Wladek Zbyszko

Władysław Cyganiewicz (November 20, 1891 – June 10, 1968), better known by the ring name Władek Zbyszko (Polish: [ˈvwadɛk ˈzbɨʂkɔ]), was a Polish catch wrestler, professional wrestler and strongman. "Zbyszko" was his older brother Stanislaus's childhood nickname, borrowed from a fictional medieval knight in the novel Krzyżacy; both brothers used it as their ring name.

Wladek Zbyszko
Wladek Zbyszko in 1918
Birth nameWładysław Cyganiewicz
Born(1891-11-20)November 20, 1891[1]
Kraków, Austria-Hungary[1] (now Poland)
DiedJune 10, 1968(1968-06-10) (aged 76)[1]
Savannah, Missouri, United States[1]
FamilyStanislaus Zbyszko (brother)[1]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Great Apollo
Wladek Cyganiewicz
Wladek Zbyszko
Billed weight225 lb (16 st 1 lb; 102 kg)[2]
Trained byStanislaus Zbyszko
Retired1950

Personal life

Władysław Cyganiewicz was born in 1891 in Kraków, Poland. He studied at the University of Krakow and would later receive a degree in Law from the University of Vienna.[1] Besides his exploits in the ring he was also considered an excellent pianist.[1]

Professional wrestling career

Cyganiewicz followed his other brother Stanislaus Zbyszko into a career in professional wrestling adopting the "Zbyszko" surname as his ring name. He began his career in Europe but emigrated to the United States of America in the 1910s, where he was billed as the "Youngest European Champion" ever.[2] He made his American debut on January 17, 1913 in Chicago defeating his opponent, Alexander Angeloff, in short order. On January 8, 1917 Zbyszko defeated Ed "Strangler" Lewis to win the American Heavyweight Championship, considered one of the original nationally recognized championships in professional wrestling.[3] Zbyszko claimed the Boston version of the AWA World Heavyweight Championship after defeating the champion Ed Lewis in one fall on June 5, 1917.[4]

After the match Zbyszko claimed to be the champion while Lewis disputed that claim.[4] On July 4, 1917 in Boston he lost to Lewis, only to defeat him again on December 22, 1917 in New York to further his claim to the championship, a claim also made by Joe Stecher and Lewis.[4] Zbyszko lost his version of the World Heavyweight Championship to Earl Caddock on February 8, 1918 in Des Moines, and lost again to Ed Lewis on May 19, 1918 to end his claim to the championship.[4] Wladek Zbyszko was still billed as the American Heavyweight Champion as late as September 22, 1922 after which that title was abandoned in lieu of various "World" Championships.[3] Over the years the Zbyszko brothers would toured both through Europe as well as South America, at times bringing with them a troupe of American wrestlers to put on shows.[1]

During one such tour of Brazil, Zbyszko had a match against Hélio Gracie on July 28, 1934, which went to a draw.[5] Historian Dave Meltzer described the bout as "one of the most famous matches in Brazil of that era, and a key in the building of the Gracie legacy. It is unknown whether the match was a work, a shoot, or something in between."[5] Zbyszko faced Helio's brother George Gracie on October 6, 1934 in a "similar style match";[5] that resulted in Zbyszko defeating George Gracie by armlock.[6] Zybszko wrestled as late as 1950 before retiring to a farm in Savannah, Missouri.[1] He died on June 10, 1968, aged 76.

Championships and accomplishments

References
  1. Luce, Don. "Wladek Zbyszko". Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 6, 2015.
  2. "Europe's Youngest Champion Wladek Cyganiewicz Zbyszko". New York City: Department of Records. Retrieved April 6, 2015.
  3. Royal Duncan and Gary Will (2000). "American Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  4. Royal Duncan and Gary Will (2000). "Boston: American Wrestling Association World Heavyweight title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  5. "Wrestling Observer Newsletter, September 27, 2010". Wreslting Observer. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  6. "Karol Nowina Biography", World Submission Wrestling Federation (WSWF)
  7. "American Heavyweight Title history". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved April 6, 2015.
  8. Meltzer, Dave (October 25, 2010). "Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Campbell, CA: 19–25. ISSN 1083-9593.
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