By Michael Moore, PWTorch Collectibles column

In Brief: Many of the top names in El Rey’s Lucha Underground show can be found in trading card sets from WWE, WCW, and Mexico.

Card Show #48: Lucha Underground Wrestlers

Wrestling fans have been clamoring for a wrestling alternative, especially given how bad WWE’s product has been over the last several months. El Rey network will have a chance to show whether Lucha Underground is that alternative beginning Wednesday night.

The Lucha Underground roster is made up of top young and veteran talent from Mexico’s AAA promotion, former stars from WWE, TNA, and WCW, and others. Many of these wrestlers have appeared on trading cards over the years.

Here’s a look at some trading cards of the wrestlers listed on the Lucha Underground roster. If you know if any licensed trading cards of wrestlers not listed, feel free to send along a note.

- Blue Demon Jr.: 1993 Topps CMLL #7. This lucha legend hasn’t appeared on many trading cards. His earliest card, according to WrestlingTradingCards.com, can be found in the 1993 CMLL set from Topps. These can be tough to find, but not impossible. Ungraded copies are usually under $5, while cards with a grade of PSA 9 (near mint-mint) usually sell for around $15.




- Chavo Guerrero: 1999 Topps WCW Autographs. Chavo was part of the historic 1998 and 1999 WCW sets from Topps, and this autograph usually sells in the $50-75 range. Cheaper autographs from Topps (WWE) and TRISTAR (TNA) can usually be found for under $10.

- El Mesias (Mil Muertes): 2008 Record Luchas Mensual #42 (Issue 3, 2008). Many fans in the U.S. only know (Judas) Mesias from his brief run as James Mitchell’s protégé in a TNA feud with Abyss. But he’s done his best work in Puerto Rico and especially in AAA, where he has been one of Mexico’s top stars for several years. This card was included in the third issue of Record Luchas magazine in 2008. The cards themselves are scarce, but back issues of the magazines can usually be found on eBay for $10-12.

- Ezekiel Jackson (Big Ryck): 2010 Topps WWE Autographs. BigRyck might be the only wrestler of note to work for WWE, TNA and Lucha Underground in 2014. He appeared in several Topps WWE sets over the years. This certified autograph typically sells for under $10.

- John Morrison (Johnny Mundo): 2009 Topps WWE Autographs Retail Exclusive. The former Johnny Nitro/John Morrison should be a great fit for the Lucha Underground promotion. He first appeared on a WWE trading card (from Fleer) as Johnny Nitro in 2004, and was a regular in Topps WWE sets from 2005 to 2012. This is a tough card to find since it was inserted exclusively into retail packs, and determining a price can be very difficult. Expect to pay somewhere in the $25-50 range if you can find one.

- Konnan: 1998 Topps WCW Autographs. Konnan was a big star in WCW during the Monday Night War, especially during his time as a member of the NWO WolfPac. He’s been an even bigger star in Mexico over the years, as a wrestler and as the leader of the top heel group known as the Foreign Legion. He’ll play a similar role in Lucha Underground, guiding the career of Prince Puma, aka indy darling Ricochet.

- Matt Striker: 2010 Topps WWE Autographs #A-MS. The former WWE wrestler-turned-manager-turned-announcer will help translate the lucha libre style to English-speaking audiences as one of the Lucha Underground commentators. Striker’s signature can typically be found for under $10.

- Maxine (Catrina): 2012 Topps WWE Best in Class Divas Class of 2012 Autographs. The former NXT Diva appears as the Lana to Mil Muertes’s Rusev in Lucha Underground. The 2012 Topps WWE Best in Class set was filled with Divas cards, including several of Maxine. This autograph can be found for around $15-$20. There’s also a dual signature with fellow NXT alum Kaitlyn that is very scarce and considerably more valuable.




- Savannah (Angela Fong): 2009 Topps WWE Slam Attax #84. As Savannah, Fong was the ring announcer for the first season of NXT, which featured future WWE stars like Daniel Bryan and Wade Barrett. She wasn’t around on TV for very long, and her only trading card can be found in the 2009 Topps WWE Slam Attax card game. You can find one on the secondary market for a couple bucks at most.

- Sexy Star: 2008 Record Luchas Mensual #44 (Issue 4, 2008). Many fans in the U.S. may not be familiar with Sexy Star, who has been one of the top rudas in AAA for several years. Her only licensed trading card, according to WrestlingTradingCards.com, was included in the fourth issue of Record Luchas magazine in 2008.

- Shawn Hernandez: 2013 TRISTAR TNA Impact Live Autograph Inscription. Hernandez was once labeled a future superstar in TNA, but “SuperMex” had a variety of factors working against him. One of the best runs of his career was as a heel in AAA in 2010, so fans may get to see more out of him in Lucha Underground than they ever did in TNA. Hernandez signed thousands of cards for TRISTAR’s TNA sets from 2008 to 2013. This card features a more legible signature than most and is inscribed, “Nada es imposible!”




- Vampiro: 1993 Topps CMLL #63. To many U.S. fans, Vampiro is the guy who was stuck in a hokey, Vince Russo-booked feud with Sting in WCW. But, he was a top star in Mexico for many years, and will join Striker as a broadcaster for Lucha Underground. Like Blue Demon, Vampiro first appeared in the 1993 Topps CMLL trading card set. His card is more valuable than Blue Demon’s. Only one copy has received a gem mint (PSA 10) grade, and is currently listed for sale on eBay for $75.

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

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