Buzz Break: 2020 Topps WWE NXT wrestling cards (hobby box)

From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and break down 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: 2020 Topps WWE NXT wrestling cards (hobby)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com 

Keep reading to see a full breakdown and gallery of highlights from this one.

Packs per box: 2
Cards per pack: 25
Cards in this box: 50
Base set completion: 
19 of 100 (19 percent)
Duplicates: 1

Notables on base cards – See gallery for all cards in this box.

Inserts: 28
Roster (12) – Rhea Ripley, Shotzi Blackheart, Kay Lee Ray, Wolfgang, Zack Gibson, James Drake, Flash Morgan Webster, Boa, Mark Andrews, Marina Shafir, Kona Reeves, Walter
Called Up (4) – Aleister Black (2), Montez Ford (2)
Johnny Gargano Tribute (4) – Johnny Gargano
Bronze parallels (6) – Adam Cole, Keith Lee, Angel Garza, DIY, Imperium, Roderick Strong
Blue parallels (1) – Damian Priest (/50)
Silver parallels (1) – Tyler Bate (/25)

Autographs/Memorabilia: 2
Roster Autographs (1) – Roderick Strong
Blue Roster Autographs (1) – Austin Theory (/50)

What's Buzz-worthy: This one is a favorite of mine -- brand-wise -- to get to but I tend to do it after-the-fact when names rise up through the ranks ... but this one is a little different. I like its format, which was a Plan B after delays caused by COVID. I once again landed the two key rookies in my mind on Roster cards and this time I landed a pair of parallel cards that actually don't have long odds for their low numbering (check those backs ... the serial-numbering is not stamped) and, more importantly, a parallel auto of a rookie who has some potential and is younger than a lot of others. ... The changes made here cut down on the base cards and that's a good thing with this release. It was supposed to be a 24-pack box but instead is a two-pack, hit-per box. This move downplays the highlights-driven base set and lets one focus on the better cards here -- the Roster set -- as well as the inserts and hits. You get an autograph in every pack this way and there are some young stars here with big demand vs. others -- particularly Shotzi Blackheart on her first WWE auto and Rhea Ripley -- but there are others on the checklist that aren't bad chases at the per-pack price this one is currently at. This one isn't a flashy rip -- others from last year certainly trump that with Chrome and Finest -- but this one is the home of early card appearances and that's one reason why I rip. If Topps were to flip around the format and drop the highlights approach, this would be the kind of release I'd buy by the case yearly ... but as it is now, I'll dabble and pick off names I like ... in other words, I'll collect it.

Product Grade: A (small boxes help this one a ton)
Box Grade: A (two top rookies, two numbered parallels and a parallel rookie autos = win)
Fun Grade: B+

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