Robert Miller (1944-2023)
Alias:
Bob Miller
Bushwhacker Butch
Butch
Butch Miller
Cousin Butch
Kiwi Butch
Nick Carter
Sheepherder Butch
Tiger
Birthplace:
Auckland, New Zealand
Born:
October 21, 1944
Died:
April 2, 2023
Robert Miller, better known by his ring name Butch Miller, is a New Zealand retired professional wrestler best known as one half of the tag team known as "The Sheepherders" on the independent scene and in the National Wrestling Alliance and as one half of The Bushwhackers in WWE. 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. The Kiwis lost the titles for good when Stan Kowalski and Duke Savage defeated them and kept the titles away from them in subsequent rematches Miller moved back to New Zealand from Florida in 2003. He lived in Paraparaumu Beach until 2016. He was ever present at the Robert Harris café and City Fitness gym in Coastlands. He met his wife Helen in a Paraparaumu gym and the romance blossomed. His wife Helen used to work in the shoe shop in Coastlands. Miller and his wife Helen moved to Otaki Beach in 2016 because of the sand.