Robert “Butch” Miller, a legendary New Zealand wrestler who belonged to the BushWhackers, has passed away. He was 78.
The Herald is aware that he died the following morning after experiencing a medical emergency while attending Wrestle Con in Los Angeles over the weekend.
The Iron Sheik, a fellow wrestling legend, took the lead in Twitter tributes.
In order to recognise The BushWhackers’ 36-year career in professional wrestling, the ups and downs they experienced along the way, and their ascent to the top of the wrestling world, they were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2015.
In a lengthy interview with the Between Two Beers podcast in December, Miller discussed the good, bad, and ugly of his 30 years of travelling.
Miller and his teammate Luke started out as the New Zealand Kiwis, later changing their name to the Sheepherders and finally The Bushwhackers.
Williams and Miller relocated to the USA in the 1980s, started competing in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), and quickly developed a reputation for their brutal matches and cunning strategies.
The Sheepherders joined the World Wrestling Federation (WWE) in 1988, and the organisation gave them the new gimmick of the BushWhackers. They were portrayed as “country boys” with simple minds who enjoyed having fun and were constantly looking for a good time. They became well-known for their humorous skits and performances, where they frequently delighted the audience by walking their famous Bushwhacker Walk.
The BushWhackers developed into a distinctive and enduring member of the WWE roster. They delighted crowds with their silly antics and endearing personalities, making them one of the most unique and enjoyable tag teams in wrestling history.
Additionally, the Bushwhackers’ careers behind the scenes paralleled those of some of the most well-known athletes and entertainers in history.
In the Between Two Beers podcast, Butch discussed his friendship with Hulk Hogan and how they worked out together in a Californian gym for over ten years. He also discussed his behind-the-scenes accounts of fighting Andre the Giant and travelling with him in New Zealand. He also discussed what it was like to compete at SummerSlam in front of 96,000 spectators at Wembley, wrestling Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, The Rock’s dad, and The Rock’s grand
