Butch Miller (wrestler)
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Butch Miller (born October 21, 1944) is a professional wrestler, one half of the tag team variously known as "The Sheepherders" and The Bushwhackers.
[edit] Career
Butch Miller was born on October 21, 1944 in Auckland, New Zealand. He started wrestling in 1964 in New Zealand and formed the "Kiwi Sheepherders" with Luke Williams in Canada in 1965. They wrestled for Stu Hart's Calgary promotion and won their tag team titles.
In the 1970's, Butch quit the team and went to Australia His biggest success without Luke was when he teamed with Larry O'Day as "The Australians".
He returned to team with Luke as "The Sheepherders" in the United States in the early 1980's and they feuded with Mark and Chris Youngblood, "The Fantastics" (Bobby Fulton & Tommy Rogers) and the "Fabulous Ones" (Stan Lane & Steve Keirn).
In late 1988, The Sheepherders were on the verge of winning the NWA United States Tag Team Titles when they quit Jim Crockett Promotions for a better money offer from the World Wrestling Federation. They changed their name to "The Bushwhackers" and changed their violent style to a comedic style and were instant hits with the fans.
They had feuds with the Brain Busters, "The Bolsheviks" (Boris Zhukov & Nikolai Volkoff), the Beverly Brothers (Mike Enos & Wayne Bloom) and the Rougeau Brothers (Jacques Jr. & Raymond Rougeau).
They left in late 1995 and opened up a restaurant and wrestled on the independent circuit. They returned to the WWF in 2001 for the gimmick battle royal at WrestleMania X-Seven.
Miller is currently working as a commissioner for the New Zealand promotion Kiwi Pro Wrestling.
[edit] Profile
- Height: 185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
- Weight: 113 kg (250 lb)
- Birthday: October 21, 1944
- Hometown: Auckland, New Zealand
- Managers: Jonathan Boyd, Lady Maxine, Don Carson, Jack Victory
- Flag Bearers: Jack Victory, Rip Morgan, Johnny Ace
- Other Gimmicks: Butch Miller, "Wild" Butch Miller, Cousin Butch, Ron Miller, Nick Cater, Bushwhacker Butch, Cousin Butch Dudley, Detroit Assassin
[edit] Championships/Accomplishments
- 2-Time UWF Tag Team Champion (with Luke Williams)
- 5-Time NWA Florida Tag Team Champion (with Luke Williams once and Larry O'Day 4 times)
- 1-Time NWA Florida United States Tag Team Champion (with Luke Williams)
- 3-Time Pacific Northwest Tag Team Champion (with Luke Williams)
- 1-Time Southwest Championship Wrestling Tag Team Champion (with Luke Williams)
- 6-Time Australasian Tag Team Champion (with Larry O'Day 4 times, Johnny Gray once and André the Giant once)
- 1-Time Australasian Heavyweight Champion
- 1-Time New Zealand British Commonwealth Champion
- 2-Time WWC Tag Team Champion (with Luke Williams)
- 1-Time WWC North American Tag Team Champion (with Luke Williams)
- 1-Time NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Champion (with Luke Williams)
- 2-Time WWWA Tag Team Champion (with Luke Williams)
- 2-Time Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Champion (with Luke Williams)
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) ranked him # 493 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003. PWI also ranked him # 71 of the best tag teams of the "PWI Years" with Luke Williams.