COLLECTIBLES COLUMN: Topps Releases Rousey’s First WWE Card

Ronda Rousey’s first official WWE trading card is now live and will be available for just 24 hours.

Rousey is featured on the first Topps Now card from WrestleMania 34. The front of the card features a shot of Rousey’s ring entrance from WrestleMania. The picture shows Rousey removing her jacket while wearing the Roddy Piper-inspired top and kilt as she stares a hole through her opponents.

Topps Now cards were launched several years ago to capture big moments in sports and entertainment. For example, instead of waiting months for a card of the World Champion Chicago Cubs in 2016 to appear in a traditional set, collectors could order cards the day after the final game of the World Series ended.

Topps Now cards are sold for 24 hours at $9.99 each; however many orders are placed within that 24-hour window is how many copies of the card will be made. For example, Topps issued a card commemorating Daniel Bryan’s return announcement on the March 20 episode of Smackdown, and 125 cards were made.

Topps also makes limited numbers of signed Topps Now cards or cards with memorabilia. For Rousey, there were two different cards with a piece of the WrestleMania canvas: the basic card was numbered to 25 (for $49.99) and a gold parallel was numbered 1/1 (for $499.99). Both of those cards sold out almost immediately.

Topps Now cards are very popular with collectors and many increase in value on the secondary market almost instantly. A few collectors who bought the basic mat card for $49.99 instantly listed it on eBay as a preorder, with most listings ending at over $200. A mat relic of John Cena and Nikki Bella from WrestleMania 33 recently sold for $99.99, and Topps Now mat relics of Asuka winning the first women’s Royal Rumble match have been selling for close to $200.

Topps Now cards of Alexa Bliss, which sold about 180 to 230 copies each, often sell for $25-$50, depending on the card.

Rousey’s Topps Now card will be available for purchase until approximately 3 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, March 12. Once the card has sold out, Topps will announce how many copies were ordered. The card can be ordered from https://www.topps.com/collectibles/trading-cards/wwe-topps-now.html.

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