Jim Raschke

Acting

Jim Raschke

Born 1940-10-18 · Omaha, Nebraska, USA

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.

Acting credits

The Second Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament poster
NR

The second Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament was held over two nights, April 10 and 11, 1987. The tournament included 24 tag teams.

The Second Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament

1987

The First Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament poster
10.0

The first Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament was held on April 19, 1986. The tournament featured 24 tag teams.

The First Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament

1986

No artwork available
NR

Truly in a class by himeself! Once Bruno on the mat - watch out! Relive some of Bruno Sammartino's greatest moments, including encounters with Roddy Piper, Paul Orndorff, and much more.

Wrestling's Living Legend Bruno Sammartino

1986

WWE: The Spectacular Legacy of the AWA poster
8.6

The AWA launched hundreds of careers, including Ric Flair, the Road Warriors and more; reliving the rise of the American Wrestling Association to its ultimate end, carving an unforgettable legacy in the annals of sports-entertainment history.

WWE: The Spectacular Legacy of the AWA

2006

WWE SummerSlam 1988 poster
7.3

WWE SummerSlam was the first annual SummerSlam professional wrestling pay-per-view event. It was produced by the World Wrestling Federation and took place on August 29, 1988 in Madison Square Garden, located in New York, New York. The PPV was created to help the company compete against rival promotion World Championship Wrestling. It was one of the first four annual pay-per-view events produced by the WWF. The main match of the preliminary bouts was the WWF Intercontinental Championship match between The Ultimate Warrior and the reigning champion The Honky Tonk Man. The Ultimate Warrior won the match in approximately thirty seconds to end the longest Intercontinental Championship reign. The main event was a match pitting The Mega Powers (Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage) against their long-time rivals, The Mega Bucks (Ted DiBiase and André the Giant). Hogan and Savage won the match after Miss Elizabeth distracted the special guest referee by removing her skirt to reveal a bikini bottom.

WWE SummerSlam 1988

1988

No artwork available
NR

February 24, 1985 at The Meadowlands in East Rutherford, New Jersey

PWUSA Star Wars

1985

NWA Starrcade 1986 poster
7.5

Only one team will survive the "Night of the Skywalkers" as The Road Warriors and Midnight Express clash high atop a 25 foot scaffold! Ric Flair defends the NWA World Heavyweight Championship against The Russian Nightmare Nikita Koloff. The Rock 'n' Roll Express defend the NWA Tag Team Championship against Ole & Arn Anderson in a Steel Cage Match.

NWA Starrcade 1986

1986

NWA The Great American Bash '86 Tour: Greensboro poster
NR

The World Heavyweight Championship hangs in the balance as WWE Hall of Famers Ric Flair and Dusty Rhodes clash inside a steel cage.

NWA The Great American Bash '86 Tour: Greensboro

1986

AWA Super Clash poster
7.9

AWA Super Clash '85 – The Night of Champions was the first Super Clash professional wrestling supercard event promoted by the American Wrestling Association (AWA). It was billed as AWA's flagship supercard, their biggest event of the year. The event was held at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Illinois on September 28, 1985, only a few months after WrestleMania, which was promoted by rival WWE promotion. The show drew a paid attendance of 20,347, although it was announced as 25,000. Super Clash – Night of Champions was one of the co-promotional efforts by the AWA, National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) to compete with WWE's increasing national presence and popularity. The jointly promoted venture was known as Pro Wrestling USA.

AWA Super Clash

1985

NWA The Great American Bash '86 Tour: Charlotte poster
NR

Ric Flair puts the World Heavyweight Championship on the line against Ricky Morton in a Steel Cage Match as the Bash rolls into Charlotte.

NWA The Great American Bash '86 Tour: Charlotte

1986

No artwork available
NR

All your favorite AWA stars in action on Christmas night.

AWA Christmas Show 1984

1984

AWA SuperClash IV poster
10.0

Masa Saito puts the AWA World Heavyweight Championship on the line against Larry Zbyszko and much more action in this rarely seen supercard.

AWA SuperClash IV

1990

The Wrestling Queen poster
7.3

This documentary is a must have for "old school" wrestling fans! It's loosely focused on the career of 23 year old Vivian Vachon during her first professional tour, and the wrestling legends she shares the ring with. Through interviews with wrestling superstars, the promoters, the fans, and the critics, Wrestling Queen will give you a snapshot of a rarely seen part of 70’s culture, along with a healthy dose of wrestling nostalgia!

The Wrestling Queen

1973

The Claw poster
10.0

A documentary about legendary wrestler and all around supervillain Baron von Raschke by director Philip Harder.

The Claw

2021

No artwork available
NR

April 19, 1985 at The Meadowlands in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

PWUSA Mayhem at The Meadowlands

1985

No artwork available
NR

Beloved promoter Sam Muchnick says farewell to the sport of kings in St. Louis with an All-Star card!

NWA Sam Muchnick Retirement Show

1982

WCW Slamboree 1993 poster
10.0

Join the stars of yesterday and today for this star-studded spectacular. Davey Boy Smith challenges Big Van Vader for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. Barry Windham defends the NWA World Championship against Arn Anderson. Dory Funk Jr. takes on Nick Bockwinkel. Rick Rude & Paul Orndorff face Dustin Rhodes & Kensuke Sasaki.

WCW Slamboree 1993

1993

AWA Christmas Night 1983 poster
NR

The American Wrestling Association is live from the St. Paul Civic Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, featuring a main event between AWA World Champion Nick Bockwinkel and Mad Dog Vachon.

AWA Christmas Night 1983

1983

No artwork available
8.5

Pro Wrestling's first all-Cage Match event! featuring King Tonga, Sheik Adnan Al-Kassie & The Masked Superstar vs. Jerry Blackwell & Sgt. Slaughter, Greg Gagne & Verne Gagne vs. Mr. Saito & Nick Bockwinkel and The Road Warriors vs. Larry & Curt Hennig for the AWA World Tag Team Championship and much more!

AWA StarCage

1985

Back To The Territories: Indianapolis poster
10.0

Jim Cornette and a special guest break down the history and legacy of a famous wrestling territory, from its biggest stars and matches to the angles and events that put the promotion on the map and all things in between. For this edition he’s joined by Pro Wrestling Hall of Famer (2013) Baron von Raschke, a three-time WWA World Heavyweight Champion and personal friend of Dick the Bruiser and Wilbur Snyder, to discuss all things WWA Indianapolis.

Back To The Territories: Indianapolis

2016

No artwork available
NR

All your favorite AWA stars compete on Christmas Night

AWA Christmas Show 1983

1983

No artwork available
9.0

A comedic bio pic that traces Mad Dog Vachon's life & career from beginning to present, with an emphasis on hardship, friendship and road stories. Guests include Baron Von Rashke, Moose Morowski, Gene Kiniski, Stu Hart, Promoter Don Owen, Don Leo Jonathon, his brother The Butcher and The Intelligent, Sensational Destroyer.

Mad Dog Vachon: Wrestling with the Past

1999

Grand Masters of Wrestling: First Blood Vol. 2 poster
10.0

The stars of pro-wrestling are out and they're ready to pummel anyone who steps in the ring. You" be screaming and cheering for your favorites such as King Kong Bundy, Iron Mike Sharp, and Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka. Watch exciting matches as well as exclusive behind-the-scenes interviews you can't find anywhere else!

Grand Masters of Wrestling: First Blood Vol. 2

2006