[1972-10-23-WWA] Baron Von Raschke vs Andre The Giant

[Superstar Sleeze]

WWA World Heavyweight Champion Baron Von Raschke vs Andre The Giant - WWA 10/23/72

 A rare full match! TV match it seems from the worlds tiniest wrestling ring. WWA was Dick The Bruiser’s Indianapolis promotion where he was champion for most of the 60s and last champ in 1971. Bruiser did wrestle in St. Louis and AWA around this time. Baron seems like he was the main heel as he was on his third title reign, the first being in 1970. He has Bobby Heenan but before he was the Brain he was the pretty boy. Wilbur Snyder the innovator of the Abdominal Stretch is out to protect Andre because Andre doesn’t speak English. Baron clocks Snyder with brass knuckles before the bell, busting him open this leaning Andre on his own. Of course the gargantuan Andre needs no help. My big takeaway from this match is most Giants are miscast as heels. They should be babyfaces used to bash in your most hated cowardly scoundrel to roaring applause. Omos, the dude with Apollo Crews and Satam Singh would all benefit from babyface runs at the outset of their career to establish them as forces of nature and only later turn them heel to feed then to the Ace Babyface. Andre is a lot of fun to watch at this point. It is a lot of the Andre staple spots. Stepping and standing on his opponent is always impressive. Surprised Baron got a kick out after a backbreaker. Heenan trips Andre. Baron takes the eyes. Snyder recovers and applies the Abdominal Stretch twice but Heenan breaks it up. On third one, Andre chases Heenan off to a roaring crowd.

Not a great match but a cool historical curiosity.