Buzz Buys: New cards, new autos, a new car, old mags, vintage gems, some basics & plenty of WrestleMania stars (duh)

Buzz buys and busts a lot of boxes right here for Buzz Breaks, but one of my goals is to rip a little less and talk more about cardboard that I -- and you -- might like. One way to do that? Simple show and tell -- present a few pick-ups and say why they captured my attention.

So, with all that said, here are a few Buzz Buys ... and it's once again the biggest Buzz Buys ever. (A collection of pick-ups from recent times as well as in the past year or so.)

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A RECORD-SETTER, BUT ... 
The Cards: Wander Franco 2022 Topps Living Set (/68,228)
The Price: Direct from Topps (10-pack price)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This one re-wrote the new Living Set record book with its sales volume and I did a 10-pack to hopefully land a copy without centering issues and to maybe grade one or two. It turns out 10 wasn't enough as the front card is closest to centered but it has a cardboard blotch that should nix some top marks and any immediate grading from me. I still might but not right now. With so many made, there likely will be plenty graded in the coming months ... so without an obvious gem I'll wait. This might have been my first Living Set lot direct from Topps since Vladimir Guerrero Jr., so it will probably send me back to hibernation on that brand. We'll see.
Grab a box right here: No boxes for this one ... but MLB boxes are here.

Keep reading for more interesting items ...

BIG-NAME INK ... LITERALLY (KINDA)
The Books: Drew Barrymore autographed copies of Rebel Homemaker
The Price: Around $25 each via one of the chains
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: The blaster chases these days have me watching and waiting for next week often, and that has meant turning my attention to better items -- at least guaranteed items -- for less money. Is there more up-side here with an autograph (initial-graph) from a life-long Hollywood a-list name? Maybe not ... but it's a sure thing vs. a small box of packs where I'm not that sold on a brand. My point here? Dabbling in all directions hobby-wise is never a bad thing to do as long as you have some interest in the items. Barrymore was an icon as a little kid in E.T., an icon as a 1990s older kid and then as a Hollywood hit-maker later on. Her autographs are often pricey and often even more minimal than this ... but I figured it was a solid pick-up. I can forgive the intial-graph, too, given how long her name is. 
Grab a box right here: No boxes for this one ...but non-sport boxes are here.

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REMEMBER THIS?
The Card: Jackie Robinson 2009 Topps Heritage National Convention
The Price: $5
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This is a show promo card that's definitely an oddity as it shows the Brooklyn legend with the New York Giants -- the team where he was traded in 1956 but never actually played. He opted to retire and become an executive for a food company. I'm not sure he has other Giants cards and this 1959 design works here visually ... but not logically. I still like it, though.
Grab a box right here: No boxes for this one ...but MLB boxes are here.

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WHERE HAVE YOU GONE, JOE DiMAGGIO?
The Card: Oakland A's team card 1970 Topps
The Price: About $2.50
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: Look closely among the white-capped row of coaches in the front and you'll find a Hall of Famer in a uniform people are definitely not used to seeing. The third-coach from the left is New York Yankees legend Joe DiMaggio who was with the franchise a couple of seasons in an executive and coach role. He appears on very few A's cards in all the years since this one. It's a card I want to find and slab but this one wasn't quite clean enough for my taste. 
Grab a box right here: No boxes for this one ... but MLB boxes are here.

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THE BOSS
The Photo: Sasha Banks autographed 8-by-10 WWE photo (PSA authenticated)
The Price: $65
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This WWE star had had pretty consistent looks and gear over the years -- most if not all of it made by her husband who also works for the company -- but this iconic pose showing her in somewhat newer gear from a signing for an East Coast dealer got me to bite. I own a number of her certified autos from the past but more recently she's often costing more than this -- and her signed Star Wars photos are roughly double this from the main place where she signed. I don't collect 'em all but I dabble pretty widely and a solid photo is always worth the addition if it's a quality image.
Grab a box right here: No boxes for this one ... but WWE boxes are here.

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COLLEGE COLORS
The Card: Najee Harris 2021 Panini Prestige Xtra Points Red (/299) -- Rookie Card parallel 
The Price: $6
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This is a simple early RC for the first RB taken in last year's NFL Draft. I liked the look of the photo and the red parallel works well to me with his pro and school colors. It's a simple card that's the right color ... something basic that's not too simple -- and something I'd slab. Had I waited to grab this in the off-season it might have been cheaper but this still wasn't a bad price to me.
Grab a box right here: NFL boxes are here.

