Image of Jim Raschke

Jim Raschke

James Donald Raschke is an American retired professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Baron von Raschke. After a successful amateur wrestling career and a stint in the United States Army, James Raschke started in professional wrestling in 1966 in the American Wrestling Association as a referee. He was soon wrestling under his real name, playing off of his amateur wrestling notoriety in the area. He eventually changed his ring name to Baron von Raschke and claimed to be from Germany. He would do a goose-step and then put his finisher known as the "brainclaw", on his opponent. Earlier in his career, the Von Raschke had a finishing maneuver known as the "Prussian sleeper", a rather complex variation of a traditional sleeper hold. His mantra at the time was; "I am ordered to win! I must win! And I will win!" Throughout the 1970s and early 1980s he held numerous singles and tag team titles throughout several NWA and AWA territories, as well as wrestling for the WWWF, where his claw hold was "censored" by a huge red X on WWWF television because it was considered such a violent act. Managed by Fred Blassie, Von Raschke's highest-profile match of his 1970s WWWF run came in March 1977, where he wrestled WWWF World Heavyweight Champion Bruno Sammartino for the title at Madison Square Garden in New York. Von Raschke lost the match by disqualification when, after Sammartino became tied up in the ropes, he shoved the referee away as he had his clawhold applied to Sammartino's head. Sammartino defeated Von Raschke in a rematch a month later at Madison Square Garden, marking Sammartino's last successful title defense before losing the belt to Superstar Billy Graham. In 1978, Von Raschke was recognized as the first NWA Television champion (the Mid Atlantic Television title had been renamed). In May 1984, Raschke and The Crusher defeated Jerry Blackwell and Ken Patera for the AWA World Tag Team Championship. They would lose the belts in August of that same year to The Road Warriors.


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Born:
Oct 18, 1940 In Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Movie/TV Credits:
23
First Appeared:
In the movie The Wrestling Queen 1973-11-01
Latest Project:
Movie The Claw 2021-05-13
Known For
Poster of AWA Christmas Show 1984
Poster of AWA Christmas Night 1983
Poster of AWA Christmas Show 1983
Poster of NWA Sam Muchnick Retirement Show
Filmography
Movie The Claw Himself 2021-05-13
Movie Back To The Territories: Indianapolis Self 2016-07-19
Movie WWE: The Spectacular Legacy of the AWA Self 2006-01-01
Movie Grand Masters of Wrestling: First Blood Vol. 2 2006-06-01
Movie Mad Dog Vachon: Wrestling with the Past Baron von Raschke 1999-05-19
Movie WCW Slamboree 1993 Baron Von Raschke 1993-05-23
Movie AWA SuperClash IV Baron Von Raschke 1990-04-08
Movie WWE SummerSlam 1988 The Baron (Manager) 1988-08-29
Movie The Second Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament Baron Von Raschke 1987-04-11
Movie Wrestling's Living Legend Bruno Sammartino 1986-06-06
Movie The First Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament Baron Von Raschke 1986-04-19
Movie NWA Great American Bash '86 Tour: Charlotte Baron Von Raschke 1986-07-05
Movie NWA Great American Bash '86 Tour: Greensboro Baron Von Raschke 1986-07-26
Movie NWA Starrcade '86: The Night of The Sky-Walkers Baron Von Raschke 1986-11-27
Movie PWUSA Mayhem at The Meadowlands Baron Von Raschke 1985-04-19
Movie PWUSA Star Wars Baron Von Raschke 1985-02-24
Movie AWA StarCage Baron Von Raschke 1985-04-21
Movie AWA Super Clash Baron von Raschke 1985-09-25
Movie AWA Christmas Show 1984 Baron Von Raschke 1984-12-25
Movie AWA Christmas Show 1983 Baron Von Raschke 1983-12-25
Movie AWA Christmas Night 1983 Baron Von Raschke 1983-12-25
Movie NWA Sam Muchnick Retirement Show Baron Von Raschke 1982-01-01
Movie The Wrestling Queen Baron Von Raschke 1973-11-01