Classifying wrestling cards

[frankbmd]

Is wrestling always a sport without a predetermined (scripted) winner of the match?

It certainly can be in scholastic and collegiate wrestling. Greco-Roman, an olympic sport, and other Olympic competition would be considered legit. Most would agree.

But is so-called professional wrestling a sport or entertainment?

If, in fact, matches are scripted with the bad boy winning early only to be defeated by the fan favorite good guy miraculously coming back to win the match at the end. Seldom is the match won quickly. Seldom are holds unbreakable.

Yes, the wrestlers are big guys and it is a physical endeavor. And I suspect that any professional wrestler is worthy of being called an athlete (sort of). However, if the fix is in before the match, it seems to me that calling pro wrestling a sport is a stretch. The pre and post match theatrics would seem to support the view that it is not a serious sport.

Therefore, in the card world, should pro wrestling cards be considered “sports cards” or should they honestly be called “non-sports cards”?

Both pro-wrestling fans and collectors are rabid, but if it is not really a sport, why is Hulk Hogan a sports card?

How do we feel collectively?

[Peter_Spaeth]

I'm wrestling with the question now. I promise a no holds barred answer.

[chalupacollects]

Do the cards have stickers?

[steve B]

I think it's a sport. I sort of classify it as a branch of gymnastics.

Which of course asks the question if Gymnastics is a sport.

[sthoemke]

It's a sport, whether it is scripted or not.

More accurately, it can be described as sports entertainment.

[vintagetoppsguy]

I feel the opposite. If it has a predetermined outcome, how can it be a sport? Isn't the purpose of a sport to determine the best? If it's scripted, the best doesn't always win. If the NBA, NFL or MLB were scripted, would it still be considered a sport? Therefore, as far as the cards go, I believe they should be catalogued as non-sport.

I've seen grown men out actively chasing Pokémon. Since that's physical activity do we classify that as a sport? Are Pokémon cards considered sports cards? I think the answer to both questions is no.

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by vintagetoppsguy

I feel the opposite. If it has a predetermined outcome, how can it be a sport? Isn't the purpose of a sport to determine the best? If it's scripted, the best doesn't always win. If the NBA, NFL or MLB were scripted, would it still be considered a sport? Therefore, as far as the cards go, I believe they should be catalogued as non-sport.

I've seen grown men out actively chasing Pokémon. Since that's physical activity do we classify that as a sport? Are Pokémon cards considered sports cards? I think the answer to both questions is no.

A very intelligent and logical post. You deserve a 5 Star Pokie, mon.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Doubtless there is athleticism, but there is much of that in some circus acts too. And in ballet, for example. I'm not sure we would classify the circus or the ballet as a sporting event?

[silvor]

Why even debate this? The answer lies with PSA.

If you search pro wrestling on the Registry, you can plainly see it is not listed as a sport.

PSA is never wrong.

[Dpeck100]

PSA divides the cards based on if the competition is real.

They all started out in miscellaneous sports and moved them in 2014 to in most cases non sports.

You will still find some sets considered a sports card but in general most are considered non sport. I think this is reasonable due to the scripted nature.

There are many athletes featured in various sets that have been pro football players or competed in other sports such as Greco Roman Wrestling or powerlifting but because the matches are pre determined it is really just an aggressive style of acting and not a true sport.

Here is an example of a sports card set

https://www.psacard.com/pop/boxing-w...estling/130067

Here is an example of a non sports set

https://www.psacard.com/pop/boxing-w...s-series/54191

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Dpeck100

PSA divides the cards based on if the competition is real.

They all started out in miscellaneous sports and moved them in 2014 to in most cases non sports.

You will still find some sets considered a sports card but in general most are considered non sport. I think this is reasonable due to the scripted nature.

There are many athletes featured in various sets that have been pro football players or competed in other sports such as Greco Roman Wrestling or powerlifting but because the matches are pre determined it is really just an aggressive style of acting and not a true sport.

Here is an example of a sports card set

https://www.psacard.com/pop/boxing-w...estling/130067

Here is an example of a non sports set

https://www.psacard.com/pop/boxing-w...s-series/54191

How far back in time does the non-sport form of wrestling go?

[Dpeck100]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

How far back in time does the non-sport form of wrestling go?

https://www.psacard.com/psasetregist...ompany-sets/37

Here is the registry.

I am not familiar with the sets passed the 52 Al Haft set.

There are obviously some wrestlers that appear in some of the older sets including the 1933 Sport Kings but those are predominately professional athletes and so they are probably lumped into sports cards.

Rob or Steve who commented above are well versed in the older sets. I am not.

The oldest wrestling cards I own are from 1974.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Dpeck100

https://www.psacard.com/psasetregist...ompany-sets/37

Here is the registry.

I am not familiar with the sets passed the 52 Al Haft set.

There are obviously some wrestlers that appear in some of the older sets including the 1933 Sport Kings but those are predominately professional athletes and so they are probably lumped into sports cards.

Rob or Steve who commented above are well versed in the older sets. I am not.

The oldest wrestling cards I own are from 1979.

Sorry I meant the activity itself (fixed bouts for entertainment) not necessarily the cards.

[Dpeck100]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Sorry I meant the activity itself (fixed bouts for entertainment) not necessarily the cards.

It is my understanding that even the bouts that were thought to be real with Frank Gotch were indeed a work. His famous match with George Hackenschmidt was in 1911.