Jim Raschke
2021After 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.
The Second Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament
Jim Crockett Jr.
Ric Flair, Barry Windham
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
WWE SummerSlam 1988
Vince McMahon
Randy Poffo, Hulk Hogan
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
NWA Starrcade 1986
Ric Flair, Scott Simpson
Only one team will survive the "Night of The Skywalkers" as The Road Warriors and The 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 and so much more!
NWA Starrcade '86: The Night of The Sky-Walkers
The First Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament
Bill Watts, Jim Crockett Jr.
Ric Flair, Virgil Runnels
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
WCW Slamboree 1993
Eric Bischoff
Leon White, Davey Boy Smith
Slamboree 1993: A Legends' Reunion was the first annual Slamboree professional wrestling pay-per-view produced by WCW. It took place on May 23, 1993 at The Omni in Atlanta, Georgia. A "Legends Ceremony" occurred at the event, and introduced several legends. The WCW Hall of Fame induction ceremony also occurred, and Lou Thesz, Mr. Wrestling II, Verne Gagne, and Eddie Graham were the inductees. The PPV also saw the reformation of the Four Horsemen, now consisting of Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Ole Anderson, and new member Paul Roma. The main event was Big Van Vader defending the WCW World Heavyweight Title against Davey Boy Smith. Barry Windham defended the NWA World Heavyweight Title against Arn Anderson and The Hollywood Blondes defended the NWA & WCW World Tag Team Championships against Dos Hombres in a steel cage match.
WCW Slamboree 1993
Wrestling's Living Legend Bruno Sammartino
Bruno Sammartino, Freddie Blassie
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
Mad Dog Vachon: Wrestling with the Past
John Dolin
Maurice Vachon, Paul Vachon
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
AWA StarCage
Verne Gagne
Robert Remus, Bill Eadie
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
Grand Masters of Wrestling: First Blood Vol. 2
Killer Kowalski, James Reiher
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
Back To The Territories: Indianapolis
Jim Raschke
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
AWA SuperClash IV
Verne Gagne
Del Wilkes, Tom Boric
SuperClash IV was the fourth and final SuperClash professional wrestling Supercard event promoted by the American Wrestling Association (AWA) and was held at the Saint Paul Civic Center in St. Paul, Minnesota on April 8, 1990. In September 2019 the event was added to the WWE Network as a hidden gem.
AWA SuperClash IV
