Jim Raschke
Acting
Biography
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.
Known For
Showcasing incredible in-ring action and unforgettable interviews, this weekly television series features a who's who of WWE Hall of Famers.
NWA World Championship Wrestling
Relive the glory days of the National Wrestling Alliance through Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling's weekly television show.
Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
The American Wrestling Association takes its unique brand of sports-entertainment to locations around the world; these classic AWA events feature the top competitors in the Minnesota-based territory, and many were never broadcast on television.
AWA Arena Shows
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
WCW Arena Shows takes you into the heart of classic professional wrestling, featuring intense matches, fierce rivalries, and unforgettable moments that defined a golden era of the sport.
WCW Arena Shows
Broadcast nationally from the Showboat Hotel in Las Vegas, ESPN Championship Wrestling highlights the very best action found in the AWA. AWA Superstars such as Shawn Michaels, Scott Hall, Nick Bockwinkel and more compete in the ring.
AWA Championship Wrestling
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
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
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
A documentary about legendary wrestler and all around supervillain Baron von Raschke by director Philip Harder.
The Claw
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
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
From the Showboat Casino in Las Vegas, AWA Superstars is a weekly television series featuring the legends of the AWA competing in the ring.
AWA Superstars
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
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
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
February 24, 1985 at The Meadowlands in East Rutherford, New Jersey
PWUSA Star Wars
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
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
The first Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament was held on April 19, 1986. The tournament featured 24 tag teams.