Billie Kay
BuzzMania 7: Playing Favorites -- Ripping 2018 Topps (Hour 3)
The biggest weekend in pro wrestling is here with WrestleMania 40 set for this Saturday and Sunday from Philadelphia. We'll make today a big one for wrestling collectors right here on The Buzz with #BuzzMania7, a marathon of WWE wax box/pack breaks all day long.
This one was -- and still is -- a favorite of mine from the Topps WWE years with it being a second affordable series of flagship that is loaded with simple, clean photos showcased in a minimalist design and a set that's loaded with first/early cards for a lot of young stars.
The Brand: 2018 Topps WWE Then Now Forever (aka Series 2) -- five blaster boxes
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for a few formats)
What's inside this one? Keep reading ...
BuzzMania 7: A Hit In Every Pack Smackdown (Hour 2)
The biggest weekend in pro wrestling is here with WrestleMania 40 set for this Saturday and Sunday from Philadelphia. We'll make today a big one for wrestling collectors right here on The Buzz with #BuzzMania7, a marathon of WWE wax box/pack breaks all day long.
This one is packed with, as Gorilla Monsoon would say, "pandemonium" ... every pack or box here guarantees at least one hit -- that's an autograph or a memorabilia card in this realm -- and a few of them pack even more. Some here are also past favorites that Buzz used to rip in volume ... back when they were more easily found.
The Brands: 2017 Topps WWE Women's Division (two boxes), 2017 Topps NXT (one hobby pack), 2020 Topps WWE Women's Division (one box), 2021 AEW Spectrum (one box), 2020 Topps NXT (one box), 2023 Leaf Heroes of Wrestling (one box)
Where to buy: Some will take some work to find ... BlowoutCards.com for all WWE/AEW cards
What's inside these? Keep reading ...
BuzzMania 6: The WWE Halfway Half-case Showcase (Hour 7)
The biggest weekend in pro wrestling is here with WrestleMania 39 set for this Saturday and Sunday from Los Angeles. We'll make today a big one for wrestling collectors right here on The Buzz with #BuzzMania6, a marathon of WWE wax box/pack breaks all day long.
This seventh break of the day is a half-case of a release that has the potential to deliver big ... but without breaking the bank. What will happen this time?
The Brand: A half-case of 2020 Topps WWE Women's Division wrestling cards (four hobby boxes)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
What's inside this one? Keep reading ...
Making the Grade (June): Big-time autographs, old comics, new slabs, error cards, Canadian stars & plenty more
Like many collectors, Buzz is a fan of grading and knows that there are many reasons that collectors choose to slab cards. Sometimes it's to enhance the appeal and protect them when selling. Other times it's to protect an investment for the long-term or to protect for sentimental reasons. Or, it might be just for fun or curiosity about a potential grade.
Here's this month's grading diary here on The Buzz ...
MY FIRST NEW-LABEL SLAB ...
The Card: Derrick Henry 2016 Panini Origins Rookie Autographs #112
The Reason Graded: My latest submission of stuff from CSG is already back -- in times far faster than what's posted on their site -- and this card of Tennessee Titans star (and former Alabama Crimson Tide standout as well as Heisman Trophy winner) Derrick Henry was my choice for my first fast sub under their new format. Why? I thought it looked quite flawless with a solid on-card sig with literally nothing obviously wrong with the card. With this being perhaps my best NFL auto for him I opted to slab it since thick-stock cards like this have tended to grade cleanly for me.
The Grade: CSG 9.5 (10 auto)Grade 5.5 6 6.5 7 7.5 8 8.5 9 9.5 10 P10 Total Population 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 Reality Check: I was a little surprised this didn't check in higher as the only couple of white spots on the card appeared to be to be part of the design's specs and splats but ... I'll live with it. This one might also be reflective of CSG's tough standards, which don't appear to have gotten easier at all with their new slabs and slightly tweaked scale at its top. (Cards previously in a CSG Gem Mint 9.5 are now Gem Mint 10s.) All in all, I'm good with this card and their new scale and look -- straight-on scans don't do these slabs justice. While I liked the previous style (and own plenty) this one is tight and right ... just like their time for return, price and structure that lets you see the front and backs of the cards as they were in-house. There won't be tampering/fake slabs when you can look up the card online -- a big plus over other slabs if you ask me.
Keep reading for more of this month's pick-ups and new slabs for Buzz.
Buzz Buys: Broadway Joe, Alanis, Roger Maris, Bob Dylan, Rocky, Dr. J, old magazines, WWE stars and ... Gearl Hebner?
