Ernest Miller

Infobox Wrestler
name=Ernest Miller


names=Ernest "The Cat" Miller
height=6 ft 2 in
weight=235 lb
birth_date = birth date and age|1964|1|14
death_date =
birth_place = Atlanta, Georgia
resides=
billed=Atlanta, Georgia
trainer=Dwayne Bruce WCW Power Plant
debut=1997
retired=2004|

Ernest Clifford Millercite web |url= http://www.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingBiosM/miller_ernest_01jan10-can.html|title=The early days of WCW star Ernest Miller|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling |accessdate=2007-11-12] (born January 14, 1964 in Atlanta, Georgia), is a former professional wrestler and actor who worked for World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) better known by his ring name Ernest "The Cat" Miller.

Career

Early career

Ernest Miller graduated from Gordon High School in Decatur, Georgia, playing on the football team as a linebacker. He then went to Savannah State College in Savannah, Georgia studying electrical engineering and playing football as an All-American linebacker.

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.

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 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 angle 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 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

Ernest "The Cat" Miller made his TV 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.

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.

Outside pro wrestling

Ernest is scheduled to appear in the upcoming film, "The Wrestler". The film was scripted by Robert Siegel and entered development at director Darren Aronofsky's Protozoa Pictures. Actor Nicolas Cage entered negotiations in October 2007 to star in the film's lead role as Randy "Ram" Robinson, a former wrestler. The following month, Cage left the project for reasons unexplained, and Mickey Rourke replaced the actor in the lead role. Production began in January 2008. Afa Anoa'i, a former professional wrestler, was hired to train Rourke for his role.

"From a Press Release by news webstie, [http://www.PRNewswire.com PRNewswire] :

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Jan. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Illustrious former wrestling superstar Ernest "The Cat" Miller, best know for his character "The Cat" in both Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and Ted Turner's former World Champion Wrestling (WCW) leagues has been cast as "Ayatollah", a major role opposite legendary actor Mickey Rourke in the upcoming motion picture "The Wrestler". The film is being directed by one of the movie industry's most respected directors, Darren Aronofsky ("Requiem for a Dream", "The Fountain").

Ernest Miller boasts an auspicious resume in the entertainment industry and is soon to be seen playing the role as Earnie Shavers opposite Michael Jai White in the 2008 television series "The Legend of Bruce Lee". He is also in production on "Blood and Bone" which is expected to hit theatres in early 2009.

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.

References

External links

* [http://www.battleofatlanta.com Battle of Atlanta]