In addition to the great people on this site, I enjoy watching college wrestling and world championship wrestling.
I wonder if anybody knows what the rules are on weigh-ins? I ask this because I know there's always a pretty tight pound or kilogram weight class, and yet when I see two wrestlers get into the ring, often they can look quite a bit different. One person looks like he must outweigh the other by 5 kilograms or 10 pounds plus, and I'm wondering what the rules are about that.
In college wrestling, there is a weigh in period, usually the morning of the tournament. Every wrestler must "make weight" at that time if he intends to wrestle in the given weight class. After the weigh in and before the actual match, the wrestler can eat or drink whatever his coach advises. Between the weigh in and the match, there will not be a 5kg increase in one, much less a differential of 5kg between the two. I would suggest that what you are observing is that one of the contestants had more muscle mass to begin with, relative to his physique and may look like he outweighs the opponent. In actuality, the differential in weight during the actual contest is going to be minimal, like 1 kg max.
well, mostly agree but having done this (eons ago) I can tell you that wrestlers, especially int he lower weight classes, go to pretty extreme measures to make weight. This includes being pretty much starved and evacuated, and dehydrated - not unlike bodybuilders. One you make weight you absolutely replace your water weight, and modest nutrition to keep you alert and strong.
Even today I weigh myself at the gym every time I am there. My weight can shift several pounds. I have also experimented – for fun with weighing myself at the beginning and at the end (having then consumed 2-3 glasses of water along with unknown sweating) and can be ½-1 pound heavier just due to water. But big differences? No.
excellent question. In my era, The thing was exact. You had to make the weight limit or you didn’t wrestle. Now, what did happen as soon as guys weighed in is they might drink a bunch of water or eat or something. The appearance question is misleading. Under rules, a strict competition guys look guys looking very different end up wrestling together because they meet the qualification. I mean from experience I can tell you that guys who didn’t look particularly in shape could be murder on the mat. But far more importantly is the difference in weight classifications are differences in muscle mass and in some case of strength. when I wrestled at 68 and then tried to go up to 74 it was so difficult so appearance was neither here nor there. the distinctions of weight class really really matter. Seriously, appearances can deceive
Jobber2u (2 )
8/22/2026 4:33 PMIn addition to the great people on this site, I enjoy watching college wrestling and world championship wrestling.
I wonder if anybody knows what the rules are on weigh-ins? I ask this because I know there's always a pretty tight pound or kilogram weight class, and yet when I see two wrestlers get into the ring, often they can look quite a bit different. One person looks like he must outweigh the other by 5 kilograms or 10 pounds plus, and I'm wondering what the rules are about that.
Does anybody know?
ltwtveteran (19)
8/24/2026 6:28 AM(In reply to this)
In college wrestling, there is a weigh in period, usually the morning of the tournament. Every wrestler must "make weight" at that time if he intends to wrestle in the given weight class. After the weigh in and before the actual match, the wrestler can eat or drink whatever his coach advises. Between the weigh in and the match, there will not be a 5kg increase in one, much less a differential of 5kg between the two. I would suggest that what you are observing is that one of the contestants had more muscle mass to begin with, relative to his physique and may look like he outweighs the opponent. In actuality, the differential in weight during the actual contest is going to be minimal, like 1 kg max.
gymrat (45)
8/24/2026 2:50 PM(In reply to this)
well, mostly agree but having done this (eons ago) I can tell you that wrestlers, especially int he lower weight classes, go to pretty extreme measures to make weight. This includes being pretty much starved and evacuated, and dehydrated - not unlike bodybuilders. One you make weight you absolutely replace your water weight, and modest nutrition to keep you alert and strong.
Even today I weigh myself at the gym every time I am there. My weight can shift several pounds. I have also experimented – for fun with weighing myself at the beginning and at the end (having then consumed 2-3 glasses of water along with unknown sweating) and can be ½-1 pound heavier just due to water. But big differences? No.
brut et instructif (6 )
8/25/2026 9:58 AM(In reply to this)
Quite right. The water can be sweated out almost as as quickly as one Drinks it down
brut et instructif (6 )
8/23/2026 12:49 PM(In reply to this)
excellent question. In my era, The thing was exact. You had to make the weight limit or you didn’t wrestle. Now, what did happen as soon as guys weighed in is they might drink a bunch of water or eat or something. The appearance question is misleading. Under rules, a strict competition guys look guys looking very different end up wrestling together because they meet the qualification. I mean from experience I can tell you that guys who didn’t look particularly in shape could be murder on the mat. But far more importantly is the difference in weight classifications are differences in muscle mass and in some case of strength. when I wrestled at 68 and then tried to go up to 74 it was so difficult so appearance was neither here nor there. the distinctions of weight class really really matter. Seriously, appearances can deceive