Don West got me on an impulse buy again … and I’m OK with that

Simply put, Don West got me again.

If you’re a collector of a certain age, then you know the past entertainment value of the past Shop At Home hobby heavyweight who got more than a few people to “dial in now” for their latest shot at some cardboard treasures.

This isn’t exactly a scenario like that one, but a recent tweet by a past wrestling star piqued my curiously and led me to eBay and that then led me to ShopImpact.com, which is the website of Impact! Wrestling, one of few WWE competitors these days, and there was West with a deal that I figured … why not?

Buzz Break: 2015 Panini Americana trading cards (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: 2015 Panini Americana (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 10
Cards per pack: 5
Cards in this box: 52
Base set completion: 
26 of 73 (36 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Molly Ringwald, Corbin Bernsen, Laura Prepon, Ali Larter, Darryl McDaniels, Coolio, Vince Neil, D.B. Sweeney, Aly Raisman, Hulk Hogan, Paula Abdul

Buzz Break: 2015 Panini Americana trading cards (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: 2015 Panini Americana (hobby box)
Where to buy: Click here

Packs per box: 10
Cards per pack: 5
Cards in this box: 51
Base set completion: 
25 of 73 (34 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – John C. McGinley, Corbin Bernsen, Joan Collins, Katrina Bowden, Vanilla Ice, Aly Raisman, Gabreille Reece, Bradley Cooper, Martin Short, Chris Jericho, Joe Manganiello, Ian Ziering, Lea Michele, James Earl Jones, Tiffani Thiessen

Buzz 12 in 12: Busting a 2006 Topps WWE Heritage II box (Hour 10)

Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today’s your day then as we launch 12 in 12 — a series of a dozen breaks of past wax boxes and wax packs in a dozen hours. We’ll post one every hour on the hour all day long today … this is Hour 10.

The box: 2006 Topps WWE Heritage II wrestling cards (hobby) 
The cost now: $38

What’s inside this one? Keep reading …

First Buzz: 2017 Leaf Buyback Wrestling trading cards

What: 2017 Leaf Buyback Wrestling trading cards
Arrives: December
Box basics: 11 on-card autograph cards per box (five boxes per case)

What’s buzz-worthy: Leaf focuses on wrestling stars of the past with nothing but previously issued cards with ink added for this new product — one that the company says is “easily the most value-driven Leaf wrestling item we have ever released.”

Buzz 12 in 12: Busting a 2015 Panini Americana hobby box (Hour 8)

Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today’s your day then as we launch 12 in 12 — a series of a dozen breaks of past wax boxes and wax packs in a dozen hours. We’ll post one every hour all day long … this is Hour 8.

The box: 2015 Panini Americana trading cards (hobby box)
The cost: Click here

What’s inside this one? Keep reading …

Hulk Hogan ‘Rookie Card’ pumps up Hulkamaniacs over on eBay

One of the highest-graded copies of one of a wrestling icon’s first cards has hit eBay and is already putting on a show.

It’s the 1982 Wrestling All-Star Series A card of Hulk Hogan, and it’s a card from an iconic set that was available via mail order three years before the first WWF (now WWE) cards arrived in packs from Topps.

Is it a Rookie Card? Is it not a Rookie Card? Doesn’t really matter, brother, as it’s already a big deal on eBay.

Buzz 12 in 12: Busting a 2015 Topps Chrome WWE blaster box (Hour 9)

Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today’s your day then as we launch 12 in 12 — a series of a dozen breaks of past wax boxes and wax packs in a dozen hours. We’ll post one every hour on the hour all day long today … this is Hour 9.

The box: 2015 Topps Chrome WWE (blaster)
The cost: $12 — for hobby boxes, hit BlowoutCards.com

What’s inside this one? Keep reading …

Buzz Break: 2015 Topps Chrome WWE cards (blaster 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: 2015 Topps Chrome WWE cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs per box: 8
Cards per pack: 4
Cards in this box: 31
Base set completion: 
19 of 100 (19 percent)
Duplicates: 3

Notable names pulled on base cards – Stephanie McMahon (2), Hulk Hogan (2), Chris Jericho, Bray Wyatt, Ric Flair, Sting, Alicia Fox

Rookie Cards/NXT cards (5) – Rusev, Emma, Tye Dillinger, Bull Dempsey, Colin Cassady

Buzz 12 in 12: Busting a 2015 Panini Americana hobby box (Hour 5)

Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today’s your day then as we launch 12 in 12 — a series of a dozen breaks of past wax boxes and wax packs in a dozen hours. We’ll post one every hour on the hour all day long today … this is Hour 5.

The box: 2015 Panini Americana (hobby box)
The cost: Click here

What’s inside this one? Keep reading …

First Buzz: 2017 Leaf Wrestling Autographed Photograph Edition

What: 2017 Leaf Wrestling Autographed Photograph Edition
Arrives: July 21
Box basics: Five autographed photos in every box (12 boxes per case)

What’s buzz-worthy: Leaf focuses on wrestling stars of the past and present with nothing but signed photos in this new release.

Buzz 12 in 12: Busting a 2015 Panini Americana hobby box (Hour 6)

Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today’s your day then as we launch 12 in 12 — a series of a dozen breaks of past wax boxes and wax packs in a dozen hours. We’ll post one every hour on the hour all day long today … this is Hour 6.

The box: 2015 Panini Americana trading cards (hobby box)
The cost: Click here

What’s inside this one? Keep reading …

Buzz 12 in 12: Busting a 1987 Topps WWF wax pack (Hour 8)

Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today’s your day then as we launch 12 in 12 — a series of a dozen breaks of past wax boxes and wax packs in a dozen hours. We’ll post one every hour on the hour all day long today … and this is Hour 8.

