Actually, DBZ first aired in 1989. It is a continuation of the old series Dragon Ball which first aired in 86. Pokemon was way after, and DBZ was always just a big TV series in Japan. They didn't really become cards until later on when big companies like FUNimation wanted to cash in on this fat heffer of a cow and make video games, card games, etc etc.
Sure, though, in Japan it was HUUUUGE. They had backpacks, watches, clocks, shirts, candy, pencils, video games, all that jazz.