Baron von Raschke Biography

James Donald Raschke (born October 17, 1940 in Omaha, Nebraska) is a retired professional wrestler best known as Baron von Raschke.

Career

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 the name of Jim Raschke, 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. His most memorable quote came at the end of an interview during which - running out of time before the next match and not fully hearing the question - he simply blurted out, "Dat is all da people need to know!".

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 of the blood it would draw when applied. In 1978, he 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.

In 1986, he wrestled for the NWA's Jim Crockett Promotions, reuniting with former tag partner Paul Jones (who was now a manager) as part of Paul Jones' Army. He also filled in for the injured Krusher Khruschev, defending the NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship with Ivan and Nikita Koloff.

He had a brief stint in the World Wrestling Federation in 1988 as the manager for The Barbarian and The Warlord (The Powers of Pain) under the name of The Baron, but was released shortly after his arrival, reportedly due to WWF management being bothered by how such a "dark" heel character was receiving face pops from the crowd.

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 ill-fated 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: A Legend's Reunion in 1993. He teamed with Ivan Koloff, losing to Thunderbolt Patterson and Brad Armstrong.

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, Minnesota. He sold it in 2000.

In April 2007, James Raschke began a several month run at the Minnesota History Theatre in a play based around his life, persona, and times in the AWA. The play details 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.

Championships and accomplishments

Amateur wrestling

• 1958 Nebraska State High School Heavyweight Championship (Omaha North High School)
• 1961 National Collegiate Athletic Association All-American (University of Nebraska)
• 1962 National Collegiate Athletic Association All-American (University of Nebraska)
• 1962 Big Eight Conference Heavyweight Championship (University of Nebraska)
• 1963 World Games Bronze medalist
• 1964 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 – Omaha North High School

Professional wrestling

• American Wrestling Association

• AWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Crusher Lisowski

• Cauliflower Alley Club

• Other honoree (2004)

• Central States Wrestling

• NWA World Tag Team Championship (Central States version) (1 time) – with Maurice Vachon
• NWA North American Tag Team Championship (Central States version) (1 Time) – with Harley Race

• Championship Wrestling from Florida

• NWA Florida Television Championship (1 time)

• Georgia Championship Wrestling

• NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• 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)

• Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling

• NWA Television Championship (2 times)
• NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Ivan and Nikita Koloff when Krusher Khruschev was injured

• NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version) (3 times) – with Paul Jones (2) and Greg Valentine (1)

• NWA Big Time Wrestling

• NWA American Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Texas version) (1 time)

• Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame

• Class of 2013

• Pro Wrestling America

• PWA Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Ken Patera (1) and Brad Rheingans (1)

• 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

• World Wrestling Association

• WWA World Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
• WWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Ernie Ladd

• Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards

• Worst Tag Team (1984) with The Crusher

• Other titles

• NSW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Tommy Jammer