Buzz buys and busts a lot of boxes right here for Buzz Breaks, but one of my goals is to rip a little less and talk more about cardboard that I -- and you -- might like. One way to do that? Simple show and tell -- present a few pick-ups and say why they captured my attention.
So, with all that said, here are a few Buzz Buys ... and this time around it's deep -- but also one of the pricier overall roundups I've done.
BATTING LEAD-OFF ...
The Card: Roger Maris 2005 Playoff Absolute Memorabilia Tools of the Trade Reverse Blue Single Materials (/50)
The Price: $30
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: Most of my pick-ups for this series are more personal collection buys meaning a lot of them might not have a ton of mainstream appeal to all of you but I'll let a legend bat lead-off here once again with a simple piece of cardboard. This brand was one that had a ton of highlights in it for game-used memorabilia fans when it arrived at the end of the Donruss/Playoff years and it delivered a ton for roughly $40 a pack back then if I remember correctly. This one was the home of legendary memorabilia cards from Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron and many more and I have pulled or picked up many of them though the years. One player I pick up regularly if the price is right is Maris and this one fits that bill. It's not a perfectly designed card (His legs ... what's up there?) but the brand has so many variations and so many cards.
Grab a box right here: Nothing for this one ... but newer MLB boxes are here.Keep reading for more interesting items ...
Bulk Break: 2017 Topps WWE cards (36 jumbo packs)
What's a Bulk Break? Well, it's basically a Buzz Break -- but with a lot of packs or something that's found in volume but not in box or case form. 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 lot: 2017 Topps WWE wrestling cards (36 jumbo packs)
Where to buy: Click here (single packs and lots)
Keep reading to see what was in this simple lot that delivered pretty well.
Buzz Break: 2021 Topps WWE Slam Attax (Super Game Pack)
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: 2021 Topps WWE Slam Attax (Topps India Super Game Pack)
Where to buy: Will take some looking -- get standard WWE boxes here
Keep reading for a full breakdown of what was in this one as well as a gallery of highlights.
Buzz Break: 2021 Topps Chrome WWE (blaster box)
From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post 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: 2021 Topps Chrome WWE wrestling cards (blaster)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)
Keep reading for a full breakdown of what was in this one.
Buzz Break: 2021 Topps Chrome WWE (hobby box)
From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post 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: 2021 Topps Chrome WWE wrestling cards (hobby)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
Keep reading for a full breakdown of what was in this one.
Black November arrives … and here are five deals to grab
If you hadn't noticed, there are a number of boxes with discounted prices right now right here as Blowout Cards' Black November sales have arrived this year.
The first wave is here and many of the discounts were dramatic enough that Buzz once again had to ponder the possibilities in many of the boxes and cases -- and here are five that caught this collector’s eye ... and there's far more that just might suit your tastes in the big sale.
--
A FORGOTTEN ONE?
2020 Topps Baseball UK Edition baseball box
Maybe it's just because I never ripped this one -- or, heck, even saw it -- last year, but this box with a pretty big discount feels like it needs to be here as you should get a number of parallel cards in every one and there's a decent shot at key names being among them as it's only a 200-card set. I recently grabbed the one basic RC I wanted to land here but there are parallels and even autographs in play here as ell as a mix of UK Icons inserts also with parallels. With 240 cards in a box if the collation is clean you should come pretty close at landing a good chunk of it all. This one's in my cart as I type ... I need to scout even more after I finish this piece.Keep reading for a few more boxes you should consider (and are likely to end up in Buzz's cart).
Buzz Break: 2021 Topps Chrome WWE (hobby box)
From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post 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: 2021 Topps Chrome WWE wrestling cards (hobby)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
Keep reading for a full breakdown of what was in this one.
Buzz Break: 2021 Topps Chrome WWE (hobby box)
From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post 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: 2021 Topps Chrome WWE wrestling cards (hobby)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
Keep reading for a full breakdown of what was in this one.
Buzz Break: 2019 Topps WWE Slam Attax Universe
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 package: 2019 Topps WWE Slam Attax Universe (India smart pack box)
Where to buy: Will take some looking -- get WWE boxes here
Keep reading for a full breakdown of what was in this one as well as a gallery of highlights.
Buzz Break: 2020 Topps WWE Women's Division (hobby box)
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: 2020 Topps WWE Women's Division wrestling cards (hobby)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
Keep reading to see a full gallery and breakdown of what was in this one.
