Wladek Zbyszko real name Wladyslaw Cyganiewicz, was a Polish professional wrestler and strongman

Strongman (strength athlete)

In the 19th century, the term strongman referred to an exhibitor of strength or circus performers of similar ilk who displayed feats of strength such as the bent press , supporting large amounts of...

. He is the brother of Stanislaus Zbyszko

Stanislaus Zbyszko

Stanislaus Zbyszko was a Polish strongman and professional wrestler popular in the United States during the 1920s. He was one of the most influential European grapplers of all-time, he was also among the sport’s great pioneer champions...

. "Zbyszko" was a childhood nickname of his older brother Stanislaus which both brothers later used in the ring.

Professional career

Zbyszko claimed the Boston version of the AWA World Heavyweight Championship

AWA World Heavyweight Championship

The American Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship and the highest ranked championship in the defunct American Wrestling Association. All AWA trademarks, including the AWA World Heavyweight Championship, are now owned by WWE...

 after defeating the Ed 'Strangler' Lewis

Ed Lewis (wrestler)

Robert Herman Julius Friedrich , was a professional wrestler best known by his ring name Ed "Strangler" Lewis, whose career spanned four decades.-Wrestling career:...

 in a non-title match on June 5, 1917 in San Francisco. On July 4, 1917 in Boston he lost to Ed Lewis

Ed Lewis (wrestler)

Robert Herman Julius Friedrich , was a professional wrestler best known by his ring name Ed "Strangler" Lewis, whose career spanned four decades.-Wrestling career:...

, only to defeat him again on December 22, 1917 in New York. He then lost the World Heavyweight Championship to Earl Caddock

Earl Caddock

Earl Caddock was a professional wrestler who was active in the early portion of the twentieth century. As the first man to bill himself as "The Man of 1,000 Holds" , Caddock was one of professional wrestling's biggest stars between the years of 1915 and 1922.-Early life:Earl Caddock was born...

 on February 8, 1918 in Des Moines, and lost again to Ed Lewis

Ed Lewis (wrestler)

Robert Herman Julius Friedrich , was a professional wrestler best known by his ring name Ed "Strangler" Lewis, whose career spanned four decades.-Wrestling career:...

 on May 19, 1918 in New York. In the same month, he was briefly detained at Ellis Island

Ellis Island

Ellis Island in New York Harbor was the gateway for millions of immigrants to the United States. It was the nation's busiest immigrant inspection station from 1892 until 1954. The island was greatly expanded with landfill between 1892 and 1934. Before that, the much smaller original island was the...

 and photographed by chief clerk Augustus F. Sherman.

Championships and accomplishments

• American Wrestling Association (Boston)
  American Wrestling Association
  The American Wrestling Association was an American professional wrestling promotion based in Minneapolis, Minnesota that ran from 1960 to 1991. It was owned and founded by Verne Gagne and Wally Karbo...
  
  
  • AWA World Heavyweight Championship (Boston version)
    AWA World Heavyweight Championship
    The American Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship and the highest ranked championship in the defunct American Wrestling Association. All AWA trademarks, including the AWA World Heavyweight Championship, are now owned by WWE...
    
     (1 time)

• Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
  • (Class of 2009)

• Wrestling Observer Newsletter
  • Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame
    Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame
    The Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame is a professional wrestling hall of fame that recognizes people who make significant contributions to the sport. It was founded in 1996 by Dave Meltzer, editor of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame is not...
    
     (Class of 2010
    Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame
    The Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame is a professional wrestling hall of fame that recognizes people who make significant contributions to the sport. It was founded in 1996 by Dave Meltzer, editor of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame is not...
    
    )