Julian Radbourne sent in the latest edition of The Two Sheds Review, this one being an interview.
THE TWO SHEDS INTERVIEW by Julian Radbourne
E-mail: twosheds316@aol.com
Website: www.twoshedsreview.com
When you talk about wrestling halls of fame, you have to talk about Baron Von Raschke. An outstanding amateur wrestler who won titles at a national level, he almost competed in the 1964 Olympics had it not been for injury. Entering the professional ranks in 1966, the Baron terrorized opponents and fans all over America until his retirement in the early nineties. I had the opportunity to catch up with the Baron for this interview recently.
Julian Radbourne (JR): Thank you for taking the time out of your schedule for this interview. Lets star with some background information, where your from, that sort of thing.
Baron Von Raschke (BVR): I was raised in Omaha, Nebraska.
JR: How did you get interested in professional wrestling, and who were your favourites back then?
BVR: In the army, I needed knee surgery. The guy in the next bed, John Cunningham, liked to watch professional wrestling on TV, and that got me thinking that it might be something I would be able to do. At the time, I wasn’t a fan, so had no favorites.
JR: I understand that you were quite the athlete during your younger days. What sports did you take part in, and how well did you do?
BVR: I played football and wrestled at the high school and college levels. Check my website at www.baronvonraschke.com for all the information about my history.
JR: When did you decide that you wanted to become a professional wrestler, and how did you go about finding a trainer?
BVR: In 1966, while in the hospital with knee surgery. I wrote to Joe Dusek, the promoter in Omaha.
JR: How hard, or easy, was the training?
BVR: Joe Dusek introduced me to Vern Gagne and I went to Minnesota, where Vern broke me in to pro wrestling. It was very strenuous, but, due to my amateur wrestling background I enjoyed it.
JR: How long did you train before your first professional match?
BVR: Two months.
JR: What were your thoughts and feelings going into that bout, and how would you rate your performance that night?
BVR: I was nervous and actually my first match, according to other wrestlers, was very good.
JR: You didn’t actually become Baron Von Raschke until about a year into your career. How did you come up with the gimmick?
BVR: Mad Dog Vachon suggested that I use the name “Baron Von Pumpkin”. I said, “No thanks, I’ll stick with my name, but we can add ‘baron’ if you like”. What gimmick?
JR: You competed all over America during the heyday of the territorial system. What companies did you wrestle for, and how did these companies compare to each other?
BVR: They were all the same, but at the same time they were all different. I was just a wrestler doing my thing. I adjusted to any small differences.
JR: You’ve also competed around the world, most notably in Europe and Japan. How did competing in abroad compare to wrestling in America?
BVR: Except for cultural differences (the Japanese audiences watched us wrestle, then politely clapped at the end), and different rules (like multiple rounds in Austria), I wrestled the same way I wrestled in the States.
JR: Out of all the companies you’ve worked for, which one was your favorite, and why?
BVR: The Bear Man, Dave McKigny, from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Because he paid the best.
JR: What would you say were your most notable matches during your career?
BVR: I wrestled all the best wrestlers and, hopefully, all of those matches were notable.
JR: Who were your favourite opponents, and why?
BVR: I enjoyed going to work every night–you fill in the blanks for favorites.
JR: No doubt you suffered from your fair share of injuries during your career. Which one was the worst?
BVR: A separated shoulder from Andre the Giant.
JR: Did you ever wrestle in front of a crowd where you actually feared for your own personal safety?
BVR: Yes, in Chicoutimi, Quebec, Canada.
JR: Many of the other wrestlers I’ve interviewed have told me embarrassing stories from their time on the road. Do you have a story or two you’d like to share with us today?
BVR: No, I don’t.
JR: When did you officially retire as an active professional wrestler, and how hard was it to come to that decision?
BVR: 1992. It wasn’t that difficult a decision, because both my body and my wife (Mrs. Claw) were telling me to quit.
JR: When you look back on your career as a professional wrestler, do you have any regrets?
BVR: No regrets.
JR: Is there anyone you would have liked to wrestle during your career that you didn’t?
BVR: No.
JR: What projects have you undertaken since your retirement?
BVR: Mrs. Claw and I owned a gift shop for a while, and are continually learning to be grandparents.
JR: What is your opinion of the wrestling business today?
BVR: I wouldn’t let my kids watch it.
JR: I’m afraid time is against us, so lets start to wrap things up with some information on where fans can see you in the upcoming weeks and months, and how they can contact you via the Internet.
BVR: After typing in www.baronvonraschke.com, click on the icon “bookings”.
JR: Any final words for your fans?
BVR: Da Baron loves ya. Dat is all da people need to know!
JR: Baron Von Raschke, its been an honour and a pleasure talking to you. Good luck with your many projects.
