Robert Miller (21 October 1944 – 2 April 2023) was a New Zealand professional wrestler. He was best known for his appearances in the World Wrestling Federation under the ring name Bushwhacker Butch, where he teamed with Bushwhacker Luke as The Bushwhackers. He was also known for his appearances under the ring name Butch Miller for promotions such as NWA New Zealand, Stampede Wrestling, Pacific Northwest Wrestling, Mid Atlantic Championship Wrestling, Southwest Championship Wrestling, and the Universal Wrestling Federation, where he teamed with Luke as The Kiwis and The Sheepherders.

Along with Luke, Butch held championships including the NWA Florida Tag Team Championship, NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship, NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship, and UWF World Tag Team Championship. The duo was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2015 and the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in 2020.

Professional wrestling career

Early career (1964–1974)

Butch Miller started wrestling for NWA New Zealand (later known as All-Star Pro Wrestling) in 1964 where he achieved a great deal of regional success. Miller, along with his friend Luke Williams, was brought to America in 1965 by fellow New Zealander Steve Rickard, who was also the booker for NWA Hawaii. Luke and Butch initially worked in Canada among others for Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling billed as "The Kiwis" (Butch was known as "Nick Carter" and Luke was known as "Sweet William"). The first recorded title that the Kiwis won was in 1974 when the duo beat Bob Pringle and Bill Cody for the Stampede International Tag Team Championship on 6 January 1974. The Kiwis lost the titles to Tokyo Joe and the Great Saki only to regain them a short time later. Back in the UWF for their "Mid South Superdome Show", the Sheepherders clashed with the Fantastics once more, this time Luke and Butch lost in a "New Zealand Boot camp" match to the UWF Tag champs.

After being unable to beat the Fantastics on several occasions, the Sheepherders traveled back to Puerto Rico during the summer for a six-week run with the WWC World Tag Team Championship on 3 August.

After leaving Memphis the Sheepherders returned to Puerto Rico and the WWC. Here the Sheepherders started a bloody feud with Chris and Mark Youngblood that drew big crowds in Puerto Rico. At Clash of the Champions II the Sheepherders faced off against the NWA United States Tag Team Champions Fantastics, but did not win the gold. At Clash of the Champions III the Sheepherders lost to Steve Williams and Nikita Koloff despite the interference of Rip Morgan. Just as it looked like the Sheepherders were going to face the Fantastics in the finals of a tournament to crown new United States tag team champions, Luke and Butch signed with Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Federation.

Throughout the Bushwhackers' run in the WWF, the team was a solid mid-card team, feuding against such teams as The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers, Rhythm and Blues (The Honky Tonk Man and Greg Valentine), The Natural Disasters, The Beverly Brothers, The Headshrinkers and Well Dunn. Several of the feuds were comedy-oriented, with the Bushwhackers' antagonists expressing disdain for their wild and wacky ways. In addition, Butch (along with Luke) participated in a long-running series of comedy vignettes, with "Mean" Gene Okerlund their usual foil; these vignettes were often featured on Coliseum Home Video releases where they served as the "link" between matches.

The Bushwhackers remained in the WWF through 1996, by which time they were a lower-card team and frequently used to job to newer teams such as The Blu Brothers and The Bodydonnas. Late in the Bushwhackers' run, the team was accompanied to the ring by a giant kangaroo mascot.

Late career (1996–2001)

After leaving the WWF, the team made special appearances in the independent circuit, including a return to WWC for its 24th-anniversary show where they were billed as the Sheepherders and took on old rivals Invaders I & II. They also appeared at Terry Funk's WrestleFest in Amarillo to celebrate "50 years of Funk" where they lost to Mark and Chris Youngblood.

In 1999, Luke and Butch participated in a "wrestling nostalgia" pay-per-view called Heroes of Wrestling as the Men from Down Under. They defeated former WWF Tag Team Champions The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff. They also wrestled in the UK in 2000, mainly for All Star Wrestling where they appeared in six man tags, teaming with Frank Casey who for some years had been performing as tribute act the "British Bushwhacker." Luke and Butch made one of their last appearances as active wrestlers on 1 April 2001 when they participated in the "Gimmick Battle Royal" at WrestleMania X7. On 15 June, the team returned to Memphis one last time, fighting The Moondogs to a double disqualification on a special "Mid-South Clash of the Legends" show. In September 2001 he retired from wrestling.

Retirement (2001–2023)

In September 2001, Miller was rushed to the hospital after suffering a neck injury. While in the hospital, he also had a brush with sepsis, but he survived. Miller retired after the incident and moved back to New Zealand where he began working as the commissioner for NZWPW and also wrote a column for NZPWI.CO.NZ. He lived in Paraparaumu Beach and was the Commissioner for Kiwi Pro Wrestling.

When the WWE came to New Zealand on 11 June 2008 in Auckland, he was a guest on the first international V.I.P Lounge along with Tony Garea. The segment's host, Montel Vontavious Porter (MVP) announced him as Bushwhacker Luke but then apologized. Eventually, MVP attacked Butch and Garea with the microphone. Butch and Garea recovered and fought off MVP, then celebrated with the Bushwhacker walk.

In 2015, The Bushwhackers were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by John Laurinaitis.

In February 2018, the Bushwhackers reunited for one last tour of their native New Zealand. Only Luke wrestled.

Personal life and death

Miller moved back to New Zealand from Florida in 2003. He wanted to be back in New Zealand with his 2 daughters, Sharon and Kirstin who he lived for. Both daughters to his childhood sweetheart and wife, lived with their Dad and husband in Canada and America throughout his career.

He retired in Paraparaumu Beach where he met his third wife.

Miller suffered from health issues as early as 2002 when he stayed in the ICU. In 2010, he returned to the ICU. Luke Williams kept it private from the public regarding what issue Miller had.

Miller died in hospital in Los Angeles, California on 2 April 2023, at the age of 78. He had traveled to the city in order to participate in WrestleMania 39 festivities. Even though he knew the risks, he knew he was going to the place he loved the most surrounded by his best friend Luke.

Other media

The Bushwhackers appeared as themselves in a 1994 episode of the sitcom Family Matters, wrestling against Carl Winslow and Steve Urkel, who are forced to fill in for and wrestle as "The Psycho Twins". The Bushwhackers released their autobiography "The Bushwhackers: Blood, Sweat & Cheers", along with writer John E. Crowther, on 27 September 2022.

Championships and accomplishments

Butch (right) and [[Bushwhacker Luke|Luke (left) as WWC World Tag Team Champions, |thumb]]

  • Allied Powers Wrestling Federation
  • APWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Luke Williams – with Luke Williams
  • Continental Wrestling Association
  • CWA International Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Luke Williams
  • Championship Wrestling from Florida
  • NWA Florida Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Luke Williams
  • NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Florida version) (1 time) – with Luke Williams
  • International Wrestling Association
  • IWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Luke Williams
  • Southwest Championship Wrestling
  • SCW Southwest Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Luke Williams
  • SCW World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Luke Williams
  • Stampede Wrestling
  • NWA International Tag Team Championship (Calgary version) (2 times) – with Luke Williams
  • Ultimate Championship Wrestling
  • UCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Luke Williams