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THE SPECIALISTS
COLLECTIBLES COLUMN: Collectors Paying Big Bucks For New Topps WrestleMania Product

Oct 8, 2014 - 12:14:35 PM
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By Michael Moore, PWTorch Collectibles specialist

In Brief: Topps has collectors chasing new autographs of Hogan, Simmons, Nash, and more.

Card Show #45: 2014 Topps WWE Road to WrestleMania Legends Autographs

Topps has found a pretty successful formula for its WWE trading cards over the last few years. A basic, traditional set that spotlights each wrestler is released early in the year, followed by a sort of “best of” product later in the year. This year, Topps also snuck in a premium product, 2014 Topps WWE Chrome.

The basic Topps WWE trading cards released in early 2014 were wildly popular with collectors, boosted by one of the strongest autograph lineups in years and different parallel cards for collectors to chase. The late-year release, 2014 Topps WWE Road to WrestleMania, is also loaded with a strong autograph checklist, a handful of short-printed relics and base cards and inserts that recap the year that led up to WrestleMania XXX.

Autographs drive just about every sports and non-sport trading product on the market, and 2014 Topps WWE Road to WrestleMania is no different. The WrestleMania Autographs subset includes signatures from current WWE stars who have been prominently featured in recent WWE releases from Topps, including Roman Reigns, Bray Wyatt, Nikki Bella, Kane, and Cesaro, among others.

Each of these wrestlers also inked swatches of canvas for the WrestleMania XXX Signed Mat Card Relic, which features each wrestler’s autograph (and the occasional inscription) on a jumbo piece of the WrestleMania XXX mat.

But, the really cool part of this product is the inclusion of signatures from several WWE legends. Topps secured autographs from a great mix of headliners and fan favorites from WWE’s past. Here’s a look at the six legends’ autographs that have been hot sellers from 2014 Topps WWE Road to WrestleMania.

(1) Hulk Hogan. WrestleMania was built squarely on the shoulders of Hulkamania, so it’s great to see that Topps was able to include Hogan’s signature in this set. This is the first time Hogan’s signature has appeared on a licensed WWE trading card since 2005. Hogan has been a frequent signer since then, autographing cards for TRISTAR (2010-2013 TNA), Upper Deck (2012 All-Time Greats), Topps (2006 Allen & Ginter), and Leaf (2012 Originals Wrestling) and others.

But, collectors really want Hogan’s signature on a licensed WWE product, and the abundance of other autographed trading cards hasn’t really driven down the price of Hogan’s autograph. His WrestleMania Autographs card usually sells in the $150-200 range, and a WrestleMania XXX Signed Mat Card Relic sold for a whopping $338.33.

(2) Ron Simmons. The former Faarooq has been a WWF/WWE regular since 1996, but this is Simmons’ first certified autograph. He has never before signed for a WWE product from Comic Images, Fleer or Topps. Companies like Upper Deck and Press Pass have made several sets of college gridiron greats, but have never included Simmons, a legitimate star from Florida State. Simmons’ signature has been one of the hottest cards from this product, with most auctions ending in the $40-50 range.

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(3) Lex Luger. Luger has mostly been persona non grata in WWE since jumping ship to WCW on the very first episode of Nitro in 1995, but he’s recently started appearing on WWE DVDs and in trading card sets. Luger previously signed for Topps in 1999 as part of its WCW set, but only autographed that card “Total Package.” He also signed quite a few cards for the 2012 Leaf Originals Wrestling set, which can often be found for under $10.

But, collectors are willing to pay considerably more for Luger’s signature on a WWE card. Most of Luger’s 2014 Topps WWE autographs have sold in the $45-75 range, with the signed mat relics selling for $75-100. One odd couple dual autograph of Luger and Cesaro, serial numbered 2/10, sold for $220.

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(4) Trish Stratus. Trish plays a big part in the 2014 Topps WWE Road to WrestleMania set. She is the subject of a 12-card Queen of WrestleMania insert set, and her short-printed jumbo relic cards are some of the top pieces in the entire product. Her WrestleMania Autograph typically sells in the $40-70 range, with the jumbo mat auto commanding around $125 or more. Stratus most recently signed for the 2013 Topps Best of WWE product, and has also been included in autograph products from Fleer (early-2000s WWE), Topps (mid-2000s WWE) and Leaf (2012 Canadiana).

(5) Kevin Nash. “Big Sexy” was a big part of TRISTAR’s TNA sets. Unfortunately, TRISTAR flooded the market with Nash signatures from 2008 to 2010, to the point that many can be found today for less than $10. Nash also signed quite a few cards for the Leaf Originals Wrestling set in 2012. But this is Nash’s first certified WWE autograph. It is outselling many of his older autographs, usually fetching $25-35.

(6) Jimmy Hart. Few wrestling personalities have been featured in as many trading card sets as the “Mouth of the South.” He has appeared on cards from WWF/WWE (Topps, Classic), WCW (Topps), TNA (TRISTAR), and other wrestling products (1983 Wrestling All Stars, 2012 Leaf Originals Wrestling). His signature has been included in many of those sets as well. Hart’s 2014 Topps WWE signature has been selling in the $20-30 range.

PWTorch Collectibles Specialist Michael Moore can be reached at michaelmoorewriter@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @MMooreWriter .


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