The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing: CM Punk returns to WWE, MLB chatter, Victor Wembanyama, Black Friday, NFL Week 12 and more.

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing: Logofractors are back, CM Punk is canned, new pulls, Cosmic Chrome and more in today's edition.

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing: Aaron Judge, the CM Punk AEW mess, the Mets' mess, new pulls, soccer cases and more.

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing: A big night for wrestling, football chatter, a good NFL question, big breaks and weird hairstyles on baseball cards.

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Fast Five is a basic list of five items that could be fun for a starting collector or a new way to add to a stash that might already seemingly include everything when it comes to cardboard. For some of you, it's probably common sense. For others of you out there, it's perhaps something to ponder.

This time? Five items Buzz would be grabbing right now.

AUTOGRAPHED & AUTHENTICATED ROOKIE CARDS
It seems like more and more collectors love their slabbed Rookie Cards -- to the point where some popular RCs' pop report numbers seem nutty. But what's a natural thing to try and round up once one has 'em all in whatever grade suits their budget? Well, to me, a run of autographed and authenticated/slabbed Rookie Cards would be compelling in some instances if it's do-able for a player. Certified autos are easy to find for a lot of guys if you just want ink of any kind, but signed RCs like the one you see above are impressive, too. Years ago people often said "no" to cards like this but I think those hesitations have vanished with these after-market autos when found in slabs. (This example isn't cheap, but it's nice.) If you collect a player who does signings, then amassing ink on RCs and then getting them slabbed and authenticated yourself also can make this a collecting project more than just a commodity.

Keep reading for four more making up the list this time.

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing: Licensing chatter, AEW debut cardboard, new pulls, a Superfractor sighting and more.

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing: CM Punk returns to wrestling with AEW, MLB-Topps chatter, Joey Votto, new breaks and more.

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Like many collectors, Buzz is a fan of grading and knows that there are many reasons that collectors choose to slab cards. Sometimes it's to enhance the appeal and protect them when selling. Other times it's to protect an investment for the long-term or to protect for sentimental reasons. Or, it might be just for fun or curiosity about a potential grade.

Here's this month's grading diary here on The Buzz ...

GOOD TIMING FOR MY FIRST 3D CARD
The Card: Pete Alonso 2019 Topps 3D #475 -- Rookie Card
The Reason Bought:  No, I didn't buy this one in the wake of his Home Run Derby dominance -- I grabbed this one in the off-season since the price was right (around $30) for a good rookie from that one. Since the Derby, this one has sold for a lot more raw and then some in higher grades but it's still relatively modest compared to other big rookies in the last few years. I didn't grab this one to flip -- I just grabbed it as a good example card to have from one of these plastic-stock releases. It's my first and I do like the 3D effect that is applied here. In this case, his front arm feels closer compared to everything else.
The Grade: PSA 9

Reality Check: The pop report is more of the odd modern type with plenty of 10s but there's also nothing below my grade -- so it's a sign that these cards must grade pretty well if you rip packs and find somebody good.

Keep reading for more of this month's pick-ups and new slabs for Buzz.

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Like many collectors, Buzz is a fan of grading and knows that there are many reasons that collectors choose to slab cards. Sometimes it's to enhance the appeal and protect them when selling. Other times it's to protect an investment for the long-term or to protect for sentimental reasons. Or, it might be just for fun or curiosity about a potential grade.

Here's this month's grading diary here on The Buzz ...

VG THE MVP (SO FAR)
The Card: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 2019 Topps Stadium Club #301 -- Rookie Card 
The Reason Graded: In my first bulk sub to CSG, which I recently got back -- 80 working days, by the way -- I worked in a few recent-year Rookie Cards just to see how some different kinds of stock are handled by the veteran grading company that has just turned its attention to sports cards starting this year. I sent this in before the season started, of course, but it looks like a smart slab now as Vladdy is demolishing things in MLB and is on pace for a monster season if he keeps at it.
The Grade: CSG 9

Reality Check: There's no pop report yet -- they say it's coming* -- but this one comes in at my anticipated mark, though I would have been happy to get a higher one. (You'll see those in the coming months.) This one has some high gloss and somewhat softer stock -- not the easiest grading combo -- but I think it's the backs here that are the key. This one not getting a higher grade made me wonder what might be holding it down -- a deal where I'd want to see subgrades, but not for $10 more. I do think, based on my results, that CSG is grading to a stricter standard (like BGS) vs. others (at least historically until recently) so I'm also OK with cards not checking in at 9.5s or 10s in bulk. My second bulk sub -- hopefully back soon, too -- included more stuff like this.

Keep reading for more of this month's pick-ups and new slabs for Buzz.

