Sports · Combat Sports · 5 hrs ago
Baron Von Raschke, 86, returns to the ring after 30 years
Baron Von Raschke returned to wrestling at age 86, competing in a match in LaSalle, Illinois.
It was his first match in 30 years; he retired from in-ring competition in 1996.
He began wrestling in 1966 and became known for his work in the AWA and NWA Mid-Atlantic territories.
He also headlined Madison Square Garden against Bruno Sammartino in 1977.
In the gauntlet match, he eliminated Sidney Bakabella and Jordan Kross to win.
The match made him the oldest male wrestler to compete in a match, surpassing the previous record held by Kendo Nagasaki, who wrestled at 84 in November 2025.
Mae Young holds the overall record: she competed at age 87 in 2010.
No further matches or plans are mentioned.
Baron Von Raschke, 86, returned to in-ring competition for the first time in 30 years at a Dreamwave Wrestling event.
He won the Sidney Bakabella Halloween Gauntlet Extravaganza in LaSalle, Illinois.
Von Raschke entered at number 10 and eliminated Sidney Bakabella and Jordan Kross with his claw hold.
The return set a record as the oldest male wrestler to compete in a match, according to Wrestlezone.
He retired from in-ring competition in 1996 after making his debut in 1966.
- Who
- Baron Von Raschke, an 86-year-old wrestling legend, competed in the match.
- What
- He returned to the ring after 30 years and won a gauntlet match.
- When
- Over the weekend before the article was published on October 12, 2026.
- Where
- Dreamwave Wrestling’s event in LaSalle, Illinois.
- Why
- He had been booked to sign autographs, but Sidney Bakabella proposed that he join the match and persuaded him to agree.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Von Raschke made his in-ring debut for the AWA after training under Verne Gagne.
He retired from in-ring competition.
He returned to the ring at Dreamwave Wrestling’s Halloween gauntlet event and won the match.
- Age
- 86
- Return match
- Sidney Bakabella Halloween Gauntlet Extravaganza
- Location
- LaSalle, Illinois
- Entry position
- Number 10
- Last in-ring match before return
- 1996
What people are saying
Von Raschke, who is 86, was booked to sign autographs. Bakabella came up with the idea of having him in the match and pushed all day, and Baron eventually agreed
I believe they did order of entry, Baron was number 10, and he put the claw on Bakabella and Jordan Cross and eliminated them to win
Apparently he had the time of his life and looked like a kid again
Sources
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