CONTACTABOUTFACEBOOKTWITTERPODCAST IPHONE APPANDROID APPAMAZON APPRSS
Pro Wrestling Torch
Pro Wrestling Torch Reaches The Most Wrestling Fans Every Week: #1 in iTunes • #1 on iPhone and iPad • #1 on Android • #1 on Kindle
GOT THE PWTORCH APP YET?
iPhone & iPad
Android
Amazon Kindle
Windows Phone
PWTorch Phone App
THE SPECIALISTS
COLLECTIBLES COLUMN: WWE vs. UFC Trading Cards - Comparing Card Values of Today's Rising Stars

Jan 25, 2015 - 11:32:08 AM
PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO BOOKMARK US & VISIT US DAILY


RollinsSeth_Wide_2.png



In Brief: Whose cards are hotter: Ronda’s or A.J.’s? Rollins’s or McGregor’s?

By Michael Moore, PWTorch Collectibles specialist

Some mixed martial arts fans will tell you that pro wrestling is fake, and question how anyone can watch it. Some wrestling fans will insist that MMA is nothing more than two guys rolling around with each other. But, those who follow both sports know that pro wrestling and MMA share more commonalities than differences.

When it comes to trading cards, pro wrestling and MMA have more in common with each other than with other sports. Each is an individual combat sport, compared to the big four team sports: football, baseball, basketball and hockey. Wrestling and MMA trading cards don’t have quite the history of other sports cards, especially baseball. Topps holds exclusive licenses for both WWE and UFC trading cards, and both markets are primarily driven by autographs and, to a lesser extent, memorabilia cards. Traditional base cards and rookie cards don’t carry the same weight as they do in the big four team sports.

But, WWE and UFC trading cards also have some differences. Topps tends to produce a greater quantity of UFC cards and also a greater number of products each year - although that may be changing, with three WWE releases each year in 2014 and 2015. There may be more diehard WWE collectors, but UFC seems to appeal to a wider audience in general; for example, there may be more collectors interested in WWE cards as a whole, but more collectors of mainstream sports cards seem to be interested in an autograph of George St-Pierre than John Cena.

So given those parameters, how do WWE and UFC trading cards compare? How does top female fighter Ronda Rousey compare with top diva A.J. Lee? What about the comparison between break-out stars Seth Rollins and Conor McGregor?

A.J. Lee vs. Ronda Rousey

- The Comparison: A.J.’s and Ronda’s cards, especially autographs, consistently outsell all others in their respective genres. But, while A.J. Lee appeals to a very specific wrestling fan base, Rousey is a star with collectors of all sports. She’s right up there with LeBron James, Andrew Luck, and Mike Trout. In fact, few professional athletes have been hotter with card collectors than Ronda Rousey over the last two years.

- Cardboard Trends: Rousey’s autographs change hands much more frequently than A.J.’s. Part of that may be a broader appeal, and another part may be a greater quantity of UFC cards produced than WWE.

Rousey’s most popular card is her 2012 Topps Finest UFC Autograph, which was her first certified autograph. This has been one of the hottest sports cards over the last two years. It cooled off somewhat during December, but picked right back up again after the first of the year. Ungraded copies typically sell in the $175-225 range. Cards that have been graded gem mint, such as a 9.5 by Beckett Grading Services (BGS), command a substantial premium. Most recent auctions for gem mint graded cards have ended in the $275-325 range.

A.J.’s most frequently traded card in recent months has been her 2014 Topps WWE Autograph. This card typically sells in the $75-100 range, and some auctions have ended as high as $149.99.

image_4.jpg



Seth Rollins vs. Conor McGregor

- The Comparison: In 2014, Rollins broke away from The Shield. Despite a shaky start on the mic, Rollins has become arguably the top heel in the business thanks to his strong promos and excellent ringwork. His “Future of the WWE” moniker isn’t just a nickname.

McGregor’s brash interviews and pro wrestling-like personality made him UFC’s breakout star. Just last weekend, UFC built an entire Fight Night card around the “Notorious” Irishman. His pending title fight with Jose Aldo could be one of the top UFC draws in recent history.

- Cardboard Trends: Despite his emergence as one of wrestling’s top stars in 2014, interest in Rollins’ cards has remained flat. His 2013 Topps Best of WWE Autograph sold in the $30-35 range pretty consistently all year, well below the sale prices of former Shield partners Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose.

