View source for Baron von Raschke

{{short description|American professional and amateur wrestler}}
{{Infobox professional wrestler
| name        = Baron von Raschke
| birthname   = James Donald Raschke<ref name=HeelsBook>{{cite book |author=Greg Oliver |author2=Steve Johnson |name-list-style=amp |title=the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame - The Heels |publisher=ECW Press |year=2007 |chapter=Baron von Raschke |pages=391–394 |isbn=978-1-55022-759-8}}</ref>
| image       = Baron von Raschke, circa July 1985.jpg 
| caption     = Raschke, circa 1985
| alma_mater  = [[University of Nebraska–Lincoln]]
| names       = The Baron<ref name=HeelsBook/><br>Baron von Raschke<ref name=HeelsBook/><br>The Clawmaster<ref name=HeelsBook/><br>Fritz von Raschke<br>Jim Raschke<ref name=HeelsBook/>
| height      = 6 ft 3 in<ref name=Encyclopedia/>
| weight      = 281 lb<ref name=Encyclopedia/>
| birth_date  = {{birth date and age|1940|10|17}}
| birth_place = [[Omaha, Nebraska]], U.S.
| billed      = [[West Germany|Republic of Germany]]<ref name=HeelsBook/><ref name=Encyclopedia/>
| trainer     = [[Verne Gagne]]<ref name=HeelsBook/><br />[[Maurice Vachon|Mad Dog Vachon]]<ref name=HeelsBook/>
| debut       = 1966<ref name=HeelsBook/>
| retired     = 1996<ref name=HeelsBook/>
}}{{Use American English|date=February 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}{{MedalTableTop|name=|image=|imagesize=|alt=|caption=}}
{{MedalSport | Men's [[Greco-Roman wrestling]]}}
{{MedalCountry | the {{USA}} }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[World Wrestling Championships|World Championships]]}}
{{MedalBronze | [[1963 World Wrestling Championships|1963 Helsingborg]]|+97 kg}}
{{MedalSport | [[Collegiate wrestling|Collegiate Wrestling]]}}
{{MedalCountry | the [[Nebraska Cornhuskers wrestling|Nebraska Cornhuskers]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Big Eight Conference|Big Eight Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold | 1962 Ames| Heavyweight}}
{{MedalBottom}}

'''James Donald Raschke''' (born October 17, 1940) is an American retired [[professional wrestling|professional wrestler]], better known by his [[ring name]], '''Baron von Raschke'''.{{Professional wrestling sidebar}}

== Early life ==
Raschke was a three-year [[Letterman (sports)|letterman]] with the [[Nebraska Cornhuskers wrestling|University of Nebraska–Lincoln Cornhuskers wrestling team]] in 1960, 1961 and 1962. He is listed in the university's wrestling media guide as Jim Raschke.<ref>[https://s3.amazonaws.com/huskers.com/documents/2021/11/4/2021_22_Wrestling_Media_Guide.pdf University of Nebraska–Lincoln Wrestling 2021&ndash;22 Media Guide (scroll down to page 99).] Retrieved March 8, 2022.</ref> He also played [[gridiron football|football]] for the Cornhuskers as a [[left tackle]] in 1959 and 1960.<ref name=Cornhuskers>{{cite web | url=https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/jim-raschke/23413 | title=Jim Raschke  | access-date=April 26, 2022 | work=[[Huskers.com]]}}</ref> After a successful amateur wrestling career and a stint in the [[United States Army]], Raschke pursued a career in professional wrestling.

== Professional wrestling career ==
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.<ref name=HeelsBook/> 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.<ref name=HeelsBook/> 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!"

