Robert Miller (21 October 1944 – 2 April 2023) was a professional wrestler from New Zealand. He is best known for appearing in the World Wrestling Federation under the ring name Bushwhacker Butch, where he teamed up with Bushwhacker Luke as The Bushwhackers.
He was also known for appearing under the name Butch Miller in promotions such as NWA New Zealand, Stampede Wrestling, Pacific Northwest Wrestling, Mid Atlantic Championship Wrestling, Southwest Championship Wrestling, and The Universal Wrestling Federation.
Kiwis and priests Along with Luke, Butch has held championships such as the NWA Florida Tag Team Championship, NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship, NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship, and the UWF World Tag Team Championship. The duo was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2015 and the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum in 2020.
WWE Hall of Famer Bushwhacker Butch dies at 78
Luke, the nephew of WWE Hall of Famer Bushwhacker Butch, said on Facebook that he passed away at the age of 78. ‘Our dear Bob has passed away,’ he would say. ‘Our loved ones never truly leave us. There are things death cannot touch. “We’ll always love you, man, until we meet again.” Butch, whose real name is Bob Miller, had arrived in Los Angeles for WrestleMania and soon fell ill. A GoFundMe has been set up to help pay these medical bills, but the exact issue has yet to be disclosed.
His statement on Sunday read: “We have some sad news for about half of the team to share: Bushwhacker Butch Miller was hospitalized after arriving in Los Angeles to sign for Wrestle Mania weekend.” Butch had arrived with his old friend and brother, Luke Williams. The two have been together on the road for over 50 years and everyone was looking forward to this return.
In 2015, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as a member of the Bushwhackers. Luke wrote on Instagram on Monday: “Last night, I lost my friend, brother, and teammate of over 50 years to the passing of Bob ‘Butch’ Miller.”
“Since the early 1970s, when we were young friends of John da Silva in New Zealand, my first impression of Bob ‘The Chest’ Miller (as he was called in those days) was that he was a top-notch ignoramus and! What a goddamn ignorant he was, but he was also a good man and a great friend.
‘If you read the story of my life, you will say that I am an only child, but that would be wrong. I had a brother in life and his name was Bob Miller. I love Bob.
Miller leaves behind a wife, Helen, two daughters, and grandchildren.
He was born in New Zealand and started wrestling there in 1964 at the age of 20. His career took him to the WWF (now WWE) where he moved to the United States.
He retired after a neck injury in 2001 and moved from Florida to New Zealand in 2003.
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