Baron von Raschke (Alive)
James Donald Raschke
1940 - Present
"Dat is all da people need to know!"
"Baron von Raschke" Video
A native of Omaha, Nebraska, James Raschke started wrestling in high school and became state heavyweight champion in 1958. He continued his wrestling career at the University of Nebraska and won the Big 8 Conference Championship as a heavyweight during his senior year. In 1963, Raschke captured a Bronze medal in Greco-Roman wrestling at the World Games in Sweden. After a stint in the U.S. Army, Raschke embarked on his professional wrestling career in 1966 and soon teamed up with Mad Dog Vachon in Canada as "Baron von Raschke." He returned to the United States and worked in several different territories while further developing his wrestling skills, including his signature hold, the brain claw, earning the nickname, "The Clawmaster." During the 1970s, Raschke toured with All-Japan Pro Wrestling, American Wrestling Association (AWA), World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) and National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). In 1978, Raschke captured the first NWA Television Championship. Raschke and The Crusher defeated Ken Patera and Jerry Blackwell in 1984 to win the AWA World Tag Team Championship. Baron In 2007, Raschke made his stage debut in The Baron at the History Theatre in St. Paul, Minnesota.
User Comments - Add a Comment
wade - 2009-12-05 00:04:59
i thought he was an excellant performer who had to work with some pretty low talent
Ernie - 2010-02-18 07:23:55
Much like The Spoiler and Freddie Blassie, The Baron was censored while in the WWWF in 1976. When he used his Brain Claw, they placed a big red 'X' over the screen, ostensibly to cover up the blood that almost always flowed when he used the Claw. The reason I've heard given over the years was largely psychological; Vince Sr. thought if people saw the 'X' over what was going on in the ring, then they would be that much more curious to see the "house" shows when the Baron appeared. I always found it rather funny that they would censor blood when the Claw was used, but they would show it almost any other time.
Joe S. - 2010-02-18 08:54:23
I heard he was once considered for the role of "Colonel Klink" of TV's "Hogan's Hero's.
Mr. McMister - 2009-09-15 15:14:31
To be honest, i never liked this guy but still, he's a good wrestler