[[File:Baron von Raschke - Wrestling Annual - June 1975.jpg|thumb|left|Raschke in 1975]]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.<ref name=HeelsBook/> 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).<ref name=NWATV/>
In May 1984, Raschke and [[The Crusher (wrestler)|The Crusher]] defeated [[Jerry Blackwell]] and [[Ken Patera]] for the [[AWA World Tag Team Championship]].<ref name="Titles"/> They would lose the belts in August of that same year to [[The Road Warriors]].<ref name="Titles"/>

In 1986, he wrestled for the [[National Wrestling Alliance|NWA]]'s [[Jim Crockett Promotions]] where he reunited with former tag partner [[Paul Jones (wrestler)|Paul Jones]] (who was now a manager) as part of [[Paul Jones' Army]].<ref name=WCW8388Book>{{cite book | first=Graham | last=Cawthon | title=the History of Professional Wrestling Vol 3:Jim Crockett and the NWA World Title 1983-1989 | publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | year= 2013 |isbn=978-1494803476}}</ref> He also filled in for the injured [[Barry Darsow|Krusher Khruschev]], defending the [[NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship]] with [[Ivan Koloff|Ivan]] and [[Nikita Koloff]].<ref name=WCW8388Book/> Toward the end of his run there he turned "face" against Jones and teamed with [[Hector Guerrero]] defeating the Barbarian and [[Pez Whatley]] at [[Starrcade (1986)]].<ref name=PWHStarrcade1986>{{cite web | url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/starrcad.html#86 | title=Starrcade 1986 | date=November 27, 1986 | access-date=August 29, 2015 | publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> After teaming with [[Wahoo McDaniel]] at the 1987 [[Crockett Cup]] he left the [[National Wrestling Alliance]].<ref name=WCW8388Book/>

He had a brief stint in the [[WWE|World Wrestling Federation]] in 1988 as the manager for [[The Barbarian (wrestler)|The Barbarian]] and [[The Warlord (wrestler)|The Warlord]] (The [[Powers of Pain]]) under the name of the "Baron",<ref name=Encyclopedia>{{cite book|title=WWE Encyclopedia|last1=Shields|first1=Brian|last2=Sullivan|first2=Kevin|page=[https://archive.org/details/wweencyclopediad0000shie/page/22 22]|publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley|DK]]|year=2009|isbn=978-0-7566-4190-0|url=https://archive.org/details/wweencyclopediad0000shie/page/22}}</ref><ref name=WWF6389Book>{{cite book | first=Graham | last=Cawthon | title=the History of Professional Wrestling Vol 1: WWF 1963 - 1989  | publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | year= 2013 | isbn=978-1492825975}}</ref> but was released shortly after his arrival.<ref name=WWF6389Book/>

Raschke resurfaced in the AWA, returning to the ring to feud with [[Soldat Ustinov]] and [[Teijho Khan]] in late 1988. He then went on to captain "Baron's Blitzers" during the Team Challenge Series. When the AWA folded, Raschke continued to wrestle for independent promotions, primarily in the Minnesota area, retiring in 1995.

Raschke also took part in one of the legends matches at WCW's inaugural [[Slamboree (1993)|Slamboree: A Legend's Reunion]] in 1993. He teamed with [[Ivan Koloff]], losing to [[Thunderbolt Patterson]] and [[Brad Armstrong (wrestler)|Brad Armstrong]].<ref name=WCW8994Book>{{cite book | first=Graham | last=Cawthon | title=the History of Professional Wrestling Vol 4: World Championship Wrestling 1989-1994  | publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | year= 2014 | isbn=978-1499656343}}</ref>

His last match was a victory over David Lynch at Superstars of Wrestling in Princeton, West Virginia on February 10, 1996.

[[Image:Baron Von Raschke by Ryan Bognar.jpg|thumb|upright|Von Raschke in 2019]]
In November 2021, Raschke appeared with [[All Elite Wrestling]] at its [[Full Gear (2021)|Full Gear]] pay-per-view. He was in the crowd for the 10-man street fight between [[The Inner Circle (professional wrestling)|The Inner Circle]] and [[American Top Team]] and put the Iron Claw on [[Ethan Page]].

==Personal life==
When not wrestling, Raschke worked as a substitute teacher. Upon retirement, Raschke purchased and managed a [[bric-a-brac]] shop called "The Wigwam" in [[Lake George Township, Hubbard County, Minnesota|Lake George, Minnesota]]. He sold it in 2000.

