Sports · Combat Sports · 1 hr ago
Baron von Raschke, 86, sets record as oldest man in a wrestling match
Baron von Raschke competed in a wrestling match at age 86 over the weekend in LaSalle, Illinois.
The former American Wrestling Association star had been booked to sign autographs at Dreamwave Wrestling’s Halloween event.
Event organizer Sidney Bakabella persuaded him to join a gauntlet match, in which wrestlers enter one at a time.
Von Raschke entered at number 10 and used his claw hold to eliminate Bakabella and Jordan Cross, winning the match.
It was his first match in 30 years; his previous one was in 1996.
The match made him the oldest man known to compete in a wrestling match, surpassing the previous men’s record of 84.
Mae Young holds the overall record: she competed at age 87 in a 2010 match.
Baron von Raschke competed in a wrestling match at age 86, setting a record as the oldest man to do so.
He wrestled at Dreamwave Wrestling’s Sidney Bakabella Halloween Gauntlet Extravaganza in LaSalle, Illinois.
Von Raschke entered at number 10, used the claw on Sidney Bakabella and Jordan Cross, and eliminated them to win.
It was his first match in 30 years, with his previous match in 1996.
- Who
- Baron von Raschke, age 86.
- What
- He competed in a wrestling match and became the oldest man to do so.
- When
- Over the weekend before the article was published on October 12, 2026.
- Where
- Dreamwave Wrestling’s event in LaSalle, Illinois.
- Why
- Sidney Bakabella came up with the idea of putting him in the match, and pushed for it.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
So here is the story on the return of THE BARON this weekend.
Von Raschke, who is 86, was booked to sign autographs.
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.
Von Raschke’s previous match took place.
Von Raschke competed in the Dreamwave Wrestling match and won.
- Age
- 86
- Event
- Sidney Bakabella Halloween Gauntlet Extravaganza
- Location
- LaSalle, Illinois
- Entry number
- 10
- Previous match
- 1996
Sources
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