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Mat Maestros Memorialized

Posted: Nov 6th 2023 By: Mike Zim

Coincidentally, Reynoldsburg’s all-time top two wrestlers have simultaneously resurfaced, in Ohio and Japan, 60 years after their last Columbus clash.

On September 30, “Big” Bill Miller, and his brother “Dandy” Dan, were inducted into Ohio’s Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame, during a Chillicothe grappling show. Bill Miller’s son, Chuck, and grandson, Eric, accepted the award in Big Bill’s honor.

“Dandy” Dan Miller’s son, Dave Miller, accepted the award in his honor.

At Ohio State, Bill Miller was an All-American heavy-weight wrestler, and a 2-time Big Ten Heavyweight Champ.

Also in September, Karl Gotch was the subject of a talk in Japan by wrestling historian Ryosuke Ratel Nasa. Gotch is known in Japan as the “God of Wrestling" due to his influence in shaping the Japanese professional wrestling style. Gotch and Miller lived a few blocks apart (6386 Brauning Drive and 1726 Kaiser Drive), and both exercised in Gotch’s garage. Gotch, like Miller, was a legitimate, non-gimmick wrestler, representing Belgium in the 1948 Olympics.

BUDDY ROGERS INCIDENT

Promoter Al Haft booked the famous “Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers to wrestle Handsome” Johnny Barend at the Fairgrounds on August 31,1962 Rogers, the reigning champ and a major power broker, didn’t like Gotch (feared?), and repeatedly refused to give him a shot at his title. Before Roger’s match with Barend, Gotch and Miller confronted Rogers in the locker room. Gotch felt Rogers was starving him out, and said that they should have it out, right then and there. Rogers tried to flee but was blocked by Miller, Gotch’s pal. Gotch started beating Rogers while Miller kept Rogers in play when the champ tried to escape. (A déjà vu of his Ohio State linebacker days?) Rogers, 6’0”, 235 lbs, was no match for the duo of Gotch, 6’1”, 245 lbs. and Miller, 6’ 6”, 290 lbs. Roger’s arm was injured, and his match was canceled. He filed assault charges and Gotch and Miller were released after posting $25 bonds.

Bill Miller’s son, Chuck Miller, told the author, “Dad said Rogers was a crybaby.” Haft was upset at having to refund $2,500 of the $8,000 gate and smoothed things over with the authorities. “Boys will be boys.”

The real damage, however, was to Gotch, who angered the other promoters and wrestlers for his actions, and general behavior. He looked abroad for work, and things clicked for him in Japan