Punch Miller

Ernest "The Cat" Miller (born January 14, 1964 in Atlanta, Georgia), is a former professional wrestler who worked for WCW and WWE.

Career

World Champioship 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.

He started out as Glacier's tag team partner in his feud with Mortis and Wrath. He soon left Glacier and became a heel 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 heel, 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 presumably 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 heel, he eventually turned face and became WCW Commissioner in 2000. He began the storyline as a heel but eventually turned face due to the high fan reaction he was getting whenever he entered an arena. He was feuding with Ric Flair's Magnificent Seven group when WCW was purchased by Vince McMahon.

He appeared at some World Wrestling All-Stars shows before going to the WWF where he would lead a somewhat brief career.

World Wrestling Entertainment

Ernest "The Cat" Miller made his TV debut on the November 28, 2003 episode of SmackDown! 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 do a funky 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), was starting to be used in the WWE. This phrase also appeared in the lyrics to his theme song, which he would dance to.

The Cat then competed in a 15-man Royal Rumble style match held on SmackDown! to earn a shot at the WWE Championship against then Champion Brock Lesnar at No Way Out. However, he was once again thrown out during his theme song.

He then started a short-lived feud with Tajiri after Tajiri attacked Lamont with his trademark Buzzsaw Kick.

Miller was released from WWE on February 10, 2004. WWE credited a lack of enthusiasm to improve his skills as a wrestler and overall performer as the reason for his release.

In wrestling

• Finishing and signature moves

• Feliner (Corkscrew roundhouse kick)
• Superkick
• Cat's Cradle (Outside cradle)
• Knife-edged chop
• High knee strike
• Roundhouse kick
• Enzuigiri
• Spinning sole kick

• Managers

• Sonny Onoo
• Miss Jones
• Lamont
• Vincent

Championships and accomplishments

Martial arts

• Karate

• World Karate Champion (3 times)

Professional wrestling

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) ranked him # 479 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003.

External links

• Battle of Atlanta

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