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MASKED PASTIME
The Card: Orbit 2021 Topps Opening Day Mascots
The Price: Pocket change
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: The Houston Astros' mascot is a legend already in his young career and this Opening Day card is one that shows so much that says "2020" with the mask and the fan cutouts. Not sure he did well on his sales that day, though. I own Orbit's first card ("Rookie Card") in a slab ... I'd be tempted to do more. The centering on this one isn't up to par on that front but the price was right.
Grab a box right here: MLB boxes are here.

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AND NEW ...
The Items: Thunder Rosa autographed AEW/Republic of Lucha promo photos & Kobra Moon Lucha Underground posters
The Price: $7.50 up to $19.99 (via her website and Republic of Lucha site)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: She's an independent wrestling veteran, a promotor on the side and an online star who's seemingly everywhere -- and, oddly, she also follows me on Twitter. (Flex.) She's also the newest AEW women's champ after ending a lengthy run by Dr. Britt Baker (D.M.D.). I had these in-hand before that win from her site and a store owned by fellow AEW wrestlers Rey Fenix and Penta Zero M. The posters are a bit larger and were found on her site. I thought they were signed with a discounted price but I'm kind of glad I grabbed them anyway -- I'm not sure they're easily find-able elsewhere. (They might be from San Diego Comic-Con one year -- but if they were they have dried up.) She has a few indie card appearances from the past but not many and I think there will be strong demand when she appears in the next AEW releases. (She was not in the first.)
Grab a box right here: No boxes for this one ... but NFL boxes are here.

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MINE NEEDS INK!
The Piece: Shotzi Blackheart replica helmet (via WWEShop)
The Price: $35
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This replica helmet is made from heavy-duty PVC with plenty of texture and details -- but not exactly like the one worn during the tank-riding NXT entrances for The Ballsy Badass, Shotzi Blackheart. Size-wise, this one might be catering more to the kids -- Buzz has a big dome so it doesn't fit -- but this is a pretty impressive piece that I have tucked away for the slim chance she ever does a mail-in signing session or appearance nearby. It will make a sweet and iconic signed item for a unique high-energy star whose character was made well before WWE. (So it will live on if she ends up elsewhere.) Back when these originally arrived, she signed and decorated a number of them for WWE Auctions with those selling for more than $300 a pop based on a quick search I did (one is seen here). Her autos sell pretty well on cards but this is also a reminder that a cool item can command more. When a unique item arrives, it's worth the look.
Grab a box right here: No boxes for this one ... but WWE boxes are here.

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... FROM ONE TANK GIRL TO ANOTHER
The Card: Lori Petty 2008 Donruss Threads Baseball Americana (/500)
The Price: 75 cents
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This veteran actor didn't get a Baseball Americana card for Tank Girl but instead as Kit Keller, the little sister of Dottie Hinson who was a star pitcher with attitude in A League Of Their Own. She's actually appeared on a number of certified cards -- and even signed her share of army helmets (no horns though) though the years -- but this time it's this simple card that got me. This set and its memorabilia and autographed versions is pretty big with some big names. It's been a while since I have picked up some of these. I may need to look some more.
Grab a box right here: No boxes for this one ... but MLB boxes are here.

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HEADING TO THE HALL
The Cards & Books: Assorted Undertaker WWE cards (Fleer, Topps, Action Packed, eTopps, Panini, Topps promo) and comic books
The Price: $2.50 to $20 (comics even cheaper ... were in a collection)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This WWE icon went years without losing a match at WrestleMania and this year with it in Dallas the Texan is making one last appearance as the headline inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame. I don't collect him heavily -- I got his autograph plaque-style long ago -- but I'll pick off interesting or decently priced cards. The hits here kind of speak for themselves while the Action Packed promo and the Topps card are interesting as is that Panini import and the Topps promo. The run of comics were tucked into an album of card sets I picked up maybe last year for less than $90 -- and it was loaded on the card front. These were just a bonus. I had tucked these away in a box with the other cards but recently did some organizing to realize I never mentioned them here. (Never really had a reason to but I've been intentionally including more non-card collectables here just to mix things up.) High-grade copies of oddball comics like this from the past may have more potential than you might think as they should have lower print runs than a lot of the big-publisher stuff from back then and the typical comics fans probably didn't bother buying. Few stars have had as memorable WWE runs -- he started back in 1990 -- and Vince McMahon himself will be presenting him for his final time in the spotlight.
Grab a box right here: No boxes for this one ... but WWE boxes are here.

