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: 2016 Topps Heritage WWE wrestling cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)
Packs per box: 8 (seven standard and one hit/Lesnar pack)
Cards per pack: 9
Cards in this box: 65
Base set completion:
41 of 110 (37 percent)
Duplicates: 0
Notable names pulled on base cards – “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Trish Stratus, Bret “Hit Man” Hart, Kevin Owens, The Rock, Undertaker, Bruno Sammartino, Finn Balor, Bayley, Bray Wyatt
Rookie Cards (3) – Colin Cassidy, A.J. Styles, Enzo Amore
Insert cards: 25
All-Star Patch (1) – Undertaker (/299)
Brock Lesnar Spotlight (1) – Defeats Undertaker, ending The Streak
The Rock Tribute (2) – Defeats John Cena at WrestleMania 28, Captains Team WWE to Victory Over The Alliance
Turn Back The Clock (7) – Ricky Steamboat, Kerry Von Erich, Jim Duggan, Roddy Piper, Sgt. Slaughter, Bret Hart, Davey Boy Smith
Record Breaker (7) – Ric Flair (2 different), The Ascension, Davey Boy Smith, Paige, Eve Torres, Harlem Heat
WCW/nWo All-Stars (7) – Scott Hall, Sting, Ric Flair, Jim Neidhart, Paul Orndorff, John Tenta, Madusa
Autographs/Memorabilia: 0
(Hit was a manufactured Relic.)
What’s Buzz-worthy: The Heritage wrestling brand turns to the 1986 Topps baseball brand as its follow-up to the previous 1985 baseball design for a release that, while it has the nice oldschool touches, just feels awkward at times. Case in point the manufactured Relic above, which might be one of the more awkward (and forced) adaptations of a past design seen in a long time. … This collector gets that the baseball designs might have their fans, but it was interesting to see the 1987 Topps WWE card design on a Turn Back the Clock card along with some European Topps cards from the 1990s. It makes one wonder why the 1987 design has not been used with inserts added around it using whatever designs that feel complementary. The array of inserts here are all nods to subsets from the 1986 Topps set and they have their moments, though some feel repetitious. The basic set feels good at times but some photo crops feel “off” probably because the shape of the 1986 frame is one that’s not the easiest to use (a square) when cropping. … The stock has a nice throwback feel and definitely has the 1986 Topps vibe down — albeit with cleaner modern printing. … There were no autographs here but you can expect them to be found in hobby with parallels. One big plus in this product? All hits are serial-numbered, showing collectors how much smaller the print runs on WWE products are compared to other brands. All in all this brand is a fun one but maybe 1986 Topps just isn’t for me. We’ll see once I rip into a hobby box.
Product Grade: B+
Box Grade: C
Fun Grade: B
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