Ronda Rousey’s WWE debut includes epic ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper homage & starts clock for new cards

Whether it was a surprise or not, the deal is done — and now the wait begins for cardboard.

Former UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey made her WWE debut on Sunday night at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view in Philadelphia. After the main event, the first women’s Royal Rumble match, Rousey marched to the ring wearing a new “Rowdy” Roddy Piper-inspired shirt and a coat given to her by the late WWE icon’s son to make it known she’s headed to WrestleMania.

“This is my life now,” Rousey told ESPN. “First priority on my timeline for the next several years. This is not a smash-and-grab; this is not a publicity stunt. When I first met with Triple H, I told him, ‘There are other things I can do with my time that’ll make way more money, but I won’t enjoy nearly as much.'”

When it comes to cards, Rousey has been among the most-popular female athletes out there and her autographs are among the most sought-after in UFC, despite her last match being back in 2016. The wait for her new WWE cards, may not be long, though, thanks to one detail seen on Sunday.

Four of six new Hall of Famers sign autographs for Topps Now

The call to the Hall also means new baseball cards via Topps Now. 

Two of the new members of the Baseball Hall of Fame voted in on Wednesday are signing cards for Topps‘ real-time card program and two others voted in via the Modern Era committee will be inking up, too.

Jim Thome, Chipper Jones, Jack Morris and Alan Trammell also will all have standard cards printed to order after a 24-hour window.

Topps launches new year of Topps Now WWE (ongoing 2018 gallery)

Update (Jan. 24): Topps has added two Relics and a base card for “Stone Cold” Steve Austin to the lineup one day later. The standard Relics (/25) are $39.99 and the 1/1 version is $499.99.

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A big event for the WWE to kickstart its march to WrestleMania has spawned the first 2018 Topps Now WWE cards of the year after the 25th Anniversary of Raw last night in New York.

Four cards will start things off and are up for grabs for the next 24 hours in advance of this weekend’s Royal Rumble pay-per-view, which will likely see some additional returns of past greats just like last night’s nostalgia-filled special — and some additional cardboard next week.

Topps Now: No sophomore slump for this cardboard game-changer

Topps Now‘s second season was one that showed continued growth and more than a million cards sold — with the biggest card of them all arriving in December.

That was for the debut of Shohei Ohtani, which sold more than 17,000 copies.

That wasn’t the only highlight, though.

Shohei Ohtani’s first MLB baseball card arrives via Topps Now

Update (Dec. 18): This card sold a Topps Now record of 17,323 copies.

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The biggest signing of the MLB off-season so far is here on baseball cards.

The ink has dried on Shohei Ohtani‘s contract from Sunday but his marketing deal must be a tad fresher as his first baseball cards showing him in an Angels uniform are here.

That’s thanks to Topps Now.  

Giancarlo Stanton’s first Yankees baseball card is here via Topps Now

The proof is in the pinstripes.

Giancarlo Stanton‘s first moments in a New York Yankees uniform came on Monday after the team confirmed their trade for the reigning National League MVP and MLB home run champ and today we have his first baseball card as a member of the team.

That’s thanks to Topps Now.

Topps NOW UFC cards return with Georges St-Pierre autographs

It’s been a few months since we’ve seen Topps Now take on UFC, but it’s back in the Octagon.

And it’s got some extra punch today as the offerings include autographs from one of the sport’s biggest stars who made his own comeback victory on Saturday night — Georges St-Pierre.

Houston Astros’ World Series title gets plenty of Topps cardboard

Not long after the final out of Game 7 of the World Series last night, Topps showed its hand for the commemorative cardboard.

The Houston Astros already have three World Series champions options available via the company’s website.

Board Buzz: Must-read threads on the Blowout Forums (Oct. 3)

The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What’s Buzzing Today: Trubisky Time, big NFL pulls, Topps Now sets & more.

Rhys Hoskins’ first game-used memorabilia cards hit in new Topps Now MLB Players Weekend set

MLB Players Weekend has come and gone, but the colorful nickname uniforms can now be found in a new batch of Topps Now cards.

And it’s an assortment that includes the first game-used memorabilia cards for the Philadelphia Phillies’ hard-hitting rookie Rhys Hoskins.

These are being sold more like they’re in pack form as the standard cards and all five of their parallels are up for grabs for one price for each of six players.

Houston Astros’ Topps Now card to help Hurricane Harvey flood victims

A moment of silence between the Houston Astros‘ game on Tuesday was captured on cardboard and will help raise money for the American Red Cross and Hurricane Harvey relief beginning today.

The card is the latest from Topps‘ real-time card program, Topps Now, and will only be available for 24 hours initially via Topps.com.

MLB Players Weekend gets Topps Now sets — with possible bonuses

MLB Players Weekend is nearly upon us and it’s a chance for MLB to loosen things up on the uniform front with new colorful looks for its teams complete with nicknames on players’ jerseys just for fun (and marketing/merchandising, of course).

The spectacle of this one also will have cardboard and the first to come will be 2017 Topps Now MLB Players Weekend team sets that will focus on five players per squad from the games. There also will be performance bonuses that potentially translate into extra cards.