Buzz Break: 2020 Topps WWE Women's Division (two boxes)
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 boxes: 2020 Topps WWE Women's Division wrestling cards (hobby)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
Keep reading to see a gallery and breakdown of what was in this one.
Buzz Break: 2020 Topps WWE Women's Division (hobby box)
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: 2020 Topps WWE Women's Division wrestling cards (hobby)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
Keep reading to see a full gallery and breakdown of what was in this one.
Buzz Break: 2020 Topps WWE Women's Division (hobby box)
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: 2020 Topps WWE Women's Division wrestling cards (hobby)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
Keep reading to see a full gallery and breakdown of what was in this one.
What if ... Topps created a Stadium Club WWE card set?
What if ... Topps created a Stadium Club WWE card set?
It's a simple enough question, so that's why you see it here has both the headline and the opener -- and there are more than 100 simple fake cards that I've crafted to follow to show just some of the possibilities. It all started with a tweet of the photo you see above of Bianca Belair on the way to the ring for her history-making main-event match at WrestleMania 37 earlier this month. I saw that and followed with a tweet of my own saying "somewhere out there in the world is a Topps Stadium Club WWE set that could be huge."
For those who don't know, Stadium Club is a brand that Topps introduced to the world back in 1991 and it's a photo-driven full-bleed brand that has been seen for baseball, football, basketball, hockey, soccer and even some non-sports entities ... but never for WWE, which Topps has made cards for in its current run since 2005. (The first Topps WWE sets were in 1985 and 1987.)
Why might it work? Well, if you ask me, the WWE has some of the best photographers on the planet working for them and I scoured a tiny sampling of the thousands of images they produce every year to document it all -- in the ring, outside the ring and behind-the-scenes stuff -- to imagine the possibilities. Just a sliver of their work ever sees cardboard, and while a number of the iconic images you will see here have appeared on cards they've not often had much of a dynamic border-free run like you see in Stadium Club.
I spent a few hours this weekend coming up with a basic photo frame for some imagined -- totally fake -- cards to help sell the idea like I'm D-Generation X with a new T-shirts to hock. Here's hoping you see what I see for the potential as I look at a few categories of photos and approaches I'd take in an all-eras, all-encompassing set that seems like it could easily be one of the coolest and meatiest card sets in WWE history if it were to happen.
BuzzMania4: Busting 2018 Topps WWE Women's Div. (Hour 6)
The biggest weekend in pro wrestling is here with WrestleMania 37 set for Saturday and Sunday from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. We'll make today a big day for wrestling collectors right here on The Buzz with #BuzzMania4, a series of WWE wax box/pack breaks.
This is Hour 6 ... a bulk lot of hobby packs from a popular brand -- a hits-free lot that still delivered very well.
The lot: 2018 Topps WWE Women's Division wrestling cards (200-plus hobby packs)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: Click here for (hit-per) blastersWhat's inside this one? Keep reading ...
BuzzMania4: Busting 2020 Topps Chrome WWE (Hour 2)
The biggest weekend in pro wrestling is here with WrestleMania 37 set for Saturday and Sunday from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. We'll make today a big day for wrestling collectors right here on The Buzz with #BuzzMania4, a series of WWE wax box/pack breaks.
This is Hour 2 -- and this is one of the best WWE releases of 2020 ... as long as you're ripping hobby boxes.
The box: 2020 Topps Chrome WWE wrestling cards (hobby);
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.comWhat's inside this one? Keep reading ...
Buzz Break: 2020 Topps Chrome WWE (blaster box)
From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post 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: 2020 Topps Chrome WWE wrestling cards (blaster)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (when available)
Keep reading for a full breakdown of what was in this one.
Buzz Break: 2020 Topps Chrome WWE (blaster box)
From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post 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: 2020 Topps Chrome WWE wrestling cards (blaster)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)
Keep reading for a full breakdown of what was in this one.
Buzz Break: 2020 Topps Chrome WWE (two jumbo packs)
From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post 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: 2020 Topps Chrome WWE wrestling cards (two jumbo packs)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)
Keep reading for a full breakdown of what was in this one.
Buzz Break: 2020 Topps Chrome WWE (hobby box)
From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post 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: 2020 Topps Chrome WWE wrestling cards (hobby);
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
Keep reading for a full breakdown of what was in this one.
Buzz Break: 2017 Topps WWE Then Now Forever (hobby box)
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: 2017 Topps WWE Then Now Forever (aka Topps WWE Series 2) wrestling cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (a few formats)
Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of what was in this one.