Buzz Break: 2021 Topps Chrome WWE (hobby box)

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: 2021 Topps Chrome WWE wrestling cards (hobby)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Keep reading for a full breakdown of what was in this one.

Packs per box: 24
Cards per pack: 4
Cards in this box: 96
Base set completion: 
60 of 100 (60 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Sasha Banks, Scarlett, Liv Morgan, Mandy Rose, Peyton Royce, Billie Kay, Bianca Belair, Io Shirai, Asuka, Ruby Riott, Raquel Gonzalez, Roman Reigns, "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt, Big E, Kofi Kingston, Johnny Gargano, Drew McIntyre, Seth Rollins, Santos Escobar, Jeff Hardy, A.J. Styles, Daniel Bryan, John Morrison, Montez Ford, Angelo Dawkins

Rookie Cards (2) – Dabba-Kato, Arturo Ruas

Insert/short-print cards: 34 (a sampling of everything from box in gallery below)
Refractors (23) – Bianca Belair, Alexa Bliss, Nia Jax, Lacey Evans, Nikki Cross, Sonya Deville, Shayna Baszler, Roman Reigns, Finn Balor, Braun Strowman, Karrion Kross, Timothy Thatcher, Robert Stone, Daniel Bryan, Dominik Dijakovic, Erik, A.J. Styles, Swerve Scott, Cesaro, Murphy, Sami Zayn, Ridge Holland, Apollo Crews
Green Refractors (1) – The Miz (/99)
Cruiserweight Greats (1) – The Brian Kendrick
Five-Timers Club (2) – Ric Flair, Edge
Best of In Your House (2) – Io Shirai, Shawn Michaels
Best of In Your House Green Refractors (1) – Undertaker (/99)
Image variations (4) – Bianca Belair, Samoa Joe, Shinsuke Nakamura, Keith Lee

Autographs/Memorabilia: 2
Refractor Autographs (1) – Peyton Royce (/199)
Five-Timers Club Orange Refractor Autographs (1) – Sasha Banks (/25)

What's Buzz-worthy: I thought I was opening a WWE box but after finding that Banks auto -- one in 1,105 packs (or one in 46 boxes or one in six cases) -- I think my reaction was a little more EC(fn)W with a rather-holy phrase coming to mind. Not only is that a tough pull but Banks is an A-list name here and a favorite I have collected in the past. Atop that? The Green Undertaker insert is one in 206 packs and even that basic Green parallel isn't an every-box thing at one in 52. From the start this was an A+ box and it's fitting because once I had this one in hand some of my worries about this release based on mocks dissipated ... it's an A+ release, too. Last year, I gave the somewhat minimalist design of Chrome an A+ but I think this one is better with the pseudo-1987 Topps vibe borders (no wood) working well within Chrome but without a comic book feel that I initially had. This one feels modern like a Chrome set should. The only drawback here is you can see how it was delayed a bit this year with a number of past WWE stars still on the checklist, giving us last shots at new cards and new ink -- and I found a second favorite, Royce, on the other auto with a pretty fierce shot and a solid on-card sig to go with it. The Refractor-per-pack formula remains here but with those sometimes coming in tandem with the variation cards (also on a Refractor finish) along with some simple inserts that aren't jarring save for maybe that In Your House set, which has intentional throwback vibes appropriate to the PPV's history. I went hobby boxes here for my first taste as the autograph odds in retail looked very rough but maybe they will over-deliver like they did last year. Is this one dramatically better? Nah, in fact the ink lineup had some people talking about how it wasn't as strong this year, and fans of retired big names may not find them in the base checklist but it ain't bad, either. Both of my boxes were strong here and the first impression was, too.

Product Grade: A+ (it feels like an improvement on last year's set ... which I gave an A+)
Box Grade: A+ (see odds mentioned above)
Fun Grade: A (solid box this time ... will not be that way every time)

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