Episode 96 – Wladek, 1913 to 1915

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In this episode, I will be discussing the other Zbyszko, Wladek Zbyszko, and his early days in America between 1913 and 1915.

Update

Divided Championship is now available on Amazon in e-book, audiobook, paperback, and hardcover.

Website update

Roman Reigns is back in WWE and looks to be reunited with his cousin Jey against Bron Breaker and Bronson Reed.

Comparing “Hangman” Adam Page to Magnum T.A.

AJ Francis accident at TNA Slammiversary.

Main Content

Depending on the sources, Wladek Zbyszko was born in Jodlowa, near Krakow, Poland on November 20, 1891. Poland was part of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire at the time, so he was technically born in Jodlowa, Austria-Hungary.

Wladek wrestled in Europe, while his older brother Stanislaus Zbyszko, born in 1880, wrestled in the United States beginning in late 1909. We have pictures of Stanislaus and Wladek training together in Krakow during 1911, when Stanislaus took his yearly trip back to Krakow.

Wladek joined his brother in the United States in early 1913. Wladek’s first match was in Detroit, which had a large Polish population. Wladek wrestled in Detroit frequently and had his first match with Ed “Strangler” Lewis there in 1914.

Zbyszko’s first notable match occurred in January 1914, when he wrestled George Lurich to a 30-minute time limit draw in at Mechanics Hall in Boston, Massachusetts. Stanislaus Zbyszko would defeat Alex Aberg in the same building later in 1914 before Stanislaus returned to Europe to serve as an officer in World War I.

In April 1914, Zbyszko met Lewis for the first time. The match ended in a riot.

In 1915, Zbyszko gains a national reputation after participating in the 1915 New York International Wrestling Tournament. The tournament was contested under Greco-Roman wrestling rules, the style Zbyszko began his amateur and professional wrestling careers competing in.

Before entering the tournament, Zbyszko had another match in West Virginia versus Ed “Strangler” Lewis. It devolved into a fist fight after the referee disqualified Zbyszko for his rough tactics.

Zbyszko excelled in the tournament. Wladek scored a victory over Dr. Benjamin Roller. Wladek knocked out the Greek wrestling representative, when he grabbed Wladek’s leg and would not let go.

Wladek defeated or drew with everyone and met Aberg in the final of the Spring Tournament. It ended in a draw after four hours of wrestling. Aberg won the rematch in October, the only match Zbyszko lost in Greco-Roman wrestling.

Ed “Strangler” Lewis joined the Fall Tournament, which did have catch-as-catch-can matches. Aberg and Zbyszko defeated Lewis in the Greco-Roman wrestling matches. Lewis defeated Zbyszko in the catch-as-catch-can match. Aberg refused to wrestle Lewis in catch wrestling.

You can read more about the tournament in Masked Marvel to the Rescue available in ebook, audiobook, paperback, and hardcover.

Recommendations

Great American Bash 1985 topped by Ric Flair versus Nikita Koloff and Dusty Rhodes versus Tully Blanchard in the cage. Also, my review for this week.

The Gringo Hunters on Neflix

Review

Great American Bash 1985

Show opens with Buddy Landell vs. Cowboy Ron Bass – Who is going to believe Buddy Landell is from Southern California with that southern accent.

Arn and Ole Anderson versus Dick Slater and “Mad Dog” Buzz Sawyer

Filler portion of the card: Six Man tag match of Buzz Tyler, Manny Fernandez, and Sam Houston versus The Barbarian, Abdullah the Butcher, and Karate Billy Graham, managed by Paul Jones, followed by a dog collar match between Paul Jones, seconded by Abdullah the Butcher, and Jimmy Valiant, seconded by Buzz Tyler.

Road Warriors versus Ivan Koloff and Krusher Khruschev. Rare AWA versus NWA tag team champions.

Magnum T.A. versus Kamala – Could have headline in Mid-South a year earlier.

Ric Flair versus Nikita Koloff

Dusty Rhodes versus Tully Blanchard in a Steel Cage

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