==Legacy==
===Stage play: ''The Baron''===
In April 2007, Raschke starred in a stage play, ''The Baron'', based around his life, persona, and times in the AWA. ''The Baron'', co-written by Cory McLeod and Raschke's son Karl, ran for several months at the Minnesota History Theatre. It detailed how a very mild-mannered and polite man created an in-ring gimmick that drew so much heat that he and his frequent tag-team wrestling partner (and real-life friend) [[Mad Dog Vachon]] often had to fight their way out of the ring.<ref name=AVC2007>{{cite news |last=Bahn |first=Christopher |date=2007-04-19 |title=Interview: Baron Von Raschke |url=https://www.avclub.com/interview-baron-von-raschke-1798211725 |work=[[The A.V. Club]] |location= |access-date=2021-05-03 }}</ref><ref name=PP2021>{{cite news |last=Raihala |first=Ross |date=2021-05-01 |title=Pro wrestling vet Jim Raschke grapples with life, legacy in new film 'The Claw' |url=https://www.twincities.com/2021/05/01/jim-baron-von-raschke-the-claw-documentary-wrestling-premiere/ |work=[[St. Paul Pioneer Press]] |location=[[St. Paul, Minnesota]] |access-date=2021-05-03 }}</ref>

===Film documentary: ''The Claw''===
The stage play was later used as the starting point for a film version of Raschke's life and career, ''The Claw''. The film, again written by Karl Raschke, was directed by [[Phil Harder]], a noted director of dozens of music videos, who had first met Raschke when he hired the wrestler to star in a video by Duluth indie-rock band [[Low (band)|Low]]. The film was shot in Minneapolis, with locations including the nightclub [[First Avenue (nightclub)|First Avenue]] (where the wrestling re-enactments were filmed), Mancini's restaurant, and the [[Walker Art Center]]. Begun in 2010, ''The Claw'' took nearly 10 years to complete and made its debut as part of the [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Film Festival]] in 2021. It was hailed as "wildly entertaining" by [[St. Paul Pioneer Press]] critic Ross Raihala.<ref name=PP2021/>

== Championships and accomplishments ==

=== Amateur wrestling ===
**1958 [[Nebraska]] State High School Heavyweight Championship ([[Omaha North High School]])
**1962 [[Big Eight Conference]] Heavyweight Championship (University of Nebraska)
**1963 World Championships [[Bronze medal]]ist in [[Greco-Roman wrestling|Greco-Roman]]
**1964 [[1964 Summer Olympics|Olympic Team]] qualifier
**1964 [[Amateur Athletic Union]] Freestyle Championship
**1964 Amateur Athletic Union Greco-Roman Championship
**1965 Worldwide Interservice Wrestling Championship ([[United States Army]])
**1985 inductee to the Nebraska Scholastic Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame

=== High school football ===
**1957 Nebraska State Championship &ndash; [[Omaha North High School]]

