Buzz Break: 2006 Topps WWE Insider cards (hobby box)

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there's a box you'd want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2006 Topps WWE Insider wrestling cards
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (when available)

Packs per box: 24
Cards per pack: 7
Cards in this box: 166
Base set completion: 
72 of 72 (100 percent)
Duplicates: 72 (complete set)
Triplicates: 20

Notables on base cards – Big Show, Edge, Hulk Hogan, Jerry Lawler, John Cena, Jonathan Coachman, Kane, Kurt Angle, Lillian Garcia, Lita, Maria, Matt Hardy, Ric Flair, Rob Van Dam, Shawn Michaels, Mickie James, Steve Austin, Triple H, Trish Stratus, Victoria, Batista, Candice Michelle, Joey Styles, Johnny Nitro, Ashley, Melina, Randy Orton, Rey Mysterio, Road Warrior Animal, Goldust, Torrie Wilson, Theodore Long, Undertaker

Insert/short-print cards: None 

Autographs/Memorabilia: 2
WWE Insider Authentic Autographs (1) – Carlito
WWE Insider Memorabilia Card (1) – John Cena

What's Buzz-worthy: Want a classic example of how things have changed a lot in just a little time? Behold, a hobby box that guarantees an autograph and a Relic in every box -- but has zero insert cards. Since this one arrived 12 years ago, Topps has gone from not having ink in every box to back to having autos in every box but gone are the silver stickers that are found here. What makes this a strong box? While it's a plain white swatch card, the Cena is the hardest of the five Relics in the product to pull. He's one in 2,240 packs while the rest range from one in 1,080 to 1,795 -- yet oddly there's still one in every box. (I'll let that mysterious error remain in the past -- but I'm sticking to it that this Relic is the rarest.) There are 22 different signers in this one with Hall of Famers Edge, Trish Stratus, Lita and Road Warrior Animal joined by a number of stars who were big then -- John Cena, Matt Hardy, Mickie James, Randy Orton, Torrie Wilson, Candice Michelle, Maria Kanellis among others. There are three insert sets for this product -- only found in retail boxes -- including coins, Diva foil cards and Champions foil cards, which are all solid inclusions. Had those been in these packs? It might be an untouchably simple low-end release that delivers well. This was a low-end brand (roughly $48 a box if I remember correctly) back then and it delivered pretty well for the hits. The base set is relatively bland -- just studio shots on every card front with a mix of studio and action on the backs -- but the overall isn't bad with the hits. As long as you can land these cheap -- which may be tough as WWE wax gets ripped and isn't as plentiful as MLB, NFL, etc -- it's worth a look. One thing to keep in mind here is that retail boxes look the same -- watch for the Hobby logo on the box -- and there are European versions of this set found in English, German and Italian. (No hits in those boxes but they do have a number of different inclusions.)

Product Grade: A- (thanks to the autos)
Box Grade: A
Fun Grade: B+

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