In a spectacular twist that has wrestling fandom buzzing like a freshly popped Pop-Up Powerbomb, WWE trading cards are gearing up to unleash a new wave of excitement among collectors everywhere. Thanks to the illustrious return of Topps as the official trading card maestro and a groundbreaking streaming deal with Netflix, the horizon for WWE collectibles is brighter than ever. Carlito’s apple-eating skills have nothing on the resurgence of these trading cards, which are tantalizingly poised for an epic renaissance.
Can you feel it? The thrill is palpable as recent stats indicate that interest in WWE trading cards is surging faster than a high-flying dropkick. The CardLadder wrestling index reveals that sales have catapulted by a jaw-dropping 25% over the last quarter, trumping even the almighty Pokémon cards—which, by the way, could only muster half that growth. Maybe it’s time to allow Rattata to sit back on the shelf for a while!
December 2023 entered the record books with a monumental occasion: the sale of a legendary 1982 Wrestling All-Stars Hulk Hogan PSA 9 card reaching a whopping $132,000! This little piece of cardboard magic gracefully broke the previous record of $126,000 set by none other than The Rock’s 2022 Panini Black Prizm 1/1. The wrestling trading card universe is experiencing a renaissance unprecedented in modern collecting history.
Much of WWE’s resurgence can be attributed to its recent foray into the world of Netflix, where it has expanded its audience reach like never before. eBay data indicates that interest in WWE memorabilia spiked to an exhilarating 2,700 searches per hour in 2024—a 5% increase from the previous year. The excitement peaked on January 6, the fateful day WWE made its grand debut on Netflix. Interest in WWE cards skyrocketed with individual wrestlers like Rhea Ripley, Roman Reigns, and CM Punk experiencing staggering increases in searches.
But wait, it gets better! Topps is back in action after years in the wrestling card wilderness under Panini’s reign. Topps’ senior vice president of product, Clay Luraschi, is brimming with enthusiasm about the growth of the card market. His confidence runs as high as a Royal Rumble jump-off as he affirms that “WWE is primed for an incredible run in trading cards,” and he’s spot on—this time, it’s time to unleash the creative beasts embedded in some of wrestling’s most magnetic personalities!
The first major release under this revitalized partnership is the 2024 Topps WWE Chrome set, which is packaged with delights like 12 packs per hobby box (with 8 cards in each), two autographs, and an enticing price point sitting at $169.99 per box. Within resides the magic of unique autograph inscriptions—yes, you read it right! Imagine your triumphant wrestlers scribbling their iconic catchphrases. We’ve got Cody Rhodes proclaiming “Story Finished!” and Roman Reigns essentially demanding, “Acknowledge Me!” as if he were conducting his own Hall of Champions!
Not to be outdone, everyone’s favorite eyebrow-raising superstar, The Rock, has returned to the wrestling cards scene for the first time in over two decades, marking a historic milestone with various colorful inscriptions like “Aloha” and “Smell It?” His dual-autographed cards with “Stone Cold” Steve Austin are set to become the Holy Grail for collectors.
As if the nostalgic vibes aren’t enough, 2024 marks the 40th anniversary of WWE trading cards, and Topps is delightfully sprinkling in special inserts that pay tribute to that iconic 1985 nostalgia—a pocket of history in the palm of a collector’s hand! For fans like Luraschi, who gleefully reminisces about his old collection, this is not just business; it’s a heartwarming reunion tour.
Wrestling legend John Cena, a veritable titan in the industry, is also set to receive ample tribute as his farewell tour kicks off in 2025, ensuring Cena’s impact reverberates through various cards in the WWE Chrome set. It’s only right that someone who has left such a monumental imprint on the industry gets an appropriately grand send-off.
The chatter within collector circles is rife with curiosity—debut patch cards? Could WWE join the ranks of MLB and MLS by creating one-of-a-kind rookie cards, featuring game-worn patches from
a wrestler’s first match? Clay Luraschi appears to be keeping us teetering on the edge of our seats as he teased that discussions are indeed “toying around” with this tantalizing prospect.
Analyzing the collecting market landscape, a few interesting trends surface, revealing the most searched wrestlers on eBay to be a mix of nostalgia and modern excitement—Hulk Hogan and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson continue to reign supreme, and the likes of Cody Rhodes and CM Punk are also dominating recent searches. Newer stars are rapidly rising as well, with Swerve Strickland and Lola Vice exhibiting immense increases in card popularity, presenting a generational shift waiting to unfold.
With Topps back at the helm and the market prepared for a meteoric rise, WWE trading cards promise to enchant seasoned collectors and newcomers alike, breathing new life into a beloved hobby. Wrestling cards are no longer merely a sideline; they are ready to take center stage in the world of collectibles. Amidst The Rock’s illustrious comeback, John Cena tributes, and the potential introduction of debut patch cards, 2024 is shaping up to be a groundbreaking year where wrestling card fans—old and new—can enter the ring and join the exhilarating card-collecting action.