=== Professional wrestling ===
*'''[[American Wrestling Association]]'''
**[[AWA World Tag Team Championship]] ([[List of AWA World Tag Team Champions|1 time]]) &ndash; with [[The Crusher (wrestler)|Crusher Lisowski]]<ref name="Titles">{{cite book | author=Royal Duncan | author2=Gary Will | name-list-style=amp | title=Wrestling Title Histories | publisher=Archeus Communications | year=2006|edition=4th | isbn=0-9698161-5-4 }}</ref>
*'''[[Cauliflower Alley Club]]'''
**Iron Mike Mazurki Award (2018)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.caulifloweralleyclub.org/baron-von-raschke-to-be-honored-this-year/ |title=Baron von Raschke to be Honored This Year &#124; Cauliflower Alley Club |access-date=2017-12-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222053420/http://www.caulifloweralleyclub.org/baron-von-raschke-to-be-honored-this-year/ |archive-date=2017-12-22 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
**Other honoree ([[Cauliflower Alley Club#2004|2004]])
*'''[[Heart of America Sports Attractions|Central States Wrestling]]'''
**[[NWA World Tag Team Championship (Central States version)|NWA World Tag Team Championship ''(Central States version)'']] ([[NWA World Tag Team Championship (Central States version)#Title history|1 time]]) &ndash; with [[Maurice Vachon]]<ref name=CentralTag>{{cite book | author=Royal Duncan | author2=Gary Will | name-list-style=amp | title=Wrestling Title Histories |chapter= (Kansas and Western Missouri) West Missouri: World Tag Team Title| page= 253| publisher=Archeus Communications | year= 2006 | isbn=0-9698161-5-4}}</ref>
**[[NWA North American Tag Team Championship (Central States version)|NWA North American Tag Team Championship ''(Central States version)'']] ([[NWA North American Tag Team Championship (Central States version)#Title history|1 Time]]) &ndash; with [[Harley Race]]<ref name=CentraNATagBook>{{cite book | author=Royal Duncan | author2=Gary Will | name-list-style=amp | title=Wrestling Title Histories |chapter= (Kansas and Western Missouri) West Missouri: North American Tag Team Title| page= 253| publisher=Archeus Communications | year= 2006 | isbn=0-9698161-5-4}}</ref><ref name=CentraNATagWeb>{{cite web | url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/centralstates/nwa/cs-na-t.html | title=NWA North American Tag Team Title (Central States version) | publisher= wrestling-titles.com | access-date=March 24, 2015}}</ref>
*'''[[Championship Wrestling from Florida]]'''
**[[NWA Florida Television Championship]] ([[NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship#Title history|1 time]])<ref name=FloridaTV>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/fl/fl-tv.html|access-date=2008-09-14|title= N.W.A. Florida Television Title|publisher=Wrestling-titles.com}}</ref>
*'''[[George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame]]'''
**Impact Award honoree (2025)
*'''[[Georgia Championship Wrestling]]'''
**[[NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship]] ([[NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship#Title history|1 time]])<ref name=Titles/>
*'''International Wrestling Association'''
**[[IWA International Heavyweight Championship]] (1 time)
*'''International Wrestling Institute and Museum'''
**[[George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame]] (Class of 2002)
*'''[[Jim Crockett Promotions|Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling]]'''
**[[WCW World Television Championship|NWA Television Championship]] ([[List of WCW World Television Champions|2 times]])<ref name=NWATV>{{cite book|author=Gary Will|author2=Royal Duncan|name-list-style=amp|title=Wrestling Title Histories|chapter=(United States: 19th Century & widely defended titles – NWA, WWF, AWA, IW, ECW, NWA) NWA/WCW TV Title|pages=19–20|publisher=Archeus Communications|year=2006|isbn=0-9698161-5-4}}</ref>
**[[NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship#Title history|1 time]]) &ndash; with [[Ivan Koloff|Ivan]] and [[Nikita Koloff]] when [[Barry Darsow|Krusher Khruschev]] was injured
**[[WCW World Tag Team Championship|NWA World Tag Team Championship ''(Mid-Atlantic version)'']] ([[List of WCW World Tag Team Champions|3 times]]) &ndash; with [[Paul Jones (wrestler)|Paul Jones]] (2) and [[Greg Valentine]] (1)<ref name=MidTag>{{Cite web|url=http://www.midatlanticgateway.com/Almanac/mid_a_history/title_status_building.htm#NWA%20World%20Tag|access-date=May 24, 2008|title=Mid-Atlantic Title History (NWA World Tag Team Championship Title History 1975-1978)|publisher=[[Jim Crockett Promotions#Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling|Mid-Atlantic Gateway]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517130305/http://www.midatlanticgateway.com/Almanac/mid_a_history/title_status_building.htm#NWA%20World%20Tag|archive-date=May 17, 2011}}</ref>
*'''NSW'''
