA/WCW tag team titles.
• October 25, 1992 – Halloween Havoc: Barry Windham & Dustin Rhodes vs.  Steve Williams & Steve Austin to a 30 minute draw..
• December 28, 1992 – Starrcade: Steve Williams and Sting defeated Erik Watts and Jushin Thunder Liger to qualify for the battle bowl. Steve Williams was in the battle bowl battle royal won by The Great Muta. WCW world heavyweight champion Ron Simmons defeated Steve Williams to retain the title.

All Japan Pro Wrestling:

• January 30, 1993: Terry Gordy & Steve Williams defeated Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada for the All Japan Tag Team titles..
• July 28, 1994: Steve Williams defeated Mitsuharu Misawa for All Japan’s Triple Crown Heavyweight title in Tokyo..
• May 23, 1996: Steve Williams & Johnny Ace defeated Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama for the All Japan Tag Team titles..
• August 3, 1996 – ECW The Doctor is In: Brian Lee and Taz defeated Steve Williams and Tommy Dreamer.
• September 13, 1996 – ECW Unlucky Lottery: Steve Williams defeated Devon Storm.
• October 25, 1996 – ECW: Steve Williams defeated Johnny Smith.
• December 26, 1996 – ECW High Incident: John Kronus and Perry Saturn defeated Steve Williams and Terry Gordy.
• November 1, 1996 – ECW: Steve Williams defeated Too Cold Scorpio.
• January 31, 1997 – ECW Winter Blowout: Steve Williams defeated Balls Mahoney.
• February 1, 1997 – ECW Crossing the Line Again: Steve Williams defeated Axl Rotten. ECW world heavyweight champion Raven defeated Steve Williams to retain the title.
• March 14, 1997 – ECW: Steve Williams defeated Balls Mahoney.
• July 25, 1997: Steve Williams & Gary Albright defeated Kenta Kobashi & Johnny Ace for the All Japan Tag Team titles in Tokyo..

World Wrestling Federation:

• 1998: Steve Williams signed with the World Wrestling Federation at the encouragement of Jim Ross..
• The WWF set up a “Brawl for All” tournament for the sole purpose of introducing Steve Williams..
• ~~~The idea was that Steve Williams would steamroll through the competition and have an instant gimmick..
• May 8, 1998 – Shotgun Saturday Night: Steve Williams defeated Scorpio in a dark match.
• July 20, 1998 – RAW: Steve Williams defeated Pierre in a brawl for all match.
• July 27, 1998 – RAW: Bart Gunn defeated Steve Williams. Steve Williams was injured during his first round Brawl For All shoot fight against Bart Gunn..
• October 24, 1998 – NWA 50th Anniversary Show: Steve Williams won a battle royal.
• January 17, 1999 – HEAT: Steve Williams defeated Bob Holly in a dark match.
• February 5, 1999 – PCW: Steve Williams defeated Pierre.
• February 6, 1999 – ECWA: Steve Williams defeated Mideon by disqualification.
• March 21, 1999 – HEAT: Steve Williams defeated The Hardy Boyz in a handicap match.
• March 29, 1999 – RAW: Hardcore champion Hardcore Holly defeated Steve Williams to retain the title.
• April 17 1999 – Shotgun Saturday Night: Steve Williams defeated Tiger Ali Singh.
• ~~~Due to this ’embarrassment’, Steve Williams’ push was completely deflated, and eventually released..

World Championship Wrestling:

• Steve Williams resurfaces on “Nitro,” debuting with Oklahoma (Ed Ferrara), a character mocking Jim Ross..
• November 29, 1999 – WCW Monday NITRO: Jerry Only defeated Steve Williams in a cage match.
• December 2, 1999 – Thunder: Steve Williams defeated Silver King, Villano IV and Villano V in a handicap match.
• December 6, 1999 – WCW Monday NITRO: Oklahoma and Steve Williams defeated Jerry Only and Vampiro.
• December 13, 1999 – WCW Monday NITRO: Sid Vicious defeated Steve Williams.
• December 16, 1999 – Thunder: Steve Williams defeated The Wall by disqualification.
• December 19, 1999 – Starrcade: Vampiro defeated Steve Williams by disqualification.
• January 2000: Steve Williams departed for All Japan Pro Wrestling shortly thereafter..

