COLLECTIBLES COLUMN 5 COUNT: Independent Wrestling Trading Card Sets Available Right Now

Independent wrestling trading cards are more popular and abundant than ever, thanks to creative fans, cheaper printing costs and the availability of graphic design software.

Keeping up with all of the independent wrestling cards can be tough, because there’s no definitive checklist and some products are unlicensed. This list provides a sample of independent wrestling cards that are available right now from the designers or the promotions. It is by no means a comprehensive list, and doesn’t include recently sold out sets like the one from Limitless Wrestling. Popular gaming card sets from Filsinger Games, SRG Universe, Go Fight Pow and others will be covered in an upcoming PWTorch collectibles column. Other available products not included in this list include the All In 2018 set and signed 2017 and 2018 Pro Wrestling Guerrilla Battle of Los Angeles sets, all of which can be purchased at Highspots.com. Recently released sets from Game Changer Wrestling and a fan-made AEW set will be featured in upcoming columns.

1. Collector’s Expo LLC signed kiss cards. You’ve probably seen these cards pop up on eBay. Collector’s Expo LLC is an independent company that holds public and private signings with wrestlers, models, actresses and more. They create their own signed kiss cards that are often more affordable than WWE signed kiss cards from Topps. In 2018 they made cards of WWE stars like Alexa Bliss, Nia Jax, the Iiconics and others. In January, Collector’s Expo LLC held a public signing called Glamour Under the Stars in Las Vegas, and produced signed kiss cards of many of the women in attendance, including Jordynne Grace, Taya Valkyrie, Lacey Von Erich, Allie, Velvet Sky, Scarlett Bordeaux and others. Most of the cards are listed on eBay under the seller name ce.llc for $19.99 or $24.99 or best offer, with the exception of Alexa Bliss, whose cards are much higher. Collector’s Expo LLC has 99.8% positive feedback on eBay with more than 6,000 feedback from buyers. The company can also be found on Instagram @ce_llc. (Author’s note: please be aware when searching ce.llc’s items on eBay that the company sells photos and trading cards of adult film stars and models, so those may show up in your search.)
   
2. Superstars of the Squared Circle. To date this company has produced two series of wrestling trading cards, which have included past and present stars. Series 1 consisted of 15 cards in the basic set, with a limited 16^th card of Matt Hardy. Series 1 included cards of Pentagon Jr., Terry Funk, Buddy Roberts, Drago, Chris Adams and more. A 15-card base set is available for $20, and a deluxe package that includes the full set and a signed Matt Hardy card is $30. Series 2 was just released, and includes a basic 15-card set with a limited 16^th card of Kenny Omega. The basic set includes Will Ospreay, Zack Sabre Jr., Magnum TA, Black Taurus, PCO and others. The basic set of series 2 is $20. A deluxe package includes a 15-card base set and signed cards of Marty Jannetty, the Masked Superstar and the Glamour Girls for $50. Find out more about these cards at superstarsofthesquaredcircle.com, or follow them on Twitter @Superstarcards.
3. Ignite Wrestling. The Florida-based Ignite Wrestling recently released 12 new cards, bringing the 2018-2019 set to 60 cards overall. The Ignite set includes cards of lots of local favorites, in addition to more widely known wrestlers like Santana Garrett, Martin Stone (aka NXT’s Danny Burch), Dezmond Xavier, Fred Yehi, Dave Crist and Zachary Wentz. The Ignite cards are $2 each and are available online at ignitewrestling.com.
4. Cactus League Wrestling. Nick Kaufmann designed a set of trading cards that he could take around to local shows to get signed. But before long other fans saw them in person and online, so Kaufmann began offering the 45-card CLW set for $45 shipped. The set includes a lot of local talent, along with familiar names like Mil Muertes, Matt Cross, the Tonga Kid, Carlito and more. For more information, contact Nick Kaufmann at nickkgino@aim.com or follow him on Twitter @NickGinoK1.
5. PCW Ultra. The West Coast PCW Ultra has produced six trading cards that are currently on sale for $2.50 each, plus shipping. The cards have a very sleek, professional design and each is limited to just 200 copies. The six cards produced so far are Tessa Blanchard, Shane Strickland, Sami Callihan, Road Warrior Animal, Penta El Zero M and Mil Mascaras. There’s almost no independent wrestler hotter with collectors right now than Tessa Blanchard, so it’s somewhat surprising that her cards haven’t sold out. The cards can be purchased from the PCW Ultra Facebook page or at pcwultra.com.

NOW CHECK OUT THE PRIOR COLUMN: COLLECTIBLES COLUMN 5 COUNT: Kofi-mania