Tully Blanchard
Buzz Break: 2021 UD AEW All Elite Wrestling cards (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: 2021 Upper Deck AEW All Elite Wrestling cards
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)
Keep reading to see a full breakdown and gallery from this one.
First Buzz: 2020 Leaf Ultimate Wrestling cards
What: 2020 Leaf Ultimate Wrestling cards
Arrives: Aug. 7
Box basics: Six autograph cards per box (10 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)What's buzz-worthy: Leaf offers up the closest thing to an AEW wrestling set -- and plenty of past and present stars from the WWE and around the world -- in a release that's got "an assortment of stars not possible in any other wrestling release."
Making the Grade (Feb.): Kobe Bryant, Eddie Vedder, Rookie Cards, The Four Horsemen, Meghan Markle, Superman & 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 ...
The Card: Kobe Bryant 1996-97 Upper Deck #58 Rookie Card
The Reason Bought: I actually bought this card more than a year ago and thought I had it waiting in my stash of cards to present here at some point but, after doing some searching, realized that I never took a photo of this iconic 1990s card and it had been waiting for its time to appear. Unfortunately, we know why this NBA legend has been on the minds of many sports fans out there this week so here we are. I picked up this Rookie Card back then since it was a decent grade for a decent price -- just $9 -- and I didn't ever pull one way back when. It doesn't have any obvious flaws on the front, so it looks much better than its grade, too. (Sub-grades on the back of this slab are all 9 or higher except for an 8.5 on corners and one corner shows why.) The shocking news of this week has created a frenzy of interest for Bryant's RCs and autographs -- and a card in this same grade (not an elite grade, really) sold for $200. Mine will remain in my stash.
The Grade: BGS 9Grade 5.5 6 6.5 7 7.5 8 8.5 9 9.5 10 B10 Total Population 1 9 11 28 92 306 922 1,058 585 8 0 3,029 Reality Check: The pop report on this card is a lot stiffer than I had expected with this being the most-common grade and fewer than 600 checking in higher. I had expected there to be more but I suspect the pop reports on this card could change a lot in the coming months -- and it will be interesting to see if any ever reach BGS Black status. Bryant has a number of RCs -- more than 20 -- and this one is unique in that it doesn't show him in his Lakers uniform. The debate as to whether Bryant's cards will hold values in comparison to what people are paying right now is an interesting one over on the Blowout Forums where there are a number of discussions. I think this is a scenario that may defy common collecting logic -- I'd think that anything is possible in this case and there are a lot of buyers right now who will pick up cards and stash them away forever, leaving a smaller volume of stuff available for everyday collectors to grab on eBay and other market hot spots. Finding unopened boxes won't be an option for a lot of his Rookie Cards that people want to track down, either.
Keep reading for more of this month's pick-ups and new slabs for Buzz.
Buzz Break: 2007 Topps Heritage WWE III (Ringside Edition)
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: 2007 Topps Heritage WWE III Ringside Edition (Walmart only)
The cost: Will vary when found -- click here for new WWE boxes
Packs per box: 11 (10 packs plus one 1951 Ringside bonus pack)
Cards per pack: 5
Cards in this box: 52
Base set completion: 42 of 90 (47 percent)
Duplicates: 0Notables on base cards: Cody Rhodes, John Cena, Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels, Undertaker, Edge, Jeff Hardy, Santino Marella, Shelton Benjamin, Batista, Bobby Lashley, John Morrison, Tommy Dreamer, Bruiser Brody, Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Brian Pillman, Kelly Kelly, Melina, Michelle McCool, Mickie James
4 Item(s)