All Japan Pro Wrestling:

• June 22, 2002: Steve Williams beat Jimmy Snuka Jr. in Atlantic, NJ..
• September 26, 2002 – MLW: Steve Williams and PJ Friedman defeated Eric Adams and Afterburn.
• October 27, 2002 – AJPW PPV: Johnny Smith, Mike Rotundo & Steve Williams defeated Mitsuya Nagai, Ryuji Hijikata & Yoji Anjo.
• December 20, 2002 – MLW: PJ Friedman and Steve Williams defeated Jimmy Yang and Mike Sanders in the semi-finals.
• January 2, 2003 – AJPW: Abdullah The Butcher, Kendo Kashin & Yoji Anjo defeated Hideki Hosaka, Mike Rotundo & Steve Williams.
• January 3, 2003 – AJPW: Mike Rotundo, Shigeo Okumura & Steve Williams defeated Abdullah The Butcher, Nobukazu Hirai & Yoji Anjo.
• January 5, 2003 – AJPW: Johnny Smith, Mike Rotundo & Steve Williams defeated George Hines, Satoshi Kojima & Shigeo Okumura.
• January 6, 2003 – AJPW: Mike Rotundo & Steve Williams defeated Kaz Hayashi & Satoshi Kojima.
• January 8, 2003 – AJPW: Mike Rotundo & Steve Williams defeated Hideki Hosaka & Satoshi Kojima.
• January 10, 2003 – AJPW: George Hines, Kaz Hayashi & Keiji Muto defeated Johnny Smith, Mike Rotundo & Steve Williams.
• January 11, 2003 – AJPW: Mike Rotundo & Steve Williams defeated Abdullah The Butcher & Gran Naniwa.
• January 13, 2003 – AJPW: Mike Rotundo, Shigeo Okumura & Steve Williams defeated George Hines, Hideki Hosaka & Johnny Smith.

Semi-Retirement:

