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.