Triple H and Stephanie McMahon autographs coming from Topps

“The Game” and “The Billion-dollar Princess” are signing for Topps — and a donation from the company also will help benefit Connor’s Cure, a charity that helps pediatric cancer research.

Topps revealed on Thursday that Triple H and Stephanie McMahon autographs will be on the way in future WWE products and that a Topps Now card featuring them next week also will raise money for the charity.

“We are excited to work with WWE to benefit Connor’s Cure in a unique way through our exclusive trading card offerings,” said Topps WWE Brand Manager Colin Walton. “WWE fans will get the opportunity to learn more about Connor’s Cure and make a direct impact while owning a collectible for years to come.”

Chad Bettis’ cancer comeback creates Topps Now cards for a cause

Colorado Rockies pitcher Chad Bettis’ comeback from cancer on Monday night didn’t net a victory in the record books — but the cardboard just might help do that.

Topps‘ newest batch of Topps Now cards includes autographs from the right-hander and the proceeds from the sales of his cards will go to Stand Up to Cancer.

Aaron Judge’s colorful Home Run Derby socks make way into new Topps Now memorabilia cards

If you’ve noticed those colorful socks used recently in MLB, well, now they have a new home.

Topps Now Relic cards.

Aaron Judge and his All-Star Home Run Derby title captured all the attention Monday night in Miami and today there’s the cardboard to show it.

Buzz Poll: Who wins tonight’s MLB All-Star Home Run Derby?

The MLB All-Star Game is tomorrow night in Miami but all eyes will be on the showdown that is the Home Run Derby tonight (8 p.m., ESPN) where two rookie heavyweights, Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger, could have a showdown — and it won’t even be for the crown.

They’re on the same side of the bracket for the power showcase along with Charlie Blackmon and Justin Bour, while the other side of the bracket includes defending champ Giancarlo Stanton, Gary Sanchez, Mike Moustakas and Miguel Sano. 

Topps readies plenty of MLB All-Star cardboard starting with Topps Now

We’re a week or so away from the MLB All-Star Game and Topps will have plenty of cardboard for baseball fans to chase that commemorates The Midsummer Classic.

Topps Now will be unleashing All-Star cardboard today — team sets for the squads with autographs potentially in the mix — and it will have cards for fans in Miami for the game and the All-Star FanFest, which begins on Thursday.

Cody Bellinger’s homer binge fuels demand for his few certified autos

One of the hottest rookies in baseball — the King of the West Coast to counter Aaron Judge‘s Big Apple dominance — wrote his way into the record books on Monday night.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Cody Bellinger hit two more home runs — that’s 21 in just 51 career games — and that’s the fastest pace in MLB history to start a career and good enough for the National League lead, trailing only Judge for the overall mark.

What makes this feat extra-enticing for collectors? The fact that Bellinger has a relatively minuscule amount of cardboard overall and a small number of certified autographs — and that means more competition for what he does have as the home runs go flying.

Gleyber Torres autos are tougher finds than other young Yankees

Your next big-name New York Yankees rookie to arrive in The Big Apple will face big expectations — but he doesn’t have nearly as much cardboard as those who arrived before him.

Unlike the arrivals of Gary Sanchez and Aaron Judge — guys who had plenty of baseball cards and plenty of certified autographs when they hit The Show — shortstop Gleyber Torres doesn’t.

And that could bode very well for collectors who own them.

Derek Jeter Topps Now push sets new record for total cards sold

The Captain didn’t top Ichiro Suzuki‘s single-card Topps Now sales record, but an array of cards for the New York Yankees’ retirement of Derek Jeter‘s uniform number did sell more total cards than any other player in a single day.

More than 17,000 Jeter cards were sold by Topps on Monday, including a number of autographed Relics and Relics along with his two standard cards — one for his Monument Park plaque and one for his retired number.

The record for the most copies of a single card is still Suzuki’s 11,550, which came after his 3,000th career hit last season.

Board Buzz: Must-read threads on the Blowout Forums (May 10)

The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What’s Buzzing Today: Aaron Judge’s hot start, pondering retro Topps Now cards, big pulls & even some Daisy Ridley ink.

Topps launches Topps Now Loyalty Program for heavy Now buyers

As a “way of saying thank you for being such a loyal customer of Topps” a selected number of Topps Now purchasers have received invitations to a Topps Now Loyalty Program.

As part of the membership perks, those invited at the Platinum level will receive a nine-card autographed set of cards apparently limited to only 25 copies per card showcasing notable players from last year.

Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard is this year’s Topps Now intern

Topps Now was a game-changer last season for baseball cards and it’s been a big enough hit that “Fred” and friends now have an intern.

You might know him.

Weekend Update: Check out 14 top items on The Buzz last week

Ok, it’s not the weekend, but this further proves that Buzz’s fantasy baseball draft just took waayyyy too long yesterday. (Hear that, commish?) Here are several stories worth a look if you missed out. Check ’em out & subscribe at right if you want email updates.