McGregor’s trading cards have gained steam over the last several months, especially after his fight with Dennis Siver received considerable mainstream media coverage. McGregor’s most popular card is his 2013 Topps UFC Bloodlines Autograph, which was his first certified auto. The card sold in the $50-65 range pretty consistently in November and December. Over the last two weeks, most eBay auctions have ended at around $80.

image_1.jpg



[ FYI: Future PWTorch.com Collectibles Columns will compare the top cards of other top WWE and UFC stars. ]

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


We suggest these recent related articles...
10/5 WWE Raw Hits & Misses: Natalya vs. Paige, Owens vs. Cara, Stephanie McMahon, Sasha Banks, Xavier Woods
COLLECTIBLES COLUMN: The History of Foam Hands in Pro Wrestling
9/28 WWE Raw Hits & Misses: Kane's Split Personality, Divas Revolution, Heyman & Big Show, Reigns vs. Wyatt
prowrestling.net
CLICK HERE FOR EVEN MORE PW.NET HEADLINES


CLICK TO EMAIL THIS ARTICLE
CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO MAIN LISTING

NEW! SIGN UP FOR FREE PWTORCH BREAKING NEWS EMAIL ALERTS
BECOME A PWTORCH VIP MEMBER
-FORMER MEMBERS LOGIN HERE TO RENEW
-NEW MEMBERS CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP
SELECT BY ARTICLES CATEGORY
SEARCH PWTORCH.COM



CLICK HERE FOR LIST OF UPCOMING PRO WRESTLING EVENTS
MORE HEADLINES AT AFFILIATE SITES
MMATorch
LATEST HEADLINES - CLICK TO READ CLICK HERE FOR MORE MMATORCH HEADLINES



LATEST HEADLINES - CLICK TO READ CLICK HERE FOR EVEN MORE INC HEADLINES

_
LATEST FREE AUDIO SHOWS - CLICK TO LISTEN VIEW MORE PWTORCH LIVECAST EPISODES
DOWNLOAD PWTORCH LIVECAST APP
SUBSCRIBE TO PWTORCH LIVECAST IN ITUNES


ABOUT US

THE TORCH REACHES MORE COMBAT ENTERTAINMENT FANS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

PWTorch editor Wade Keller has covered pro wrestling full time since 1987 starting with the Pro Wrestling Torch print newsletter. PWTorch.com launched in 1999 and the PWTorch Apps launched in 2008.

He has conducted "Torch Talk" insider interviews with Hulk Hogan, The Rock, Steve Austin, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Eric Bischoff, Jesse Ventura, Lou Thesz, Jerry Lawler, Mick Foley, Jim Ross, Paul Heyman, Bruno Sammartino, Goldberg, more.

He has interviewed big-name players in person incluiding Vince McMahon (at WWE Headquarters), Dana White (in Las Vegas), Eric Bischoff (at the first Nitro at Mall of America), Brock Lesnar (after his first UFC win).

He hosted the weekly Pro Wrestling Focus radio show on KFAN in the early 1990s and hosted the Ultimate Insiders DVD series distributed in retail stories internationally in the mid-2000s including interviews filmed in Los Angeles with Vince Russo & Ed Ferrara and Matt & Jeff Hardy. He currently hosts the most listened to pro wrestling audio show in the world, (the PWTorch Livecast, top ranked in iTunes)


REACHING 1 MILLION+ UNIQUE USERS PER MONTH
500 MILLION CLICKS & LISTENS PER YEAR
MILLIONS OF PWTORCH NEWSLETTERS SOLD
PWTORCH STAFF

EDITORS:
Wade Keller, editor
(kellerwade@gmail.com)

James Caldwell, assistant editor
(pwtorch@gmail.com)

STAFF COLUMNISTS:
Bruce Mitchell (since 1990)
Pat McNeill (since 2001)
Greg Parks (since 2007)
Sean Radican (since 2003)

We also have a great team of
TV Reporters
and Specialists and Artists.

PWTORCH VIP MEMBERSHIP

PWTorch offers a VIP membership for $10 a month (or less with an annual sub). It includes nearly 25 years worth of archives from our coverage of pro wrestling dating back to PWTorch Newsletters from the late-'80s filled with insider secrets from every era that are available to VIPers in digital PDF format and Keller's radio show from the early 1990s.

Also, new exclusive top-shelf content every day including a new VIP-exclusive weekly 16 page digital magazine-style (PC and iPad compatible) PDF newsletter packed with exclusive articles and news.

The following features come with a VIP membership which tens of thousands of fans worldwide have enjoyed for many years...

-New Digital PWTorch Newsletter every week
-3 New Digital PDF Back Issues from 5, 10, 20 years ago
-Over 60 new VIP Audio Shows each week
-Ad-free access to all PWTorch.com free articles
-VIP Forum access with daily interaction with PWTorch staff and well-informed fellow wrestling fans
-Tons of archived audio and text articles
-Decades of Torch Talk insider interviews in transcript and audio formats with big name stars.


**SIGN UP FOR VIP ACCESS HERE**

CONTACTABOUTFACEBOOKTWITTERPODCASTIPHONE APPANDROID APPAMAZON APPRSS
VIP SIGN-UP
VIP LOGIN
THE TORCH: #1 IN COMBAT ENTERTAINMENT COVERAGE | © 1999-2013 TDH Communications Inc. • All rights reserved -- PRIVACY POLICY