Miller, and his teammate Luke Williams, began their tag-team career as the New Zealand Kiwis, before becoming the Sheepherders, then The Bushwhackers.
In the 1980s, Williams and Miller moved to the USA and began wrestling in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and quickly gained a reputation for their hardcore matches and ruthless tactics.
In 1988, the Sheepherders signed with the World Wrestling Federation (WWE) and were given a new gimmick as the BushWhackers. They were portrayed as simple-minded “country boys” who loved to have fun and were always looking for a good time. They became known for their comical skits and matches, which often involved them performing their signature Bushwhacker Walk to the delight of the crowd.
The BushWhackers became a unique and memorable part of the WWE roster. They entertained fans with their silly antics and lovable personalities, and will always be remembered as one of the most eccentric and entertaining tag teams in wrestling history.
And behind the scenes, the Bushwhackers’ careers ran parallel to some of the biggest names in sports entertainment history.
In the Between Two Beers podcast, Butch talks about his friendship with Hulk Hogan, and how they trained together for over a decade in a Californian gym, his behind-the-scenes stories of fighting Andre the Giant and traveling with him on the road in New Zealand, what it was like competing at SummerSlam infront of 96,000 people at Wembley, wrestling Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, The Rock’s dad, and The Rock’s grandad, the origins of the Bushwhacker walk, fearing for his life after a show, jumping on a table during negotiations with WWE boss Vince McMahon, transitioning from ‘bad guys’ to ‘good guys’ and much more.
The BushWhackers were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2015, to honour their 36-year journey through professional wrestling, the trials and tribulations along the way, and their elevation to the top of the wrestling world.
Show notes | Butch Miller
2:04: How is Butch Miller’s health?
3:35: The influence of the World Wrestling Federation on 80s kiwi kids
6:12: Hulk Hogan and the heydays living in Florida
16:11: Meeting with Vince McMahon
23:23: Becoming The Bushwhackers and the rapid rise to fame
30:07: A glimpse behind the scenes
37:35: Royal Rumble 1991
39:33: “…and from New Zealand”
44:13: Recognition back home
45:56: The toughest guy in the WWF locker room
47:46: A special piece of history with The Rock
56:40: Andre the Giant
1:05:37: Fighting to get to the ring: Life before the WWE
1:12:47: Babyface or Heel?
1:1643: Life after wrestling with the WWE
1:23:14: The WWE Hall of Fame
1:27:17 Last words from Steven, Seamus, and Butch
Between Two Beers is part of the Alternative Commentary Collective - NZ’s Home for Sports Entertainment. Check out more podcasts, events, details on live commentaries and sports watch alongs here.
