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Baron von Raschke


Last updated by David Buckler on November 2, 2017

[Baron von Raschke GALLERY]

Title History

  • IWA (Montreal) International Heavyweight title defeating Edouard Carpentier (November 27, 1967);
  • NWA (Texas) American Tag Team titles w/Dusty Rhodes defeating Wahoo McDaniel & Thunderbolt Patterson (1969);
  • NWA Texas Brass Knuckles title defeating Wahoo McDaniel [Tournament] (June 3, 1969);
  • WWA (Indianapolis) World Heavyweight title defeating Dick the Bruiser (March 7, 1970);
  • WWA (Indianapolis) World Heavyweight title defeating Dick the Bruiser (November 29, 1971);
  • WWA (Indianapolis) World Heavyweight title defeating Art Thomas (June 3, 1972);
  • WWA (Indianapolis) World Tag Team titles w/Ernie Ladd defeating Crusher & Dick the Bruiser (Febuary 24, 1973);
  • NWA (Central States) World Tag Team titles w/Mad Dog Vachon defeating Goliath & Black Gordman (September 30, 1976);
  • NWA Television title won a tournament (October 12, 1977);
  • NWA Television title defeating Johnny Weaver (March 26, 1978);
  • NWA (Mid Atlantic) World Tag Team titles w/Greg Valentine defeating Ricky Steamboat & Paul Jones (June 7, 1978);
  • NWA (Mid Atlantic) World Tag Team titles w/Paul Jones defeating Paul Orndorff & Jimmy Snuka (April 28, 1979);
  • NWA (Mid Atlantic) World Tag Team titles w/Paul Jones defeating Blackjack Mulligan & Ric Flair (August 22, 1979);
  • NWA Georgia Heavyweight title defeating Austin Idol (June 8, 1980);
  • NWA Florida Television title defeating Barry Windham (November 26, 1980);
  • AWA World Tag Team titles w/Crusher defeating Ken Patera & Jerry Blackwell (May 6, 1984);
  • PWA (Pro Wrestling America) Tag Team titles w/Ken Patera defeating The Punishers (December 29, 1991);
  • PWA (Pro Wrestling America) Tag Team titles w/Brad Rheingans defeating The Punishers (January 25, 1992);

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 Minnesota 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 – 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 Challenge 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.
  • May 2, 2018 – Baron von Raschke will be awarded the 2018 CAC Iron Mike Mazurki award by the Cauliflower Alley Club in Las Vegas.