Baron Von Raschke Discusses The Bizarre Wrestling Name He Almost Used At First And The Person Who Suggested It Submitted by Errol Leigh Farrell on Thursday, July 24, 2008 at 6:50 PM EST
Baron Von Raschke Discusses The Bizarre Wrestling Name He Almost Used At First And The Person Who Suggested It
The man who clawed his way across America has come to the Insanity. Wrestling legend Baron Von Raschke joined ClubWWI.com for a 38 minute shoot interview that talks about all the big moments from his career.
At a time when wrestling was thought to be real by many, Raschke was one of its most hated heels. From irate fans to cheering ones, the Baron has seen them all. Among the many topics he discusses with James Guttman are: Why His 1988 WWF Run Was So Short, The Reason He Thinks He Was Brought In, The Poor Way They Handled His Departure, His Matches Against "Teddy The Wrestling Bear," The Night The Bear Wanted To Eat Bobby Heenan, Why He Tries Not To Watch Today's Wrestling, The Final Days Of The AWA, What Vince McMahon Was Doing At The Time, His Early Opinion Of The Claw, Thoughts On Working With The Young Road Warriors, Crusher, Pat O'Connor, Verne Gagne, and More.
James and Baron also spoke about his wrestling name. It was Mad Dog Vachon, who Baron calls a good friend, who gave it to him. He'd walk by him and say, "You'd make a good German!" One thing lead to another, he headed to Canada and the Baron was born. Guttman then brings up something he had read. Was the original name Vachon wanted to use…Baron Von Pumpkin?
"Yes. He thought that would be a good name. I think there was an old timer with a name like that or he may have been thinking of Von Poppenheim or something. He thought it was a good name – whether he was kidding or not. I don't think he was. But I said, no. I'd rather keep my, at least, my last name...Von Pumpkin was out."
James says that the Baron was lucky. He says, "I can't even imagine if it was the 80s and you had a name like that, what WWF would be sending you over. Gimmicks to come join them dressed as a pumpkin or something." Raschke laughs.
