Baron Von Raschke

Wrestler: Baron Von Raschke
Real Name: James Donald Raschke
Birthday: 1940
Hometown: Originally from Omaha, Nebraska
Retired to Wabasha, Minnesota

Marital Status: Married
Height & Weight:
Trained by: Verne Gagne
Maurice "Mad Dog" Vachon
Debut: September 16, 1966
Previous Gimmicks:
Finishing Move: The Iron Claw
Favorite Moves:
Notable Feuds: Fritz Von Erich
Verne Gagne
Yukon Moose Cholak
Wilbur Snyder
Paul Christy
Sailor Art Thomas
Dick the Bruiser
The Cruiser
Bruno Sammartino
Billy Graham
Dusty Rhodes
Ricky Steamboat
Paul Jones
Tommy Rich
Jerry Blackwell
Big John Studd
Soldat Ustinov
Teijho Khan

Titles Held:

IWA title defeating Edouard Carpentier (November 27, 1967);
America's Tag Team titles w/Dusty Rhodes (Summer 1969);
WWA World Heavyweight title defeating Dick the Bruiser (March 7, 1970);
WWA World Heavyweight title defeating Dick the Bruiser (November 29, 1971);
WWA World Heavyweight title defeating Sailor Art Thomas ();
WWA World Heavyweight title defeating Billy Red Cloud ();
WWA World Tag Team titles w/Ernie Ladd defeating Dick the Bruiser & The Crusher ();
Mid-Atlantic Television title defeating Ricky Steamboat (October 12, 1977);
NWA World Tag Team titles w/Greg Valentine defeating Paul Jones & Ricky Steamboat (June 7, 1978);
NWA World Tag Team titles w/Paul Jones defeating Jimmy Snuka & Paul Orndorff (April 28, 1979);
NWA World Tag Team titles w/Paul Jones defeating Ric Flair & Blackjack Mulligan ();
Georgia Heavyweight title defeating Austin Idol (June 8, 1980);
AWA Tag Team titles w/The Crusher defeating Jerry Blackwell & Ken Patera (May 6, 1984);
NWA Six-Man Tag Team titles w/Ivan & Nikita Koloff defeating The Road Warriors & Dusty Rhodes (May 17, 1986);

Career Highlights:

In The Beginning:

James Raschke played football and wrestled at Omaha North high school..
James Raschke won the 1958 Nebraska State Heavyweight Wrestling Championship as a high school senior!
James Raschke went to the University of Nebraska..
James Raschke was a two-time All-American wrestler capturing the Big Eight conference heavyweight championship in 1962..
James Raschke won the bronze medal at the 1963 World games becoming only the 2nd American to place in Greco-Roman wrestling..
James Raschke qualified for the 1964 Olympic team but was injured 3 days before he was to leave for the Olympics..
James Raschke had a stint in the Army before landing a teaching job in Omaha, Nebraska..
James Raschke contacted Omaha promoter Joe Dusek, who introduced James to AWA boss Verne Gagne..
James Raschke moved to Minnesoda to begin his training to become a professional wrestler!

Getting into the Business:

September 16, 1966: James Raschke had his first match against Johnny Kace..
~~~After a few more matches, Verne Gagne informed James that he was not ready for the ring just yet..
Maurice "Mad Dog" Vachon suggested to James that he should use a German gimmick, because he looked German..

The Birth of Baron von Raschke - Montreal:

Baron von Raschke travelled to Montreal, where he formed a tag team with Maurice Vachon..
~~~Maurice Vachon was injured in a car accident and was replaced by Hans Schmidt..
November 27, 1967: Baron von Raschke defeated Edouard Carpentier for the IWA Championship..

Baron von Raschke - Detroit & St. Louis:

Baron von Raschke left Montreal and worked for the Sheik in Detroit and later for Sam Muchnick in St. Louis..
~~~Baron von Raschke was introduced to the "Claw Hold" by Pat O'Connor, and used it as his finishing move..

Baron von Raschke - World Class Championship Wrestling:

Baron von Raschke's next stop was Fritz von Erich's World Class promotion in Dallas, Texas..
~~~Summer 1969: Baron von Raschke & Dusty Rhodes won the America's Tag Team titles..

Baron von Raschke - World Wrestling Association:

Early 1970: Baron von Raschke moved on to Dick the Bruiser's World Wrestling Association promotion in Indianapolis..
March 7, 1970: Baron von Raschke defeated Dick the Bruiser to win the WWA's version of the World Heavyweight title!
August 14, 1970 - AWA Comiskey Park: Verne Gagne defeated Baron Von Raschke in a best 2/3 Falls match to retain the AWA title..
Baron von Raschke took on "Pretty Boy" Bobby Heenan as his manager and was booked as the top heel in the WWA..
October 14, 1971: Dick the Bruiser defeated Baron von Raschke in a Steel Cage match to regain the WWA World title..
November 29, 1971: Baron von Raschke defeated Dick the Bruiser to recapture the WWA World title in Indianapolis..
Baron von Rachke lost the WWA World title belt to Sailor Art Thomas in Detroit but regained it shortly thereafter..
Baron von Rachke also dropped th title to Billy Red Cloud, only to win it back a few months later..
March 31, 1973: Cowboy Bob Ellis defeated Baron von Raschke for the WWA World Heavyweight title!!
Baron von Raschke turned his sights to the tag team division, forming a partnership with Ernie "The Big Cat" Ladd..
Baron von Raschke & Ernie Ladd defeated Dick the Bruiser & The Crusher for the WWA's version of the World Tag Team titles!
Baron von Raschke had accomplished all he could in the WWA and decided to move elsewhere..

