Background
Władysław Cyganiewicz was born in 1891 in Krakow, Galicia, Austria-Hungary, in what is known as Poland.
professional wrestler strongman
Władysław Cyganiewicz was born in 1891 in Krakow, Galicia, Austria-Hungary, in what is known as Poland.
He studied at the University of Krakow and would later receive a degree in Law from the University of Vienna.
He is the brother of Stanislaus Zbyszko. Besides his exploits in the ring he was also considered an excellent pianist. Zbyszko claimed the Boston version of the Aging with Attitude World Heavyweight Championship after defeating the champiob Editor Lewis in one fall on June 5, 1917.
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.
Zbyszko lost his version of the World Heavyweight Championship to Earl Caddock on February 8, 1918 in Des Moines, and lost again to Editor Lewis on May 19, 1918 to end his claim to the championship. 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.
During one such tour of Brazil, Zbyszko had a wrestling match against George Gracie on October 6, 1934, with Zbyszko winning by armlock. The match was George Gracie"s first ever loss in a competitive match.
Zybszko wrestled as late as 1950 before retiring to a farm in Savannah, Missouri.
He died on June 10, 1968, aged 76. American Wrestling Association (Boston)
Aging with Attitude World Heavyweight Championship (Boston version) (2 times, disputed)
Other Titles
American Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
Pioneer Era: Class of 2009
Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame: Class of 2010.