This Week’s Big Hit?
We’re less than a week away from WrestleMania 33 in Orlando and Topps dropped the biggest mic of them all (“pipebomb” in WWE-Punk parlance) for collectors with the arrival of autographs from Undertaker for the first time in Topps packs — and just the third time in hobby history. Get all of the details on which brands get his legendary ink here.

Keep reading for more …

World Baseball Classic continues with new Topps Now cardboard

The World Baseball Classic may be over but the Topps Now baseball cards are not.

A total of 10 new cards were revealed on the real-time cardboard platform on Friday, focusing on the members of the All-WBC Team and a trio of young stars on one squad who signed on for the newest autographs from the event.

World Baseball Classic champions get their Topps Now moment

USA Baseball clinched its first World Baseball Classic championship late Wednesday night and now the new baseball cards are here.

How? Via Topps Now — Topps‘ online platform for real-time baseball cards that capture moments as soon as possible on cardboard.

A dozen cards were revealed on Thursday with USA’s star pitcher Marcus Stroman the subject of two types of Relic cards — with and without ink.

Relics grab spotlight in Topps’ latest World Baseball Classic cards

The first 2017 World Baseball Classic Relics are here.

Puerto Rico‘s win that advanced it to the final of the international event last night can be found on new Topps Now cardboard for the next 24 hours only — and there are a pair of Relics among today’s offerings.

One is a signed base card from team star Carlos Correa and the other is a first for the Now program — a game-used baseball Relic.

Weekend Update: Check out 10 top items on The Buzz last week

It was a busy one on The Buzz this past week. Here are 10 stories worth a look if you missed out. Check ’em out & hit the subscribe button at right if you want email updates.

Big-ink Potential 
Upcoming release from Topps puts emphasis — and ink — on key cards of today’s stars. Get the details >> First Buzz: 2017 Topps Archives Signature Series Active Player Edition

Keep reading for more …

Topps’ World Baseball Classic cards extend to sets for remaining teams

The next piece in Topps’ World Baseball Classic cardboard puzzle is here.

With two teams already advancing to the semi-final round of this year’s international showcase, the 2017 Topps Now World Baseball Classic team sets are now here.

That means even more stars from the WBC squads get cardboard — and collectors get bonuses if the teams win it all.

Weekend Update: Check out 10 top items on The Buzz last week

Ok, it’s not the weekend, but this was slated to be sent last night — further proving that it was a busy one on The Buzz this past week. Here are 10 stories worth a look if you missed out. Check ’em out & hit the subscribe button at right if you want email updates.

This Week’s Big Hit?
It seems that 2017 Donruss‘ arrival has collectors talking and there’s fun to be found inside its packs. Click here to start with variations and find links to checklists & more. After that, check out a Buzz Break of a hobby box right here.

Keep reading for more …

Topps Now is going to WrestleMania

Topps Now is headed to Orlando for WrestleMania 33 — but we don’t have to wait until April 2 for the cardboard.

A pair of Countdown sets for the events of WrestleMania weekend arrived today from Topps.

Topps Now has the World Baseball Classic covered on cardboard

Topps Now is the answer to the question of how the World Baseball Classic will be covered when it comes to baseball cards.

The real-time baseball card platform launched its 2017 Topps Now WBC set on Monday with cards from the Team Israel victory over Korea.

“We’re excited for the progression of the Topps Now program and bringing these cards to a wider audience of baseball fans,” said David Leiner, Topps’ GM and VP of North American Sports and Entertainment. “This program has been a lot of fun since its inception to see what great moments and milestones we can capture on cards. The World Baseball Classic is a natural fit because it offers great plays from international stars, and there are also players whose cards you might not be able to get anywhere else.”

Topps Now spring training cards aren’t just found in team sets (ongoing gallery)

Topps isn’t limiting Topps Now to spring training team sets this season.

The real-time baseball card platform launched its 2017 Topps Now Spring Training MLB set on Monday with a single card of Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Tyler Glasnow, who racked up six strikeouts in two innings on Sunday.

New season for Topps Now launches now — team sets for spring training with bonus autos & incentive cards

Day 1 of 2017 Topps Now is here — and it launches with 450 base cards.

And autographed cards atop that … and incentive bonus cards possible, too.

How? Team sets documenting spring training — 42 in all — that launch now and are on sale until April 4.

Topps Now was game-changer in first year for MLB cardboard

Real cards in real time — or at least the next day. It was a simple idea that became Topps Now that has helped in some ways transform collecting beginning on April 3, 2016.

Need proof?

There are 1,184 different Now cards now for MLB alone — some with autographs and game-used memorabilia from the games that are depicted on the card. There are also Topps Now cards for last year’s election and presidential debates, Now cards for WWE and for UFC and even real-time cardboard releases from AMC‘s Preacher and the Garbage Pail Kids taking on real-time scandals and viral curiosities. Oh, and there are other companies in on the real-time card business now for the other leagues, too.

Let’s take a quick look at some of the highlights from last year’s MLB releases before the 2017 Topps Now cards — with a new look and numbering — start soon and some basic info on every single one of the 2016 releases.

How do we knew there’s a new look? Buzz checked the mailbox and found something inside. Keep reading for a first look at 2017 Topps Now.