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CONTROVERSY CREATES CASH?
The Cards: Toni Storm assorted Topps cards, Relics and autograph
The Prices: Up to $51
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: She was a star before she ended up with WWE just a few years ago after plenty of work internationally. After some time in NXT UK and NXT she recently made the top roster and then, shockingly, asked for her release and got it. Could she re-surface on TV soon? It seems likely -- maybe even tonight -- but she was also in the headlines recently for launching an online social account to interact with fans more -- a move that made her some big money in a short time. (It's a move many stars have actually done away from WWE recently with online gaming and other ventures. Also ... not really a controversial move.) I'm a sucker for that Undisputed card -- it's one of my favorite WWE cards ever made -- so I grabbed the Topps Vault proof (first card, top price here) along with a couple other parallels I needed dupes for, one of her first NXT auto parallels, some gaming and parallels and then a few copies of a memorabilia card that also has a classic Storm photo. I'd totally collect that rainbow if I could find more of them.
Grab a box right here: No boxes for this one ... but WWE boxes are here.

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SIMPLE PETE
The Card: Pete Maravich 2014-15 Panini Totally Certified Great American Heroes (/299)
The Price: Under $1
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This cheap pick-up was easy to make with it having a premium feel with an etched-foil approach and lower-volume numbering. Maravich is under-priced in general unless it's an autograph or memorabilia card and I grabbed this on a retro NBA inserts kick.
Grab a box right here: No boxes for this one ... but NBA boxes are here.

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TWO OF A KIND (... ON SALE)
The Toys: Koska Reeves (Sasha Banks) Star Wars The Black Series action figures 
The Price: $9.99 apiece via an online chain
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: You saw her earlier and a simple tweet recently got me to bite here with these premium figures (larger size) on sale at less than their typical price. I grabbed two -- one to open and chill on the ol' desk and one to stay encased in its Carbonite, err packaging. I'm not sure I would have done two had they not put the helmet on the figure and it was just inside the package. (I feel like unmasked is better since she's known elsewhere.) I can't collect everything with so much stuff in the card world or the Star Wars/toys world. but in the rare cases where they cross over I'll dabble.
Grab a box right here: No boxes for this one ... but Star Wars & WWE boxes are here.

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KIND OF A BIG DEAL
The Mag: Joe Namath on the cover of Esquire October 1969 issue
The Price: $19.99
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This mag won't end up in a slab -- it's just too big for that and its condition isn't too great -- but this is a classic from a long-running publication with a rich history. It's also an issue perhaps slightly off the radar of some sports collectors. The spines on these over-sized magazines are glued, so they may have fallen apart over time, while this one has aging and discoloration but is otherwise relatively clean. I'm on a mission to find decent (even admittedly lower-grade) copies of some icons' magazines lately and Namath is one of those names. He has a lot of stuff so I'm only picking off a few that strike me as interesting when I find them.
Grab a box right here: No boxes for this one ... but NFL boxes are here.

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GOOD GUY, BAD MONTH
The Card: Big E 2017 Topps WWE Road to Wrestlemania Silver Autographs (/25)
The Price: $6
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This long-time WWE star is a former champ, a part of a group already a lock for the WWE Hall of Fame and a generally upbeat and entertaining guy. Earlier this month he literally and legitimately suffered a broken neck during a live WWE show that will definitely change his career in some ways though he was relatively fine afterward. Check out his initial tweet after that happened. A couple weeks later, he's back to his classic funny stuff. He hasn't signed a boatload of cards in general but is find-able. I grabbed this since it was on the rarer side, cheaper and an on-card auto.
Grab a box right here: No boxes for this one ... but WWE boxes are here.

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BACK WHERE IT BEGAN?
The Cards: Cody Rhodes (with Dusty Rhodes) 2007 Topps Face-off (UK), Brandi Rhodes 2019 Stardom Collection (Japan) and 2008 Lamincards WWE (Germany)
The Price: Pocket change up to $11
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: There's a very good chance we'll be seeing Cody and Brandi back in WWE very soon -- this weekend is very likely -- and this seemed like a good time to pop these here. All three are cards released outside of the U.S. with the card shared by father and son the son's debut on a card the same year as his Topps Heritage RC and the other a year after. I picked up the Brandi card (the priciest of the three) kind of on a whim just to see what the Stardom cards are like. They once were relatively plentiful but dried up for American stars (or stars now in WWE) in recent years. I think it's still the only one I own ... but there are many I wouldn't mind finding. (Prices can be far stronger than this.)
Grab a box right here: No boxes for this one ... but WWE boxes are here.

