The Claw!

Posted on Sunday, May 1st, 2022 by John Wood
The year was 1967 and a mild-mannered and soft-spoken fellow from Nebraska, Jim Raschke, was trying to break into the wrestling business. Like many wrestlers who are starting out, Raschke was still trying to figure out what kind of wrestler he would be… Fortune was smiling on the young wrestler when he crossed paths with the legendary Maurice “Mad Dog” Vachon, who took one look at the young Nebraskan, shaved his head, and dubbed him “Baron Von Raschke” … from the Republic of Germany.

The change was immediate, almost uncanny, like Jekyll and Hyde from those who saw it, no longer a timid Nebraskan, “The Baron” was now a force to be reckoned with in the ring as well as behind the microphone. “Dat is all da People need to know!”

Baron Von Raschke’s main weapon in the ring was “The Claw!” — a grip so strong that anyone he slapped it on had no choice but to submit.

The Baron “officially” retired in 1996 … but every great wrestler makes at least one come back, and in November, 2021, Raschke made an appearance with All Elite Wrestling at its Full Gear pay-per-view putting “The Claw” on Ethan Page!

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Author: John Wood

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