Baron von Raschke - Pittsburgh:

Baron von Raschke had a pitstop in the Pittsburgh promotion to feud with Bruno Sammartino..

Baron von Raschke - American Wrestling Association:

Early 1974: Baron von Raschke returned to Verne Gagne's American Wrestling Association..
Baron von Raschke formed a tag team with German-heel Horst Hoffman, who had been feuding with Billy Robinson..
~~~Baron von Raschke & Horst Hoffman would use a loaded glove during their matches to pick up tainted victories!
~~~Baron von Raschke & Horst Hoffman had a bitter feud with Superstar Billy Graham & Dusty Rhodes..
December 6, 1975 - All Japan Pro Wrestling: Giant Baba defeated Baron Von Raschke in the main event in Tokyo..

Baron von Raschke - Mid Atlantic:

Summer 1977: Baron von Raschke left the AWA to work for Jim Crockett's Mid Atlantic promotion based in the Carolinas & Virginia..
October 12, 1977: Baron von Raschke defeated Ricky Steamboat to win the Mid-Atlantic Television title..
June 7, 1978: Paul Jones defeated Baron von Raschke for the Mid-Atlantic Television title..
~~~On the same night, Baron von Raschke & Greg Valentine defeated Paul Jones & Ricky Steamboat for the NWA Tag Team titles!
~~~Six months later Paul Orndorff & Jimmy Snuka defeated Baron von Raschke & Greg Valentine for the Tag Team titles..
Baron von Raschke later formed a tag team with Paul Jones, after Jones turned on Ricky Steamboat..
April 28, 1979: Baron von Raschke & Paul Jones defeated Paul Orndorff & Jimmy Snuka for the NWA Tag Team titles!
August 8, 1979: Ric Flair & Blackjack Mulligan beat Paul Jones & Baron von Raschke for the NWA Tag Team titles!
~~~Paul Jones & The Baron won them back again, only to lose them to Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood..
Baron von Raschke turned face after a disagreement with Paul Jones, and eventually left the promotion..

Baron von Raschke - Georgia Championship Wrestling:

Baron von Raschke popped on in Georgia Championship Wrestling and ignited a feud with Tommy Rich over the TV title..
June 8, 1980: Baron von Raschke defeated Austin Idol for the Georgia Heavyweight title..
~~~The Baron would lose the Georgia Heavyweight title to Steve Keirn two months later..

Baron von Raschke - Mid Atlantic:

Baron von Raschke returned to the Mid Atlantic area to tie up some loose ends..
Baron von Raschke's friend, Mad Dog Vachon, had been injured by Jerry Blackwell & Big John Studd, so he returned to the AWA..

Baron von Raschke - American Wrestling Association:

Baron von Raschke, The Crusher & Mad Dog Vachon feuded with Jerry Blackwell & Big John Studd..
Baron von Raschke recieved several World title shot against Nick Bockwinkel, but always came up short..
May 6, 1984: Baron von Raschke & The Crusher defeated Jerry Blackwell & Ken Patera for the AWA Tag Team titles..
August 25, 1984: The Road Warriors defeated Baron von Raschke & The Cruiser for the AWA Tag Team titles..
September 28, 1985 - AWA SuperClash: The Koloffs & Krusher Khruschev beat The Crusher & Dick the Bruiser & Baron Von Raschke..

Baron von Raschke - Jim Crockett Promotions:

Baron von Raschke replaced Krusher Khrushchev as an ally of Ivan and Nikita Koloff - The Russians..
February 2, 1986--MoscaMania: Road Warriors defeated Nikita Koloff & Baron von Raschke in Hamilton, Ontario..
May 17, 1986: Ivan & Nikita Koloff & Baron von Raschke defeated The Road Warriors & Dusty Rhodes for the 6-man Tag Team titles!
1987: Baron von Raschke took a lighter schedule as his career was noticably coming to an end..

The Baron - World Wrestling Federation:

Baron Von Raschke returned in the late 80s as manager of the Powers of Pain, in the WWF..

Baron von Raschke - American Wrestling Association:

Baron von Raschke had one last run with the AWA as the captain of Baron's Blitzers in the AWA Team Challange series..
1991: The American Wrestling Association folded, and the Baron wrestled occassional matches on the indy circuit before retiring..

Retirement:

James Raschke and his wife own a gift-souvenir-lawn ornament shop that is open during the spring and summer months..
James Raschke will be inducted into the Thesz/Tragos Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame at the Wrestling Museum in Iowa..
July 23, 2004 - ROH: Baron von Raschke makes in appearance in ROH but was interrupted by Generation Next..
~~~Generation Next attacked The Baron until the Second City Saints (CM Punk, Colt Cabana & Ace Steel) made the save!
December 9, 2006--Great Lakes Championship Wrestling: Steve Stone w/Baron Von Raschke defeated Jason Dukes.

credit: onlineworldofwrestling.com