Dr. Bill Miller
| Dr. Bill Miller | |
|---|---|
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| Born | June 5, 1927 |
| Died |
March 24, 1997 (Age 69) Columbus, Ohio |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) |
Big Bill Miller Dr. Bill Miller Doctor "X" Mr. M The Crimson Knight |
| Billed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)[1] |
| Billed weight | 290 lb (130 kg)[1] |
| Billed from | Fremont, Ohio[1] |
| Debut | 1952[1] |
William "Bill" M. Miller (June 5, 1927 – March 24, 1997), better known by the ring name Dr. Bill Miller, was a professional wrestler. He is a one time American Wrestling Association World champion and also wrestled in the National Wrestling Alliance, the World Wrestling Association in Indianapolis and the World Wide Wrestling Federation. He was a Nine-letterman at Ohio State University, in Football, Wrestling, and Track. He was an All-American Heavyweight wrestler, a two-time Big Ten heavyweight champion, and Conference MVP his Sr. year. He was an All-American shot-put and discus track star, also. He was voted into the Ohio State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997 for both Wrestling and Track.
Career
Miller began his professional wrestling career in Columbus, Ohio under the promoter, Al Haft. He became a Veterinarian[1] while starting his wrestling career, hence, the "Dr." in his name. He and his billed brother Big Ed Miller wrestled together in Ohio and New York. He wrestled as "Mr. M" in the Minneapolis-St.Paul area and briefly held the AWA title while feuding with Verne Gagne. Under his own name he wrestled in the Detroit area with "The Sheik" (Eddie Farhat) through the 60's. He also wrestled in Calgary and Toronto. Later on with Dick the Bruiser, in the Indianapolis area near the end of his career.
He was a #1 challenger to Bruno Sammartino for the WWWF World Championship in the mid-1960s, managed by Bobby Davis.
In the early 1960`s he teamed with storyline brother Ed Miller in the northeast. His true brother Danny ( Daniel Miller), also wrestled and tagged with Bill many times. They held the WWWF United States Tag Team Championship, winning it from Gorilla Monsoon & Cowboy Bill Watts[1] in Washington, DC; losing it to Johnny Valentine & Antonio Pugliese in Madison Square Garden. In the late 1960`s he was in a brutal feud against Ray Stevens for the San Francisco version of the United States title. Miller later wrestled in Detroit, St. Louis and Cleveland.
After retiring from the ring in 1973, he returned to his first love of veterinarian medicine and opened a practice in Ohio.
Death
Miller died on March 24, 1997. He suffered a heart attack after working out at the Wyandotte Athletic Club, on Columbus' east side. This was just a few miles west of where Al Haft staged his wrestling bouts in Reynoldsburg, many years before.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Signature moves
Miller neck-stretcher
Championships and accomplishments
- World Wide Wrestling Federation
- WWWF United States Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Dan Miller[1]