Zbyszko and Lewis Start Riot

On April 7, 1914, 22-year-old Wladek Zbyszko met 22-year-old Ed “Strangler” Lewis would meet in the first of many matches between the two men.  While they were supposed to be working the match, Lewis and Wladek Zbyszko struggled to work together.  In the early 1920s, Lewis would drop his World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship to Wladek’s older brother Stanislaus Zbyszko.  In their first match though, neither man was feeling cooperative.

Wladek Zbyszko won several European Greco-Roman Wrestling tournaments before coming to the United States in 1913.  Wladek at 212 pounds was significantly smaller than his older brother.  Wladek would late fill out to 225 pounds.

Ed “Strangler” Lewis started wrestling at 14 years of age.  Born Robert Herman Julius Friedrich, he took the name Ed “Strangler” Lewis to honor fellow Wisconsin grappler and Friedrich’s hero, Evan “Strangler” Lewis.

While they were supposed to be working the match, Wladek Zbyszko and Ed Lewis expressed concern about wrestling each other.  Lewis feld Wladek Zbyszko took liberties in the ring. Lewis said he would rough Zbyszko up if Zbyszko tried anything. Wladek Zbyszko said the same about Lewis.

Zbyszko, a Polish wrestler, benefited from a strong local Polish community in Detroit, Michigan.  Lewis, a resident of next door Wisconsin, also had several supporters present.

Lewis enjoyed a size advantage.  Beginning his career in the 220 pound range, Lewis retired as a 5’10”, 265 pound crusher.  In this match, he enjoyed a 10 plus pound advantage over a smaller but strong Zbyszko.

To start the match, both men employed rough tactics for 20 minutes without either man scoring an advantage.  The men pulled and tugged on each other, landed forearm blows, heeled each other palm strikes, and Zbyszko reportedly poked Lewis in the eye.

After 20 minutes of this rough and tumble match, Ed Lewis disregarded his feared “stranglehold” for a powerful right hand to Zbyszko’s jaw.  The blow knocked Wladek Zbyszko senseless.  Lewis moved in with fists clenched intent on pummeling Wladek Zbyszko.

Luckily for Zbyszsko, the Polish fans began to rush the ring and try to attack Lewis.  Lewis’ supporters began brawling with the Polish fans.  Newspaper reporters claimed the fights in the crowd surpassed the fight in the ring.

 A squad of Detroit Police cleared the ring and ringside area.  Initially, the referee disqualified Lewis and awarded the match to Zbyszko.  Lewis cried foul and accused Zbyszko of trying to gouge his eye out.  Lewis claimed he struck Wladek in self-defense.  After some debate, officials declared the match a no contest.

Whatever bad will existed between the men continued over the years.  Lewis and Wladek Zbyskzo matches often devolved into fist fights.  The rough tactics they used on each other were definitely real. During Lewis’ title reign from 1922 to 1925, Lewis froze Wladek Zbyszko out of the title picture based on his strong dislike for Wladek Zbyszko.

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