In sports, a card comprises a listing of the matches taking place in a title-match combat-sport event. Organizers divide overall cards into a main-event match and the undercard, which encompasses the rest of the matches. One can also further subdivide the undercard into midcard and lower card, according to the perceived importance of the matches. Promoters schedule matches to occur in ascending order of importance.

Division[link]

Undercard[link]

The undercard, or preliminary matches, consists of preliminary bouts that occur before the headline or "main event" of a particular boxing,^[1] professional wrestling,^[2] horse racing,^[3] auto racing, or other sports event. (In auto racing, however, the term "support race" occurs more commonly.) Typically, promoters intend the undercard to provide fans with an opportunity to see up-and-coming fighters or fighters not so well-known and popular as their counterparts in the main event. The undercard also ensures that if the main event ends quickly fans will still feel that they received sufficient value for the price of their admission.

In auto racing, support races occur not just before the feature race, they occur on qualifying day where attendances are typically low and after the completion of the feature race, purposely to lessen the effect of traffic congestion outside venues common in major championship rounds, as spectators make their way home. Examples of notable support races include Porsche Supercup and GP2 Series, both supporting the Formula One World Championships, although the latter is considered to be a feeder series (for young drivers who desire to make the final step to Formula One).

In boxing, undercard matches usually only last for four rounds, to ensure that the crowd does not have to wait too long for the main event. In professional wrestling, undercard matches usually last for five to ten minutes: the audience does not have to wait too long for the main event and the promoters often have to fulfill contractual television agreements. Professional wrestling unofficially subdivides the undercard into uppercard, midcard and lower card matches,^[4] which roughly correlate to the fame and quality of performance of the wrestlers involved.

Main event[link]

A main event takes place as the final match of a title-match-system sporting event. The term occurs primarily with reference to combat sports such as boxing, professional wrestling and mixed martial arts. The main event, generally the most prestigious match on the card, has the most promotion behind it. The match commonly involves a contest for a top championship, but may feature another special attraction. Sometimes, multiple matches of equally high importance take place at the end of a card in succession, billed as a "double main event" or (rarely) as a "triple main event". Advertising for sporting bouts focuses primarily on their main events.

Supercard[link]

A supercard consists of a title match combat sport event which comprises multiple high-level matches and/or special attractions.^[5] Promoters advertise supercards heavily, and tickets typically cost more than at standard-card events.

Supercards serve as the focal point of professional wrestling promotions and can function as a primary source of revenue for such promotions.^[6] As of 2009^[update], mainstream American pro wrestling holds supercards at least annually and broadcasts them on pay-per-view (PPV) television. While the two major companies, WWE and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), run PPV events every month; only a few class as "supercards". Wrestling supercards often recur annually; WWE's WrestleMania, arguably the most famous of these, has run since 1985. WWE runs three other supercards per year (SummerSlam, Royal Rumble and Survivor Series), but does not promote these at the level of WrestleMania. TNA has three supercards: Bound for Glory, Lockdown, and Slammiversary. Bound for Glory, the most prominent of the three, has taken place annually since 2005. Examples of non-pay-per-view supercards include Saturday Night's Main Event and Clash of the Champions. Promotions outside the U.S. also run annual supercards. The two largest lucha libre promotions in Mexico, CMLL and AAA, respectively run the CMLL Anniversary Show and Triplemanía. New Japan Pro Wrestling runs the January 4 Dome Show at the Tokyo Dome.

In other sports, such as boxing and mixed martial arts, supercards occur more rarely. They usually involve a "dream fight" and multiple title defenses.^[7]

References[link]