Source: WWE.com
Editor’s note: On March 1, Dr. Death Steve Williams will release a book about his life, and his battle with cancer. The book is entitled How Dr. Death Became Dr. Life, with forwards by Jim Ross and Coach Barry Switzer.
Dr. Death Steve Williams is a survivor. After battling and beating advanced throat cancer in 2004, he is taking the new lease on life he has been given and putting it to good use.
“I work for a ministry group now. I help teach karate to inner city kids, and on Valentine’s Day I just put on a wrestling show at my church for the youth group,” he said. “I use the ring as an altar call, and I do my testimony from the ring and then ask the kids if they want to give their lives to Christ, and then we pray together.”
Those comments may be the last thing wrestling fans would expect from one of the most feared performers to ever set foot in the ring. These days, however, Dr. Death has been on a mission to transform himself into Dr. Life. The effects of his transformation have been felt by the young wrestlers in WWE’s developmental system.
“I am so blessed to get the opportunity to come back to the heart of professional wrestling and be able to come back to the business. God gave me this second chance,” Williams continued. “For WWE to let me give my heart back to these kids is wonderful, I really enjoy it. These kids really respect me, which makes my job easier. It truly is a privilege.”
The strength Williams has shown since his battle with cancer is beyond merely physical and mental, but deeply spiritual as well. It is that strength of spirit that has helped him in his recovery.
“I’ve done a cage match at the old ECW arena and had some other matches since being cancer free. These opportunities, as well as all else, come through Christ. I am just giving back to God what He gave back to me.”
That is a far cry from the attitude of when he was first diagnosed.
“Like anyone when they hear they have cancer, I thought I was going to die,” said Williams. “It really shocked me. I am a health nut, I train hard, and I eat well, I’m an athlete that has worked with every major wrestling company. I’ve held titles, beaten people up in Battle Royals and Cage Matches. I’ve been a member of great OU football teams in college. I was an All-American four times in wrestling. I played in five bowl games with OU and professional football in the USFL,” Williams continued. “I may have taken some dead end roads, but I never thought I would have cancer,”
It was then that Steve Williams drew from the toughness he showed during his career.
“I went to radiation and had to go into focus and attack cancer before it attacked me. There were a couple times I thought I wasn’t going to make it, but I kept praying to God and He opened the door,” Williams said. “I’ve been a fighter all my life. I never gave up. I’m one of these guys that my good friend Hacksaw Jim Duggan would call a ‘tough guy’.”
Dr. Death wasn’t alone in his struggles, as he had the support of good friend and fellow Oklahoman – Jim Ross. JR, in fact, wrote the forward for Williams’ book.
“I know that myself and Coach Barry Switzer were asked to write forwards for the book, and he and I agree that Steve Williams mentally and physically is the toughest athlete either of us has ever seen in any walk of life or any sport, including the NFL.”
Ross would know. He is the man who signed Williams to Mid South Wrestling while Williams was still at Oklahoma University.
“We signed Steve in between his junior and senior year at OU. He was as flexible a big man as I have ever seen. High character guy, the type of guy you would want in your corner for anything. The guy you would want watching your back in a dark alley.”
As for the book, Ross has had the chance to read parts.
“I read a great deal of it. I haven’t had the opportunity to read the finished product, but I will read it cover to cover when it is released,” Ross said. “The excerpts I have read were outstanding. It is just a wonderful story of not just his amazing athletic career but his battle with cancer. It’s a miracle he is still alive.”
Jim Ross visited his friend Steve Williams while Dr. Death was undergoing radiation therapy, and Ross has his own feelings on what it means for his friend to still be here.
“Steve Williams has a heart of gold, and I thank God everyday he is alive, because there were times it looked like he wasn’t going to make it. But he refused to die, and the good Lord blessed him with life.”
Steve Williams couldn’t agree with Ross’ comment more.
“I used to think that I did it “My Way” like ‘ol blue eyes Frank Sinatra. I was wrong. I didn’t know it then – like that old saying about the footprints in the sand, I know now that God was with me carrying me through this. I give Him all the glory.”
