James Michael Hillman (born October 14, 1951 in Memphis, Tennessee), better known by his ring name “Mean” Mike Miller, is an American former professional wrestler. He achieved prominence in the Pacific Northwest wrestling circuit during the late 1970s through the mid‑1990s.
Professional career
- Debut: 1977, trained by Herb Welch.
- Primary promotion: Pacific Northwest Wrestling (PNW), where he competed for over a decade.
- Ring names: “Mean” Mike Miller; occasionally billed as “King Killer”.
During his tenure with PNW, Miller held the following titles:
| Championship | Number of reigns | Notable partners (tag team) |
|---|---|---|
| NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship | 3 | — |
| NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship | 8 | Tom Jones (2), Karl Steiner (1), Moondog Moretti (1), Abbuda Dein (2), Rip Oliver (1), Black Ninja (1) |
He faced a range of notable opponents, including Rip Oliver, Bobby Jaggers, Tom Prichard, Jerry Lawler, Chief Jay Strongbow, Brett Sawyer, Billy Jack Haynes, and Steve Doll.
Later activities
After retiring from active competition around 1996, Miller contributed to wrestling training and promotion work in the Pacific Northwest region, notably assisting with talent development at Oregon Championship Wrestling and serving as a matchmaker for Blue Collar Wrestling. He made occasional appearances at reunion events through the early 2000s.
Legacy
Miller is recognized for his durability and multiple championship victories within the regional NWA territory system, particularly in the Pacific Northwest, contributing to the era’s vibrant independent wrestling scene.