Collecting Tank-used: A piece of an iconic WWE star's big intro

A piece of the exact moment ... that's what it's all about.

There's a reason there's a tweaked name above for this item in the Collecting Game-used series this month as this isn't just some baseball, football or other typical piece from a name from a traditional game. This one is from a realm just as athletic but also one way more theatric -- the WWE -- which is a world full of colorful characters and names that have more on their resume than just what's on the stat sheet. This time there's no game and there's no uniform, but it's a small piece from a memorable moment that helped lay out the basics for a star who was then still somewhat new to the NXT landscape after a few years as an independent wrestler making her way in the world.

Her name, if you don't know it already from seeing the colorful hair and the horn-adorned Army helmet, is Shotzi Blackheart and she's a star I collect rather seriously in the traditional realms involving Panini America and Topps cardboard, so you'll know her name from reading many other items here. This is the first of a few entries in this series that will step away from the field and get in the world that includes a ring. If her look doesn't grab your attention, her unusual entrances at times might ... she originally rode to the ring in an intentionally absurd childrens' toy tank bought at a Walmart that just works with the vibes and the unusual energy of a Blackheart. (Yes, that name an homage to Joan Jett's punk band.) Meanwhile, in more recent days, her ride is more of a WWE-style tank with and her gear a more glamorized leather aesthetic in the ring and beyond with an energy that's evolved since her late-2019 arrival.

But this time for this item in this series? Well ... keep reading to see all the details.

THE BASICS ...
Worn wardrobe: Shotzi Blackheart's AC/DC halter top from her introductory "Eat My Tank" NXT TV promotional vignette (May 20, 2020)
Watch it in action: It's embedded below -- though you may have to watch it on YouTube depending on where you're at right now. (Watch and come back.)

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What's Buzz-worthy: My introduction above lays out most of the basics here, but this video is relatively unique as it's longer-form and definitely not the norm for a new star these days. But, since her look and character was created in the indies, WWE decided to introduce her full persona to their audience with this segment ... with her riding a real tank and laying it all out before she calls out some new foes. Now, you may be wondering, what's the sourcing for this little piece of history? It came direct from Shotzi herself and I landed it for less than a new 2025 Topps Chrome WWE Mega Box. She generously added the inscription at my request after I spotted and grabbed it out there in the world. (It's good to follow wrestlers' social channels where it's them and not a player agent tweeting away corporate partner plugs.) Sure, this is merely part of a shirt modified for her punk persona's style ... but it's piece of that moment, that introduction, that includes nods to some of her other idols in rock fandom if you watch closely and, actually, I have a couple related past items right here and right here tying into it all that aren't TV- or ring-used. ... How early is this piece? Shotzi arrived in NXT for her first matches there in December 2019 with a TV debut at the end of that month before regular matches in early 2020, a Royal Rumble spot for her main-roster WWE debut in late-January and then appearances in NXT before this moment made TV. This piece, while not ring-used, is from an early moment in what's been a long WWE career so far with more to come on TV as she's back from injury soon. There will be more Shotzibilia here on The Buzz soon ... it's just the start of a Blackheart collection that's not just about cards any more.

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>> See all past Collecting Game-used stories from Buzz right here

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Since first publishing this I happened upon stills featuring this one ... while researching other pieces.