**NSW Tag Team Championship (1 time) &ndash; with [[Tommy Jammer]]
*'''[[World Class Championship Wrestling|NWA Big Time Wrestling]]'''
**[[WCWA World Heavyweight Championship|NWA American Heavyweight Championship]] ([[WCWA World Heavyweight Championship#Title history|1 time]])<ref name=TexAmBook>{{cite book |author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will |title=Wrestling Title Histories | publisher=Archeus Communications |chapter = Texas: NWA / World Class American Heavyweight Title [Von Eric]| pages = 265–266 |year= 2000 |isbn=0-9698161-5-4}}</ref><ref name=US-Am>{{cite web | url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tx/wccw/am-h.html | title=NWA United States Heavyweight Title (1967-1968/05) - American Heavyweight Title (1968/05-1986/02) | work=Wrestling-Titles | access-date=December 26, 2019}}</ref>
**[[NWA Texas Hardcore Championship|NWA Brass Knuckles Championship ''(Texas version)'']] ([[NWA Texas Hardcore Championship#Title history|1 time]])<ref name=BrassBook>{{Cite book | author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will | title=Wrestling Title Histories |chapter= (Texas) Dallas: NWA Texas Brass Knuckles Title | page= 271 | publisher=Archeus Communications | year=2006|edition=4th | isbn=0-9698161-5-4}}</ref><ref name=BrassWeb>{{cite web | url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tx/nwa/nwa-tx-bk.html | title=Texas Brass Knucks Title [East Texas] | access-date=December 22, 2019 | work=Wrestling-Titles}}</ref>
*'''[[Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame]]'''
**[[Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame#2013|Class of 2013]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.f4wonline.com/more/more-top-stories/118-daily-updates/28789-mon-update-major-spike-announcement-tomorrow-aces-a-8s-identity-tna-injury-updates-hall-of-fame-inductions-announced-wwe-two-ppvs-this-weekend-jericho-schedule-amateur-wrestling-hits-msg-first-time-ever-|title=Mon. update: Major Spike announcement tomorrow, Aces & 8s identity, TNA injury updates, Hall of Fame inductions announced, WWE two PPVs this weekend, Jericho schedule, Amateur wrestling hits MSG first time ever|date=2012-12-10|last=Meltzer|first=Dave|author-link=Dave Meltzer|access-date=2012-12-10|work=[[Dave Meltzer#Wrestling Observer Newsletter|Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]}}</ref>
*'''[[Pro Wrestling America]]'''
**[[PWA Tag Team Championship (Minnesota)|PWA Tag Team Championship]] (2 times) &ndash; with [[Ken Patera]] (1) and [[Brad Rheingans]] (1)<ref name=PWATag>{{Cite book|author=Gary Will|author2=Royal Duncan|name-list-style=amp|title=Wrestling Title Histories|chapter=(Minnesota) PWA Tag Team Title|publisher=Archeus Communications|year=2000|edition=4th|isbn=0-9698161-5-4}}</ref>
*'''''[[Pro Wrestling Illustrated]]'''''
**PWI ranked him # '''306''' of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the [[PWI Years]] in 2003
*'''[[St. Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame]]'''
**Class of 2009
*'''[[World Wrestling Association (Indianapolis)|World Wrestling Association]]'''
**[[WWA World Heavyweight Championship (Indianapolis version)|WWA World Heavyweight Championship]] ([[WWA World Heavyweight Championship (Indianapolis version)#Title history|3 times]])<ref name=Titles/>
**[[WWA World Tag Team Championship]] ([[WWA World Tag Team Championship#title history|1 time]]) &ndash; with [[Ernie Ladd]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/in/wwa/in-wwa-t.html |title=W.W.A. World Tag Team Title (Indianapolis) |access-date=March 8, 2020|publisher=wrestling-titles.com}}</ref><ref name=F4WMarch7>{{cite web | url=https://www.f4wonline.com/other-wrestling/daily-pro-wrestling-history-0307-bruno-sammartino-vs-giant-baba-305926 | title=Daily Pro Wrestling history (03/07): Bruno Sammartino vs. Giant Baba | work=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]] | first=Brian | last=Hoops | date=March 7, 2020 | access-date=March 8, 2020}}</ref>
*'''''[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]'''''
**[[List of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Worst Tag Team|Worst Tag Team]] (1984) with The Crusher
*'''''[[Nebraska Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame]]'''''
**[[Class of 2018 Inductee]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal||Biography}}
* {{Official website|http://www.baronvonraschke.com}}
* {{IMDb name|1372929|James Raschke}}
* {{professional wrestling profiles}}
* [https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/jim-raschke/23413 Nebraska Cornhuskers profile]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:von Raschke, Baron}}
[[Category:1940 births]]
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