Dr. Roller and Zbyszko Battle to Draw

On Tuesday, March 22, 1910, Dr. Benjamin Roller met Stanislaus Zbyszko in a legitimate wrestling match.  Professional wrestling would transition from legitimate contest to staged exhibition between 1910 and 1920.

Dr. Benjamin Roller graduated from the University of Pennsylvania by playing professional football.  Roller accepted an academic appointment in physiology where he assisted in the writing of a textbook.

Dr. Roller started professional wrestling in 1908 to assist him in traveling the world and increasing his medical knowledge by consulting the world’s foremost experts.  Roller won his first match and would win more matches than he lost throughout his career.  Roller stood 6’00” and weighed 200 pounds.

Stanislaus Zbyszko graduated college also.  Born Stanislaw Cyganiewicz, Zbyszko excelled in both athletic and intellectual pursuits.  Zbyszko stood only 5’08” but weighed a powerful 260 pounds.  Zbyszko turned these physical advantages into a successful Greco-Roman wrestling career.

In 1906, Zbyszko came to the wrestling public’s attention by winning the Paris wrestling tournament.  Zbyszko traveled to America in 1909 to challenge Frank Gotch.

Although he would lose to Gotch, Zbyszko became World Wrestling Champion during the exhibition era by legitimately defeating limited performer “Big” Wayne Munn.  Zbyszko agreed to lose to Munn but then double crossed the promoters and defeated the over-matched former football player.

After his failed attempt at Gotch’s title, Zbyszko continued to campaign for a rematch over the next several years.  Zbyszko challenged Roller because a victory over a competent grappler would give him a greater opportunity at securing another title shot.

The resulting match lasted two hours and 17 minutes without a fall.  Dr. Roller pressed Zbyszko early with toeholds and headlocks.  Zbyszko used his great strength to repel these attacks.

In the second hour, Zbyszko began to push the pace as Roller was visibly tiring.  At the two hour mark, Roller’s supporter and second Jack Curley stated that they would accept a draw.  Zbyszko refused.

After another 17 minutes, the Kansas City police ordered an end to the match and event.  Roller and Zbyszko split the $7,000 purse.  So why do I believe this match was legitimate?

 First, if the men were setting up a future match, they would not have wrestled for 2 hours and 17 minutes.  Most set-up bouts during the legitimate era were 30 minutes to an hour.

Second, both men used dirty tactics during the bout.  If they were setting up a bout, they would have agreed on no rough stuff before the contest.

Third, $7,000 would not be riding on a staged bout.  In today’s dollars, it would be comparable to the payout of a UFC pay-per-view main event.

Dr. Roller would retire in 1918 when wrestling matches moved to staged exhibitions.  Stanislaus Zbyszko would make the transition to exhibitions until 1928 when he retired at 50 years of age.

What do you think about this bout?  Was it legitimate?  Why or why not? You can leave a comment or ask a question about this or any post on my Facebook page and Twitter profile.

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