Catching Up With Steve "Dr. Death" Williams
Posted: Nov 26th 2009 By: CMBurnham
One of pro wrestling's top stars in the 1980s and '90s, Williams thought he had successfully beaten the throat cancer that afflicted him five years ago. Williams, though, was diagnosed with a recurrence last month and has resumed chemotherapy.
"I didn't believe the doctors," Williams wrote in an interview conducted by e-mail. "I made them take four biopsies from me. I was doing great. I was working for a great company (Southwest Airlines). I was back in the ring and the gym feeling like the old Doc."
In his heyday, the 6-2, 290-pound Williams was arguably the industry's toughest performer. Besides being a top-flight amateur grappler at the University of Oklahoma, he had a superhuman pain threshold. For example, Williams wrestled a match in 1985 on the same day he received 108 stitches in his head after receiving an errant elbow from Brad Armstrong.
Such resolve helped Williams defeat cancer after he was first diagnosed even though he lost 85 pounds and had his vocal chords and larynx removed in the process. Williams chronicled that battle in his 2007 autobiography, "How Dr. Death Became Dr. Life" ($24.95; Sports Publishing LLC).
Once a headline talent in Japan, Williams began making the transition to life after wrestling several years ago by taking a baggage-handling job with Southwest. He continued to wrestle for independent promotions -- albeit with a handkerchief around his neck to protect the hole in his throat -- and offered training tips to performers in World Wrestling Entertainment's developmental system.
Because of the cancer recurrence, Williams was forced to cancel a planned retirement match in Japan last month. Williams, though, promises that "when I am up to it, I will be back."
The health issues have taken both a physical and monetary toll. Williams, 49, was forced to spend more than $300,000 of his retirement fund and sell his business interests to pay medical bills. Williams now lives with his 86-year-old mother and 15-year-old son in Denver.
"We take care of each other," he said.
In turn, a pro-wrestling charity organization is trying to help take care of Williams. Wrestlers Rescue -- a nonprofit group created by former WWE diva Dawn Marie Psaltis to help grapplers in need -- is fundraising to purchase a $20,000 hands-free voice box that would allow Williams to speak more easily.
"Wrestlers Rescue has been great and Dawn Marie is my angel," Williams wrote. "Cancer took all of my money the first time trying to stay alive and take care of my son because he is my everything."
During his medical ordeal, Williams became a born-again Christian. Williams is confident that his faith will help him defeat cancer like most of the opponents he wrestled in a storied 27-year career.
"They say I have to do chemo for the rest of my life, but that's the doctors talking," Williams wrote. "I know our Lord has the last word about this. I will beat it."
For more information on the Williams fundraising efforts, visit www.wrestlersrescue.org.
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