Ernest Miller

Ernest Clifford Miller (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.

Miller made his World Championship Wrestling (WCW) debut on February 12, 1997, where he worked 3 matches that night for TV tapings.

The first two matches were victories over Sgt. Buddy Lee Parker and Johnny Swinger.

The last match was a loss to Glacier on WCW Worldwide which aired on April 13.

He saved Glacier from a two-on-one attack by Wrath and Mortis at the 1997 Slamboree pay-per-view.

Initially thought as just a fan who had jumped the railing, the WCW commentators then realized that this was no ordinary man and he was in fact the three-time karate champion Ernest Miller.

Glacier and Ernest Miller quickly became tag team partners in their feud with Mortis and Wrath.

After Glacier turned on Miller, Ernest left him and became a villain with Sonny Onoo as his manager.

It was during this time that Miller's popularity heightened.

As a villain, Miller adopted an arrogant, Muhammad Ali-like trash-talking personality, calling himself "The Greatest" and gloating that he could beat anybody within two minutes, which he often did using his signature kicks.

It was also around this time that Ernest began wearing ruby slippers in the ring and dancing in a James Brown-esque fashion to celebrate his victories.

He would claim on Nitro that he knew the actual James Brown, leading to a pay-per-view "dance-off" between Miller and Brown, who had been brought in specially.

Miller even went as far promoting his own instructional, karate home video with a pseudo infomercial.

This served as a comedic parody to Billy Blanks' Tae Bo exercise videos which were quite popular at the time.

Miller and Onoo also did comedy duo routines similar to Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan's characters from the film Rush Hour.

Miller then began a minor feud with Kaz Hayashi, as Onoo has been previously Hayashi's manager and had left him to manage Miller.

Ernest won several matches over Hayashi with Onoo's help, and also enlisted Perry Saturn as his ally.

However, Saturn suffered many losses against inferior opponents due to Miller's botched interference, so the two faced off at Starrcade, where Saturn won.

Miller continued coming out and challenging the fans, the wrestlers, and anyone else to try and take him out, feuding with Scott Norton.

For a time, he started coming out with the snow machine and music of Glacier, which Onoo had "purchased", but it was short-lived, and he soon returned to his James Brown music.

In March 1999, Miller and Onoo attacked fellow martial artist Jerry Flynn, with Ernest cutting off Flynn's ponytail as a sign of disrespect.

They all faced off in Uncensored in a handicap match, but Flyinn defeated them both.

Miller bounced back after some time, getting a win over Scott Norton after hitting him with a Crowbar.

He and Norton were scheduled to wrestle in The Great American Bash, but Norton was pulled out for health problems and replaced with Horace Hogan, who Miller defeated after kicking him with a steel-tipped red dancing shoe.

In June 1999, Miller had a dancing contest with Disco Inferno, who he attacked in jealously over the fans's attention.

They fought in Bash at the Beach in a "dance match" with the stipulation that the loser could not dance anymore (though this stipulation was removed at Bash at the Beach), with Miller winning thanks to Onoo.

The Cat's next opponent would be Buff Bagwell, who became famous by doing an impersonation of Miller with a bald cap and black face paint.

The two met at Road Wild, but this time Onoo's help backfired when he accidentally hit the wrong man with a briefcase, making Miller lose the match.

After that, the two broke up and Onoo left WCW.

Miller became a jobber for a long time, until he was chosen as Eric Bischoff's assistant.

His role initially was composed of following Bischoff wherever he went and repeating whatever Bischoff said for comedic effect, but he was eventually appointed WCW Commissioner in 2000.

As a commissioner, his motivations were the ratings and impressing the people in charge, and he often booked super matches for the main events.

During this time, he got in a storyline where the Jung Dragons stalked him and tried to attack him, but Miller usually fended them off.

In July 2000, Miller outlawed WCW United States Heavyweight Champion Scott Steiner's finisher, the Steiner Recliner, with the pretext of being too dangerous.

Miller continued interfering in Steiner's reign, helping Mike Awesome during their fight in Bash at the Beach by disqualifying Steiner and stripping him of the title.

As an actor, he is perhaps best known for his role in the 2008 drama The Wrestler.

Miller graduated from Gordon High School in Decatur, Georgia, playing on the football team as a linebacker.

He then went to Savannah State University in Savannah, Georgia studying electrical engineering and playing football as an All-American linebacker.

He was brought to professional wrestling after being asked by WCW executive Eric Bischoff.

Miller was by then a karate instructor and was teaching Bischoff's son Garett, when Bischoff asked him to become a professional wrestler.