Wrestling Cards have been around as long as other sports cards. They were first released as cigarette
cards. These were issued with tobacco products and a lot of times were simply added to sets which
contained other sports stars of the era. In a lot of these early issues you will find a combination of wrestlers
and boxers.
During the 50's a small company named Parkhurst produced two sets of cards. These sets are noted for
being one of the first devoted to strictly wrestling. The sets were released in Canada. The 1954 set has a
total of 75 cards and includes many famous wrestlers like Lou Thesz, Verne Gange, and Gorgeous George.
The 1955 Parkhurst set is very much like the 54 set. It contains a ton of famous old wrestlers and this set
numbers a total of 121 cards.
The eighties were a time in which card collecting for all major sports really became popular. The same can
be said about wrestling. The first couple of sets came on the market in 1982. They were made by a
company called Pro Wrestling Enterprises notable for one of the first cards released for Hulk Hogan.
Following the release of their 1982 set they also produced a set in 1983. The card industry giant Topps
produced the first major recognized set in the United States in 1985. These cards were released throughout
the United States and were in box form everywhere. Their sister companies O-Pee-Chee(Canada) and
Scanlens (Australia) also produced these identical sets for those prospective countries. Topps would
follow-up with the success of the 85 set with a additional release in 1987. The hardest and most rarest set
of wrestling cards was released by a company named Wonderama. They released a set of cards for the now
defunct National Wrestling Alliance. This massive set of cards numbered in the three hundreds and
contained first cards of stars like Sting, Road Warriors, and Lex Lugar.
1990 proved to be the boom in the wrestling card industry. There was numerous companies from Classic,
Market-Scene Limited, Topps, Comic Images who all began producing card set. They popular wrestling
stars. Sets including postcard size cards as well as stickers were now finding there way on the wrestling
card scene. Needless to say you had a wide variety of issues for the collector to enjoy.
In conclusion, there are a ton of wresting cards for the collectors to add to their collection. Cards from
America, Canada, Italy, Australia and Britain have been produced to meet the needs of wrestling fans
across the world. You will find wrestling cards in virtually everyplace, from pizza products, ice cream
cartons, potato chips bags, store promos and your traditional box of unopened packs. So what ever your
taste is enjoy this great hobby and add these many cards to your collection.............
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