Buzz Break: 2022 AEW Metal Universe wrestling (blaster)

From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and break down the results here. Like this and want to see more -- or maybe there's a box you'd want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2022 AEW Metal Universe wrestling cards
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby) 

Keep reading to see a full breakdown and gallery from this one.

Packs per box: 7
Cards per pack: 5
Cards in this box: 35
Base set completion: 25 of 100 (25 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards – Penta el Zero M, Toni Storm, Darby Allin, Anna Jay, Daniel Garcia, Hikaru Shida, Sting, Jungle Boy, Claudio Castagnoli, Christian Cage, Matt Hardy, Dustin Rhodes, Andrade El Idolo, Jake Hager, Pac, Mark Henry, Stokely Hathaway, Powerhouse Hobbs, Austin Gunn, Evil Uno, Matt Sydal, Ethan Page, Dax Harwood, Nyla Rose, Adam Page

Rookie Cards – None are noted on-card via a RC logo, but anyone in base set without previous-year AEW, WWE, WCW, Impact, Panini Lucha Libre AAA or BBM (Japan) or Leaf in-pack cards is likely a RC here based on traditional definitions. (So there are some this time but perhaps not as many as last time.)

Inserts/short-prints: 10 (all cards from box in gallery below)
Blue Spectrum parallels (5) – Max Caster, Malakai Black, Colten Gunn, William Regal, Rush
Skybox Premium (1) – Danhausen
Technicians (1) – Cash Wheeler
The Merch (1) – Toni Storm
Hardware (1) – Jon Moxley
SPs (Nos. 101-150) (1) – Kenny Omega

Autographs/Memorabilia: None

What's Buzz-worthy: While my first box of this one was an odds-defying one loaded with an auto (one in 40 blasters) as well as some other rarities that got it an A+ grade, this one was a lot more back to reality, though it still did include one rarer card (Hardware) that's one in 38 packs. Generally, I liked the mix of names here, though the base cards get a bit deep, and the stars did carry over to the inserts, too, but this box actually had fewer inserts this time atop being the typical kind of hitless box here ... which will happen almost all the time if you're a casual buyer. ... As I noted last time, the hobby boxes don't ultimately guarantee an auto every time -- or one of the pricier PMGs that are numbered -- which is a bit of a bummer (they need to guarantee more for the price) but there is good potential there way more regularly than here. I was on the fence here but I'll likely be tempted more at some point to rip some more and grab some more singles as a number of younger names are here and these are looking clean other than minor corner and edge issues from packaging. Though at the same time, the basics here will be found on ePack at some point ... so keep that in mind. That can drive down singles prices with a good volume of stuff made available. There are still some minor corner issues and then top left edge issues at times, too, but this box wasn't as rough on that front as perhaps my last one was ... so that may be hit and miss. Overall, this one has some good potential on everything except ink every time you rip, though its slightly premium SRP is going to make the lean boxes sting a little more than, say, an average AEW flagship blaster.

Product Grade: A- 
Box Grade: B
Fun Grade: B (needs a little more variety)

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