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THREE OF A KIND ...
The Mags: Kate Upton, Justin Upton & B.J. Upton Sports Illustrated Oct. 7, 2013
The Price: Under $10 total
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: None of them are Braves now -- she's firmly in the Houston Astros' camp with husband Justin Verlander -- but this fun issue from the past is one that I'll grade. Why? Because it's not that serious -- most of the mag graders are focused on Hall of Famers and debut covers -- and this one is a bit of a nod to a rich history of the Swimsuit Issue with Upton being one of the bigger names of recent years. I picked up two from a dealer and both were very clean -- that hasn't always happened for me buying online -- and one is a contender for a top grade. You might see it slabbed here ... next year. (Yes, they are that backed up.)
Grab a box right here: No boxes for this one ... but MLB boxes are here.

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BACK BEHIND THE WHEEL
The Die-cast Car: Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2014 Elite No. 88 Chevy wrecked 1:24 diecast (/585)
The Price: About $85 
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: I have a small stash of high-end NASCAR diecasts from the early 2000s back when I lived in NASCAR territory and was able to attend a few races. This guy was the winner at one was one of my favorites. Back then, car production volumes were far higher -- especially for name-guys like Earnhardt -- so the premium SRPs and the market realities didn't really jive over time. (Translation: Both dropped ... so now you have smaller runs like this today.) This is my first die-cast pick-up in maybe 15 years and I did it because its one of the cooler versions that show how a car looked after a race. This one is from the demolition derby known as Bristol where a wreck with Denny Hamlin filleted the door off of the 88. Check out that video and then click on the images above for closer looks at how all that repair tape and other details that got it back on the track can be seen replicated in deluxe toy form. I happened upon this at a decent price.
Grab a box right here: No boxes for this one ... but NASCAR boxes are here.

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RELICS OF THE PAST
The Photos: John Johnson 1970s NBA team promo photos (Cavaliers, Blazers, Supersonics)
The Price: Around $40
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This guy has school ties for me and with my run of basic cards pretty much close to complete (other than a couple oddballs) my saved searches have now focused on other items like these. They're printed photos provided to media to use as needed. I picked these up a long time ago, so I don't even have all the details handy ... but it seemed like a good time to pop them up here with all the March Madness and NBA postseason to come. Fun fact: He was the first player ever drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Draft.
Grab a box right here: No boxes for this one ... but NBA boxes are here.

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NON-SPORT  VARIETY
The Card: Kristin Kreuk as Lana Lang 2003 Inkworks Smallville Season 2 Pieceworks
The Price: $6
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: Inkworks was one of the first non-sports companies I dabbled with around this time after going to a larger comics show for some autographs and happening upon its corporate booth. Sketch cards, autographs and memorabilia cards were all draws in a number of memorable releases from the company and they had some strong properties. Almost every season of this series, for example, got a release from them. This swatch comes from the jacket she's wearing in the photo and this price is perhaps on the lower side of things but you can find a lot of bargains for stuff like this as a lot of people may not even know they exist.
Grab a box right here: No boxes for this one ... but non-sports boxes are here.

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ODDBALL NEEDS
The Card Set: 2014 Topps Cleveland Indians team set (17 cards)
The Price: $9.99
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This was a long-term need of mine but I just never bothered ... and then they dried up. (Where'd they go? I have no idea.) This is a simple team set sold at retail stores or team shops with a mix of Series 1 and Series 2 guys but with different card numbers. For a player collector, I think these are more annoying than they are cool but for this price I bit the bullet and finally grabbed it. I remember going to an Indians game not long after these arrived and there was literally a display of at least 150 of these (likely more) with a $5 price tag. I didn't grab one or two because I didn't want to have to carry anything after the game as we were walking/riding a long way back to a hotel. Literally never saw another set in-person again in all that time since. 
Grab a box right here: No boxes for this one ... but MLB boxes are here.

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BIG-TIME PROSPECT POSTER
The Poster: Adley Rutschman 2021 Bowman 1991 Bowman insert wall art (/99)
The Price: $17.50 (after buy-three discount)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: For Topps wall art, I typically dabble with strong visual cards (often inserts) or cards of top names on oversized versions of their Rookie Cards. This is an insert that can still be had on the Topps site for a top guy. It's not a first card but it's a good portrait.
Grab a box right here: No boxes for this one ... but MLB boxes are here.

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ALWAYS A PLACE
The Card: Lars Ulrich 2015 Topps First Pitch
The Price: Under $1
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: I miss these sets that ran for three years and got a lot of surprise names into baseball sets. I have picked up a number of cards from each of them on the cheap. Why? They're unique and I still want to slab some. Metallica is a high-playlist band for me, though Ulrich isn't necessarily the most-popular member -- but he is the one who got the baseball card.
Grab a box right here: No boxes for this one ... but MLB boxes are here.

