James Raschke

James Donald Raschke was a professional wrestler best known as Baron Von Raschke.

Career

James Raschke started in 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, the claw on his opponent.

He wrestled for the NWA's Jim Crockett Promotions and won the NWA World Tag Team Titles with Paul Jones and later on was a member of Paul Jones' Army. He also filled in for the injured Krusher Khruschev in the NWA World Six-Man Championship with Ivan and Nikita Koloff.

He was briefly in the WWF in 1988 as the manager for The Barbarian and The Warlord (The Powers of Pain) under the name of The Baron.

Raschke retired in 1994.

Profile

• Height: 6'3"
• Weight: 270 lbs
• Birthday: 1939
• Hometown: Omaha, Nebraska
• Trained by: Verne Gagne, Maurice Vachon
• Professional debut: 1966
• Previous Identities: Baron von Raschke, The Baron, The Clawmaster, Jim Raschke
• Finishing/Signature Move(s): The Iron Claw
• Previous Managers: Paul Jones, Bobby Heenan

Championships/Accomplishments

National Wrestling Alliance

• 3-time NWA World Tag Team Champion (with Paul Jones twice and Greg Valentine once)
• 1-time NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Champion (with Ivan & Nikita Koloff)
• 1-time NWA American Heavyweight Champion
• 1-time NWA Mid Atlantic Television Champion
• 2-time NWA Television Champion
• 1-time NWA Georgia Heavyweight Champion
• 1-time NWA Florida Television Champion
• 1-time NWA Central States Tag Team Champion (with Maurice Vachon)

American Wrestling Association

• 1-time AWA World Tag Team Champion (with The Crusher)

Other Titles

• 4-time WWA Heavyweight Champion
• 1-time WWA Tag Team Champion (with Ernie Ladd)
• 2-time PWA Tag Team Champion (with Ken Patera and Brad Rheingans)
• 1-time IWA International Heavyweight Champion
• 1-time NSW Tag Team Champion (with Tommy Jammer)

Pro Wrestling Illustrated

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) ranked him # 306 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003.