The pack: 1987 Topps WWF wax pack
The cost now: $1.50
The cost then: 40 cents

What’s inside this pack? Keep reading …

Buzz 12 in 12: Busting a 2015 Topps WWE hobby box (Hour 5)

Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today’s your day then as we launch 12 in 12 — a series of a dozen breaks of past wax boxes and wax packs in a dozen hours. We’ll post one every hour on the hour all day long today … and this is Hour 5.

The pack: 2015 Topps WWE (hobby box) 
The cost now: $69 (if you’re lucky)
The cost then: $1.99/pack, $47.76/box

What’s inside this box? Keep reading …

First Buzz: 2017 Super Break Super Fight Edition

What: 2017 Super Break Super Fight Edition
Arrives: Jan. 17
Box basics: Between four and six items per box

What’s buzz-worthy: Super Break gets in the ring with this one that will include notable stars’ autographs and memorabilia from the worlds of boxing, wrestling and MMA all in one place.

Buzz Break: 2015 Panini Americana trading cards (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: 2015 Panini Americana trading cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: Shop around online.

Packs per box: 10
Cards per pack: 5
Cards in this box: 53
Base set completion: 
33 of 73 (45 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Al Pacino, Shannon Elizabeth, Molly Ringwald, Sylvester Stallone, Paula Abdul, James Earl Jones, Eliza Dushku, Danica McKellar, Katrina Bowden, John C. McGinley, Vanilla Ice, Kelly Rowland, Nick Cannon

So, what can be found in the new WWE Slam Crate, anyway?

Curiosity got me.

When Pasadena, Calif.-based Loot Crate recently announced its first crate that’s a tad closer to the sports (entertainment) realm than most of its mystery box offerings — the WWE Slam Crate — this fan decided to sign up and see what was to come.

The First, which is the theme of this one, arrived today packing a few surprises and some oddball inclusions that offer a glimpse of what might be to come.

NSCC signers: Whose autograph would you pick first?

This year’s National Sports Collectors Convention is a couple of months away and thanks to its non-traditional location — Atlantic City, N.J. — there are perhaps a few more guests on tap that we’ve not expected to see at the annual show.

It’s been a long time since the show was last in New Jersey — it’s largely been located in the Midwest for most of the last decade — so regional autograph guests such as Hideki Matsui and countless others who wore pinstripes and starred for other teams in that area make sense. They’ll also help draw in locals who might not normally hit the show … just to get that ink.

Autograph ticket pricing for the show will come soon, but Buzz has picked seven top names that may not break the bank — one per sport — at the show.

Gallery: 2016 Leaf Signature Series wrestling cards

One of the more comprehensive autograph sets in wrestling card history arrived in hobby shops on Friday packing plenty of power from the past for the WWE, TNA, ECW, NWA, AWA and beyond.

The set is 2016 Leaf Signature Series and it includes eight autographed cards in every box with an array of parallels that help add to the chase that’s already pretty intensive.

Gallery: 2015 Leaf Q sports cards

The latest Leaf sports card brand arrived on Friday in the form of the high-end 2015 Leaf Q, which packs a few sports-related surprises inside along with some of the biggest names in all of sports history.

Among the surprises? Chevy Chase‘s first certified autographs — the first of a few to come, actually — with this one remembering his time as an NBA player in Fletch.

First Buzz: 2016 Leaf Signature Series wrestling cards

What: 2016 Leaf Signature Series wrestling cards
Arrives: Late April
Box basics: Eight autographs per box (12 boxes per case)

What’s buzz-worthy: Some of the biggest names in professional wrestling history will be found on autographs in the third Leaf wrestling release and perhaps the biggest names of them all will be included in Andre The Giant and WWE Chairman Vince McMahon as cut autographs.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

First Buzz: 2016 Leaf Q sports cards

What: 2016 Leaf Q sports cards
Arrives: April
Box basics: Five autographs per box (four boxes per case)

What’s buzz-worthy: Leaf Q will present some of the biggest names in the sports world and some of the biggest names from other areas in a multi-sport release that’s packed with nothing but the hits.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

Iconic Sports Illustrated covers can be quite collectable & sometimes quite valuable, too (gallery)

If you’ve watched any NFL games this season, you’ve likely heard the word “concussion” many times as the league has implemented new tests on players to help prevent future problems by assessing the here and now immediately following a hard hit.

On Christmas Day, a film about the issue of concussions in football called Concussion opens in theaters. You’ve probably seen the commercials for the film during NFL games.

Will Smith stars as Dr. Bennet Omalu, who discovered the degenerative brain disease called chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. It’s a real-life issue that has affected more than 80 former players — many you’ve seen on football cards and might have collected. The movie is an important one and Sports Illustrated has Smith on its cover this week to discuss the movie.

Is it the first time a celebrity has appeared on the cover of the highly collectable sports magazine?

Funko Mystery Minis pack toys, fun & chase into little boxes for little price

It’s a trend that’s been growing for the last decade, but there are probably more than a few collectors who have walked right by them in the card aisle at retail stores not realizing what can be had inside packs.

They’re generally known as blind-wrapped mystery toys — a small vinyl figure inside a box or mylar pouch. They’re something that’s been popular in Japan for a long time, but have  taken off in the United States for the last decade.

Think of them as one part coin vending machine, one part toy and one part sports card.

Oh, and they can be one part fun.

Topps adds WWE Superstars & Divas into wall art portfolio

The WWE is getting super-sized when it comes to trading cards.

Topps is taking the Superstars, Legends and Divas found in 2015 Topps WWE and giving them the jumbo wall art treatment with pieces only available on Topps.com and four sets of 5-by-7 trading cards released by the company on Friday.