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liger05
12-31-2009, 08:39 PM
RIP. A true legend and one of the best gajin wrestlers in Japan. His match v Kobashi in where he successfully defended his Triple Crown in 1994 was the match which made me stop watching American wrestling. Thanks for that Steve!! First Misawa now Steve Williams. All Japan lost 2 of its best this year.

Pro-wrestler and former footballer Steve Williams, 49, a.k.a. "Dr. Death" passed away on December 29th at his home after a battle with throat cancer. He was originally diagnosed in 1994 and given six months to live. He underwent surgery to remove his larynx and was given a clean bill of health. Four years later the cancer returned, causing his health to rapidly decline.
Williams was not only a professional wrestler, but a talented football player as well. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma, where a former coach says he was "one of the best athletes to walk out the gates of the University".
Williams wrote a book, "How Dr. Death became Dr. Life" chronicling his battle and survival of throat cancer. He wanted to give hope and inspire wrestling and football fans as well as Christians and cancer survivors. He wanted to be remembered as a fighter, and that is what he did, until the end.
OKLAHOMA CITY -- A former coach says Steve Williams, who wrestled professionally as "Dr. Death" after a successful college wrestling and football career, has died. He was 49.
Former University of Oklahoma wrestling coach Stan Abel says Williams' family told him Williams died Tuesday night in Lakewood, Colo., after a long battle with throat cancer.
Williams was a four-time All-American as a heavyweight at Oklahoma from 1979-1982 and finished second nationally his senior year. He was an All-Big Eight Conference offensive guard for Oklahoma in 1982.
Current OU wrestling coach Jack Spates called Williams "one of the greatest athletes that the University of Oklahoma has ever produced."
His Achievements at 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.

His Achievements in Japan:

1 Times Triple Crown Champion
6 times All Japan Tag Team Champion

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ravi B
12-31-2009, 09:45 PM
R.I.P nd respect

chuffy
01-01-2010, 07:13 AM
Very, very sad news. Rip Mr Williams.

MagicMan91
01-01-2010, 07:55 AM
R.I.P

Always sad to hear of death.

IntentionalButt
01-01-2010, 09:38 PM
This is the MMA forum. :?

Club Fighter
01-02-2010, 02:48 PM
This is the MMA forum. :?

Don't be a "cunt" as the Brits would say. Dr. Death was the man. RIP.

Xavier
01-03-2010, 07:31 PM
I use to love the intro:



And into the ring comes "Dr Death" Steve Williams and Terry "Bam Bam" Gordy!

El Puma
01-03-2010, 08:24 PM
R.I.P and much respect



Once wrestler, always a wrestler.

IntentionalButt
01-04-2010, 02:57 AM
Don't be a "cunt" as the Brits would say. Dr. Death was the man. RIP.

Okay, but how is this more appropriate than the Lounge? It'd be about as fitting in the Classic Boxing Forum, or Suggestions & Requests. :?

Just because he did real wrestling in high school? That seems a bit of stretch to me. And the Japanese stuff, despite having some shoot elements, is no more legitimate a competition or "martial art" than the American promotions. The lines between MMA and puroresu need less muddling, not more. This thread is all well and fine - for the Lounge.

All the same, RIP. I remember the guy's stint on Turner WCW back during my last viewing phase as the enforcer for "Oklahoma" (portrayed by Ed Ferrara IIRC). Vampiro dumped BBQ sauce on him one time? Seemed a good solid wrestler, but a bit past it by then.

HomicideHenry
01-04-2010, 04:32 AM
One of the last true shooters in professional wrestling. He defeated Dan Severn and Mike Rotundo in the amateurs---makes you wonder, had he changed sports sooner, how he would have faired in the early UFC days, since Severn later became a triple title holder in the HW division. RIP.

Mazallan
01-04-2010, 04:50 AM
Very sad news. I had heard he was ill but it is still shocking to hear that such a fine strong man has passed.

fatcity
01-05-2010, 01:41 PM
Never heard of him,but RIP,anyway.This should be in the Lounge though.MMA is for real-wrestling is entertainment(for those of you who watch such garbage).

IntentionalButt
01-05-2010, 02:54 PM
Never heard of him,but RIP,anyway.This should be in the Lounge though.MMA is for real-wrestling is entertainment(for those of you who watch such garbage).

:good

Kid Dynamite
01-05-2010, 03:41 PM
Was he an alcoholic or did he smoke or something? That's usually the cause of throat cancer.

He even fought in K-1 vs Alexej Ignashov if I'm not mistaken.

liger05
01-05-2010, 08:38 PM
One of the last true shooters in professional wrestling. He defeated Dan Severn and Mike Rotundo in the amateurs---makes you wonder, had he changed sports sooner, how he would have faired in the early UFC days, since Severn later became a triple title holder in the HW division. RIP.

I remember in 1995 he was interviewed and actually said he was considering fighting in the UFC then. He probably would of done really well around those times.