a.jpg) Zbyszko in 1918 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | Władysław Cyganiewicz (1892-11-30)November 30, 1892[2] |
| Died | June 10, 1968(1968-06-10) (aged 76)[2] Savannah, Missouri, U.S.[2] |
| Alma mater | University of Krakow University of Vienna |
| Family | Stanislaus Zbyszko (brother)[2] |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Great Apollo Władek Cyganiewicz Władek Zbyszko |
| Billed weight | 225 lb (16 st 1 lb; 102 kg)[1] |
| Trained by | Stanislaus Zbyszko |
| Debut | 1911 |
| Retired | 1950 |
Władysław Cyganiewicz (November 30, 1892 – June 10, 1968), better known by the ring nameWładek Zbyszko (Polish:[ˈvwadɛkˈzbɨʂkɔ]), was a Polishcatch wrestler,professional wrestler andstrongman. "Zbyszko" was his older brotherStanislaus Zbyszko's childhood nickname, borrowed from a fictional medieval knight in the novelKrzyżacy; both brothers used it as theirring name.
Władysław Cyganiewicz was born in 1892 in theGrand Duchy of Kraków, then part ofAustria-Hungary. He studied at theUniversity of Krakow and would later receive a degree in law from theUniversity of Vienna.[2] Besides his exploits in the ring he was also considered an excellent pianist.[2]
Cyganiewicz followed his other brotherStanislaus Zbyszko into a career inprofessional wrestling adopting the "Zbyszko" surname as hisring 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.[1] He made his American debut on January 17, 1913 inChicago defeating his opponent, Alexander Angeloff, in short order. On January 8, 1917, Zbyszko defeatedEd "Strangler" Lewis to win theAmerican Heavyweight Championship, considered one of the original nationally recognized championships in professional wrestling.[3] Zbyszko claimed the Boston version of theAWA 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 byJoe Stecher and Lewis.[4] Zbyszko lost his version of the World Heavyweight Championship toEarl 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] Zbyszko lost toGobar Guha on June 20, 1921 inSt. Louis.[5]
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.[2]
During one such tour of Brazil, Zbyszko had a match againstHélio Gracie on July 28, 1934, which went to a draw.[6] HistorianDave 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 awork, ashoot, or something in between."[6] Zbyszko faced Helio's brother George Gracie on October 6, 1934 in a "similar style match";[6] that resulted in Zbyszko defeating George Gracie byarmlock.[7] Zybszko wrestled as late as 1950 before retiring to a farm inSavannah, Missouri.[2] He died on June 10, 1968, aged 76.
