Ernest Clifford Miller[2] (born January 14, 1964) is an American actor and former professional wrestler who worked for World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) better known by his ring name Ernest "The Cat" Miller.[1]
Career
Early career
Miller graduated from Gordon High School in Decatur, Georgia, playing on the football team as a linebacker.[2] He then went to Savannah State University in Savannah, Georgia studying electrical engineering and playing football as an All-American linebacker.[2]
World Championship Wrestling
After a career as a karate tournament competitor, Miller was brought into WCW by Eric Bischoff. Miller was a karate instructor and was teaching Bischoff's son Garrett, when Bischoff asked him to become a wrestler.[1]
He started out as Glacier's tag team partner in his feud with Mortis and Wrath. He soon left Glacier and became a villain with Sonny Onoo as his manager (although Glacier actually turned on Miller first). It was during this time that Miller's popularity heightened.
As a villain, he often gloated that he could beat anybody within two minutes and managed to do so on several occasions using his signature springboard kick, The Feliner. It was also around this time that Ernest Miller began wearing ruby slippers in the ring and dancing in a James Brown-esque fashion to celebrate his victories (this led to a PPV "dance-off" between Miller and James Brown, who had been brought in specially). Miller even went as far promoting his own instructional, karate home video with a pseudo infomercial. During this time, Billy Blanks' Tae Bo exercise videos were quite popular, so Miller's infomercial was obviously a comedic parody that fit his gimmick.
While Miller was most often a villain, he eventually turned into a fan favorite and became WCW Commissioner in 2000. He began the angle as a villain but eventually turned into a fan favorite due to the high fan reaction he was getting whenever he entered an arena. He was feuding with Ric Flair's Magnificent Seven stable when WCW was purchased by Vince McMahon.
He appeared at some World Wrestling All-Stars shows before going to the WWF where he would have a somewhat brief career.
World Wrestling Entertainment
Under his Ernest "The Cat" Miller ring name and gimmick, made his televised World Wrestling Entertainment debut on the November 28, 2002 episode of SmackDown! Before that, he served as a wrestler and an announcer for Velocity. After his run on Velocity, he became an active wrestler on the main roster.
Miller appeared in the 2004 Royal Rumble match, making his entrance (along with manager Lamont) while the other two people in the ring, Chris Benoit and Randy Orton, were knocked down. Miller and Lamont proceeded to dance to his theme music, not bothering to capitalize on the advantage he'd been given. When Benoit and Orton got back up, both men quickly tossed him from the ring. During his time, his catch phrase, "somebody call my momma" (which was also used in WCW), started to be used in WWE. This phrase also appeared in the lyrics to his theme song, which he would dance to.
Miller then competed in a 15-man battle royal on SmackDown! to earn a shot at the WWE Championship against then Champion Brock Lesnar at No Way Out, but was once again thrown out during his theme song. Following this, he started a short-lived feud with Tajiri after Tajiri attacked Lamont with his trademark Buzzsaw Kick. After the feud ended, Miller was released from WWE on February 10, 2004.
Outside pro wrestling
Miller had a significant role in the Academy Award nominated film The Wrestler as The Ayatollah, in-ring nemesis of Randy "The Ram" Robinson played by Mickey Rourke. He also played Earnie Shavers opposite Michael Jai White in the 2008 Chinese television series The Legend of Bruce Lee. Miller is also in production on Blood and Bone which is expected to hit theaters in early 2009. Former WWE Champion Shawn Michaels posted an email on his official website noting that Ernest Miller has been cast as George Foreman in an upcoming HBO biopic.
In wrestling
Championships and accomplishments
Martial arts
Professional wrestling
References
External links