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TOPPS NOW TRAILBLAZER?
The Card: Phillie Phanatic 2018 Topps Now (/929)
The Price: $2.35
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: How many mascots have appeared on Topps Now cards? It can't be many ... and there's a chance this might be the only one. I didn't look ... I just grabbed.
Grab a box right here: No boxes for this one ... but MLB boxes are here.

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LOOK CLOSELY
The Cards: Ron Perranoski 1969 Topps variations 
The Price: About $3.50 total
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: That's a Dodgers uniform for a Twins player and the hat got the magic marker treatment on the negatives back in the day to make that change. Between these two cards you can see the variation here. One has the Dodgers logo wiped out completely while the other has a little more of it showing. This year's Heritage variations didn't really wow me that much -- they're noted on the card backs when you find them -- but if some of the weird but simple oddities of the past like this happened more (even as nods that aren't in sets) I'd probably chase a few. 
Grab a box right here: No boxes for this one ... but MLB boxes are here.

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MANIACAL INK
The Photo: Sabu autographed ECW 8-by-10 promo photo (not original WWE photo)
The Price: $7.50
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This hardcore legend is my favorite of the ECW years with a consistent look and an intensity that was perhaps unrivaled. (I mean, the dude broke his neck in the ring ... twice.) I picked this up in a batch of sigs from an East Coast dealer that regularly has signings in their stores (Wrestling Universe) and selected it since I like these card-like bordered promo photos. Others do, too, as they've in some cases picked up steam unsigned. This wasn't an original promo though, just a copy. (That's fine ... I bought it for the ink as it was on sale but it would have been a bonus if it had been.) 
Grab a box right here: No boxes for this one ... but WWE boxes are here.

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DID YOU REMEMBER THESE?
The Card: Anna Kournikova 2000 Collectors Edge Women
The Price: $2.25
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: The set this comes from is a bit of an enigma to me -- I literally don't remember seeing it when it arrived or know how it was released but I do remember the NFL set that used the same design. Roughly 20 cards are in this one with all of them numbered using the star's initials and a number if they had more than one card. Olympic stars, tennis standouts and some WNBA icons can all be found here. Kournikova has a few cards and there appear to be some versions with varying foil approaches. I grabbed this one since it seemed like her best card (one is an awkward face shot forced into that design) and she seemed like the biggest name from those who don't have as much cardboard.
Grab a box right here: No boxes for this one ... but other sport boxes are here.

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ONE MORE SET ...
The Prints: WWE Rob Schamberger Halloween 2021 Select Series Wave 25 set (Hurricane, Kane, Undertaker & Shotzi Blackheart) (/25)
The Price: Less than $15 (on sale)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: As I noted last time, these are signed smaller-format prints signed by the WWE artist that are released with small themes due to where they compete, common ties in their histories or other reasons. This one showcases a couple of brothers (of destruction) or a couple of masked stars from the past depending on how you want to look at it along with an all-time great and a modern enigma who was the host of a Halloween-themed event. (Shotzi is a big horror movie buff.) I admittedly picked this up just for her print but didn't mind the Undertaker appearance, either, for the price and low volume. I'll be dabbling more with past WWE stuff and oddballs as I'm definitely priced out of the Prizm WWE box market unless I accidentally happen upon some blasters. 
Grab a box right here: No boxes for this one ... but WWE boxes are here.

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MORE WRESTLEMANIA MOMENTS?
The Cards: Assorted WWE autos, Relics, parallels and imports -- Charlotte Flair, Kevin Owens, Steve Austin, Batista, Kayla Braxton, John Cena, Undertaker, Sami Zayn, Kalisto, The British Bulldog, Brock Lesnar, Shinsuke Nakamura, Jey Uso and Andre The Giant
The Price: Pocket change up to $17.75
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This last one is a catch-all with some bargain buys, some notable names you'll see this weekend and then some big names. There's also a bargain run of cards here with that middle row being all parallels from the first Undisputed set that cost me about $6 for all five cards. The Lesnar card (/10) here was the priciest one and I bought that since it was under-priced for that low volume, while the Braxton is a 1/1 card from the Topps Transcendent party that was maybe $10. That Andre card was around that price, too, since it's from a Japanese card set while the rest were pick-ups for very modest prices -- most under $10 if not under $5. 
Grab a box right here: WWE boxes are here.

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