• May 9, 2003 – MLW: CW Anderson and Simon Diamond defeated Steve Williams and PJ Friedman to win the Global tag team titles.
• May 23, 2003 – WWE Event: Steve “Dr Death” Williams defeats Lance Storm in a rare special appearance..
• May 24, 2003 – WWE Event: Lance Storm defeats Steve “Dr Death” Willaims in another special appearance..
• June 20, 2003 – MLW: MLW Global tag team champions CW Anderson and Simon Diamond defeated Steve Williams and D-Lo Brown to retain the titles.
• June 2003: Steve Williams might be offered a wrestler/trainer position within the WWE to influence a slower in-ring wrestling style..
• July 20, 2003 – WJ: Steve Williams defeated Shiro Koshinaka in the quarter-finals. Kensuke Sasaki defeated Steve Williams in the semi-finals.
• July 26, 2003 – MLW: Steve Williams defeated CW Anderson. Steve Williams and The Sandman defeated CW Anderson and Simon Diamond to become #1 contenders for the Global tag team titles.
• August 22, 2003 – MLW: MLW tag team champions CW Anderson and Simon Diamond defeated Steve Williams and The Sandman to retain the titles.
• September 19, 2003 – MLW WAR GAMES: The Funkin’ Army (Bill Alfonso, Sabu, Steve Williams, Terry Funk & The Sandman) defeated The Extreme Horsemen (Barry Windham, CW Anderson, PJ Walker, Simon Diamond & Steve Corino) in a war games rules match.
• December 30, 2003–NWA Mid-Atlantic in China: Steve Williams b Terry Taylor in 32:19 for the NWA Mid-Atlantic HWT title..
• April 2004: Steve Williams announced that he has been suffering from throat cancer following his shoot fight at a K-1 event in Japan..
• ~~~Steve Williams will be having surgery in the coming days to remove a polyp from his throat..
• April 17, 2004: Steve Williams was told that his voice box would have to be removed to remove the cancer and seeks additional medical opinions..
• July 22, 2004–AJPW: Genichiro Tenryu & Steve Williams defeated Arashi & Nobukazu Hirai.
• October 22, 2004: Steve Williams undergoes another tough operation where they take skin from his leg to patch the hole in his throat..
• December 2004: Steve Williams has recovered from his cancer treatments and been added to the January Wrestle Reunion in Tampa..
• February 2005: “Dr. Death” Steve Williams has been declared completely free of cancer…
• August 27, 2005–WrestleReunion: Steve Williams (first match since has cancer) defeated King Kaluha..
• March 11, 2006–Live Event (SD!): Kurt Angle & Rey Mysterio beat Randy Orton & Mark Henry with Steve Williams as guest referee..
• March 12, 2006–Live Event (SD!): Chris Benoit defeated Booker T to retain the United States title with Steve Williams as the referee..
• March 13, 2006–Live Event (SD!): Chris Benoit defeated Booker T to retain the United States title with Steve Williams as the referee..
• March 26, 2006–Live Event (SD!): Jim Ross interviewed Steve “Dr. Death” Williams (interrupted by Mr. Ken Kennedy)..
• July 26, 2006–Pro Wrestling Unplugged – Caged at the Alhambra in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at ECW Arena..
• ~~~Helter Skelter & Z-Barr & Danny Demanto beat Steve Williams & Gary Wolf & Ian Rotten in a War Games match.
• August 12, 2006–AWA Super Clash: Steve “Dr. Death” Williams & The Patriot defeated Ricky Landell & Steve Corino..
• August 26, 2006–Universal Wrestling Federation: Steve “Dr. Death” Williams defeated Prince al-Farat..
• October 21, 2006–IWA Mid South: “Dr. Death” Steve Williams defeated “Sweet & Sour” Larry Sweeney..
• May 27, 2007–BIW: Steve Williams defeated Don Juan.
• June 1, 2007–OVW Six Flags: Steve “Dr. Death” Williams & Jake Hager defeated K.C. James & Kassidy James..
• June 29, 2007–OVW Six Flags: Jake Hager & Steve “Dr. Death” Williams defeated Los Locos..
• July 13, 2007–WLW: Steve Williams defeated Daniel Cross and Darin Waid in a 3-way match.
• August 11, 2007—NWA Legends Show: Steve “Dr. Death” Williams defeated “Hacksaw” Butch Reed..
• October 13, 2007–USPW: “Dr. Death” Steve Williams defeated Jeremy Young with the Oklahoma Stampede..
• October 19, 2007 – Wrestlefanfest: Brutus Beefcake and Greg Valentine defeated Steve Williams and Koko B. Ware.
• November 2007: The WWE decided to no longer use Steve “Dr. Death” Williams as a trainer at the OVW Camp..
• November 2007: Steve Williams started helping to train wrestlers for Fusion Pro Wrestling in Denver, Colorado..
• December 9, 2007–Pro Wrestling Syndicate: “The Cold Hearted Playa” Danny Demanto beat “Dr. Death” Steve Williams..
• February 2, 2008–Sooner World Class Wrestling: Steve “Dr. Death” Williams defeated Luscious Larry..
• February 9, 2008–Fusion Pro Wrestling: Steve Williams & Paul Diamond defeated Billy V & Jeff McAllister..
• February 16, 2008–Sooner World Class Wrestling: “Dr. Death” Steve Williams defeated “Hacksaw” Butch Reed..
• April 19, 2008 – WLW: WLW tag team champions Marc Godeker and Steve Anthony defeated Daniel Cross and Steve Williams to retain the titles.
• September 2008: Steve “Dr. Death” Williams, at 48, has decided to retire from active wrestling..
• December 29, 2009: Steve Williams passed away at the age of 49 after a very long battle with cancer..

Dave Meltzer wrote (On December 30): We are sorry to report the death of Steve “Dr. Death” Williams, an international star who was considered one of the top wrestlers in the world during the late 80’s and early 90’s, after a lengthy battle with cancer.Williams, known in his heyday as one of the physically toughest men ever to compete in the industry, was 49. He passed away last night. He had been battling the disease for a number of years, first apparently beating it even with great odds against him. It came back this year and his health had worsened in the last few months.

Williams formed two of the world’s best tag teams with the late Terry Gordy and with Ted DiBiase Sr., as well as a notable team with current WWE Vice President of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis. He was in particular a major star in the 90’s for All Japan Pro Wrestling. He was recruited into pro wrestling by Bill Watts and was the 1982 Rookie of the Year.

Watts discovered him at the University of Oklahoma, where he was a star lineman on the football team and a four-time All-American heavyweight wrestler. Many of his peers in wrestling over the years had believed if he had not played college football and concentrated on wrestling, that he would have been a strong candidate for an Olympic gold medal in 1984 or 1988.