| Dr. Bill Miller | |
|---|---|
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| Birth name | William M. Miller |
| Born | June 5, 1927 Fremont, Ohio, United States |
| Died | March 24, 1997 (aged 69) Columbus, Ohio, United States |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Big Bill Miller Dr. Bill Miller Doctor "X" Mr. M The Crimson Knight |
| Billed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)[1] |
| Billed weight | 290 lb (130 kg)[1] |
| Billed from | Fremont, Ohio[1] |
| Debut | 1952[1] |
| Retired | 1973 |
William M. Miller (June 5, 1927 – March 24, 1997) was an American professional wrestler. He is a one time American Wrestling Association World champion and also wrestled in the National Wrestling Alliance, the World Wrestling Association in Indianapolis and the World Wide Wrestling Federation. He was a Nine-letterman at Ohio State University, in Football, Wrestling, and Track. He was an All-American Heavyweight wrestler, a two-time Big Ten heavyweight champion, and Conference MVP his Sr. year. He was an All-American shot-put and discus track star, also. He was voted into the Ohio State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997 for both Wrestling and Track.
Career
Miller began his professional wrestling career in Columbus, Ohio under the promoter, Al Haft. He became a Veterinarian[1] while starting his wrestling career, hence, the "Dr." in his name. He wrestled as "Mr. M" in the Minneapolis-St.Paul area and held the AWA title for over seven months while feuding with Verne Gagne. Under his own name he wrestled in the Detroit area with "The Sheik" (Eddie Farhat) through the 60s. He also wrestled in Calgary and Toronto. Later on in the WWA with Dick the Bruiser, in the Indianapolis area near the end of his career.
He was a #1 challenger to Bruno Sammartino for the WWWF World Championship in the mid-1960s, managed by Bobby Davis.
In the early 1960s he teamed with storyline brother Big Ed Miller (Edward B. Albers) in the northeast. His true brother Danny (Daniel Miller), also wrestled and tagged with Bill many times. They held the WWWF United States Tag Team Championship, winning it from Gorilla Monsoon & Cowboy Bill Watts[1] in Washington, DC; losing it to Johnny Valentine & Antonio Pugliese in Madison Square Garden. In the late 1960s he was in a brutal feud against Ray Stevens for the San Francisco version of the United States title. Miller later wrestled in Detroit, St. Louis and Cleveland.
After retiring from the ring in 1973, he returned to his first love of veterinarian medicine and opened a practice in Ohio.
Death
Miller died on March 24, 1997. He suffered a heart attack after working out at the Wyandotte Athletic Club, on Columbus' east side. This was just a few miles west of where Al Haft staged his wrestling bouts in Reynoldsburg, many years before.
Championships and accomplishments
- American Wrestling Association
- AWA United States Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- AWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- World Heavyweight Championship (Omaha version) (2 times)
- George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Class of 2005
- Southwest Sports, Inc. / NWA Big Time Wrestling
- International Pro Wrestling (Japan)
- Stampede Wrestling
- Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame (Class of 1995)[4][5]
- World Championship Wrestling (Australia)
- IWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Killer Kowalski
- World Wrestling Association (Indianapolis)
- WWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Dick the Bruiser[6]
- World Wide Wrestling Federation
- WWWF United States Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Dan Miller[1]
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Shields, Brian; Sullivan, Kevin (2009). WWE Encyclopedia. DK. p. 31. ISBN 978-0-7566-4190-0.
- ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "(Texas) Dallas: NWA Texas Brass Knuckles Title". Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. p. 271. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ "Texas Brass Knucks Title [East Texas]". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
- ^ Whalen, Ed (host) (December 15, 1995). "Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame: 1948-1990". Showdown at the Corral: A Tribute to Stu Hart. Event occurs at 15:38. Shaw Cable. Calgary 7.
- ^ "Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame (1948-1990)". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
- ^ "W.W.A. World Tag Team Title (Indianapolis)". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.