Bushwhacker Butch, a member of considered one of professional wrestling’s most beloved tag groups, has died aged 78.
The New York Put up experiences his longtime good friend and tag staff accomplice Bushwhacker Luke — Luke Williams — confirmed the information in a social media submit on Monday.
Butch’s actual identify is Bob Miller.
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No reason behind loss of life has been introduced, however Butch was reportedly hospitalised in Los Angeles final week after arriving for public appearances round WrestleMania 39.
“This previous weekend in Los Angeles, Bob flew in from New Zealand to affix me for WrestleMania weekend and the associated festivities, neither of us understanding it will be our final days collectively and his final days of life,” Luke wrote in an Instagram submit.
“If you happen to have been to learn the story of my life it will say that I’m solely baby, however it will be flawed,” he mentioned.
“In life I had a brother and his identify was Bob Miller. I really like you, Bob.
“Till I see you once more, WOOOOAHH YEEEEAAHH!”
The 2 started wrestling collectively in New Zealand in 1964.
They turned The Sheepherders from 1974-81 whereas working in quite a few NWA-affiliated territories.
By 1988 the duo was repackaged within the WWE (WWF on the time) because the loveable and kooky Bushwhackers – altering their earlier violent fashion to comedy.
They instantly turned considered one of Vince McMahon’s most beloved acts with their signature entrance march as their arms moved backwards and forwards over their heads, yelling “Whoooaaa!,” their camo hats, biting opponents, and licking one another and followers.
“Imply Gene” Okerlund turned a well-liked foil for them in vignettes.
“As The Bushwhackers we appeared within the largest venues on this planet, in entrance the largest crowds skilled wrestling had ever seen!” Luke wrote.
The Bushwhackers by no means did win the WWE tag staff titles and Luke revealed in an interview with Sportskeeda in 2021 that his neck harm value them an opportunity of beating The Brainbusters for the belts.
“One of many hardest son of a weapons to placed on tights,” Jake “The Snake” Roberts wrote of Butch in a social media submit. “And one of the vital entertaining. He shall be sorely missed.”
Luke and Butch completed up in WWE in 1996 and retired in 2021 after Luke suffered one other neck harm.
They have been inducted into the WWE Corridor of Fame in 2015.
“My coronary heart goes out to his spouse Helen, his pretty daughters Sharon and Kirsten and all of his grandchildren,” Luke wrote.
“From the early-Seventies after we have been younger mates wrestling for John da Silva in New Zealand, my first impression of Bob “The Chest” Miller (as he was referred to as in these days) was that he was a first-class redneck, and what bloody redneck he was,” he mentioned.
“However he was additionally an all-round good man and a terrific good friend.”
This text initially appeared within the New York Put up and was reproduced with permission.