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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: 2009 Topps WWE wrestling cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com when available; Click here for other WWE boxes

Packs per box: 24
Cards per pack: 7
Cards in this box: 165
Base set completion: 
90 of 90 (100 percent)
Duplicates: 19

Notables on base cards: Triple H, Steve Austin, John Cena, CM Punk, Tommy Dreamer, Chris Jericho, Shawn Michaels, John Morrison, Matt Hardy, Natalya, Cody Rhodes, Jim Ross, Edge, Layla, Randy Orton, Michelle McCool, Alicia Fox, Maryse, Rey Mysterio, Gail Kim, Hornswoggle, Festus, Batista, Santino Marella, Santina Marella, Beth Phoenix, Mickie James, Tiffany, Jerry Lawler, Undertaker, Nikki Bella, Brie Bella

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Have you seen the latest cool cards from a new release? With so many options for collectors of all kinds arriving every week it's possible you haven't. That's where Buzz comes in -- well at least on one brand you'll see here from time to time in what we're calling Buzz's Pick Six. Simply put, here are six cards from a new arrival that seemed interesting to this collector and we think they might interest you, too.

This week's six-pack: Six autographs I'd grab now

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THE RETIRING CHAMP
The Card: Jimmie Johnson 2018 Panini Prizm Patented Penmanship auto
The Price: $69.99 Buy-It-Now (or best offer)
Boxes: Click here for all NASCAR stuff
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This 44-year-old announced today that the 2020 NASCAR season will be his final campaign as a full-time Cup driver and, in turn, his final shot at becoming the all-time season championship record-holder. He's presently tied with Richard Petty at seven career NASCAR Cup Series titles and has been that way since 2016 when he last took home the crown. In the three seasons since then, his best finish was 10th so it's debatable whether he might make a run in his final lap, but he will be one who is watched heavily. I met and interviewed him when he was a rookie which was fun back in the day but I'm actually not sure if I've ever pulled one of his autographs in my off-and-on time collecting NASCAR stuff. There's a decent amount of ink for him out there -- more than 800 different cards -- but his autograph has always been relatively minimalist, so that's why I never chased one otherwise. I might make sure to track one down now.

Keep reading for five more items in this week's roundup ...

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: Big NFL and MLB pulls, Gardner Minshew, Pete Alonso, unopened packs and CM Punk is back with WWE. (No, really.)

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"GLOW is unlike any show we've ever seen" reads the Entertainment Weekly headline for a review of an upcoming series from Netflix that's a comedic but fictionalized take on the late-1980s real-world wrestling promotion.

It stars Alison Brie as "Ruth Wilder," a struggling Los Angeles actress who opts to try out the world of pro wrestling in the series, which is based on a short-lived women's wrestling promotion called Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling that ran for four syndicated seasons in real life. (Really.) The series arrives on June 23.

The real-world wrestling show was pure cheese -- even to a 10-year-old wrestling-inclined Buzz -- in an era where Hulkamania yellow was everywhere, but apparently the new series is packing punch with critics. The EW reviewer gave it an A while breaking down all of the reasons the 1980s-based new series works. "GLOW, which takes everything over-the-top about professional wrestling," it reads, "pushes it to higher levels of absurdity and melodrama, and finds something deeply personal, explicitly political, and wonderfully brute-force awesome."

Now, how about those collecting ties? Well, they're more like pieces of trivia that could interest those who enjoy the show, but here we go ...

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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: 2017 Topps UFC Knockout
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 4
Cards per pack: 10
Cards in this box: 40
Base set completion: 23 of 100 (23 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Anderson Silva, Rashad Evans, Ronda Rousey, Nate Diaz, Miesha Tate, Arianny Celeste, CM Punk

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We're a week away from former WWE star CM Punk's MMA debut at UFC 203 in Cleveland. It's been a long time coming -- so much so it's coming well after his UFC cardboard debut -- and that got Buzz wondering what collectors think of the crossover.

Here are four simple questions about Punk and collecting.

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[polldaddy poll=9512329]

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[polldaddy poll=9512330]

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[polldaddy poll=9512338]

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[polldaddy poll=9512339]

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If you were wondering, his first UFC autographs can be found here in what is an affordable three-hit box.

Follow Buzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz or send email to BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com. 

>> Click here to order cards on BlowoutCards.com 

An aspiring UFC fighter appearing on an MMA card for the first time might get some of the attention in packs of 2016 Topps UFC Top of the Class, but there are plenty of other big names to be found in Topps' latest release.

All you have to do is look at a checklist -- or on eBay.

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When will former WWE star CM Punk make his UFC debut?

Next week -- in Topps' new 2016 UFC Top of the Class MMA trading card set.

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When Upper Deck first teased its High Profile Fans cards of celebrities in its forthcoming 2015-16 Upper Deck Contours set, there was one notable hockey fan who got the attention, Chicago Blackhawks fan CM Punk.

Now, with the release of a final checklist, there are a few more.

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What: 2016 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions trading cards
Arrives: July 6 (and also later via e-Pack)
Box basics: three hits per 20-pack box, 16 boxes per case (two eight-box inner cases)

What's buzz-worthy: Upper Deck's eclectic mix of everything goes in heavy on MMA stars this year with the first certified autographs of Holly Holm along with other notables such as Miesha Tate, CM Punk and Paige VanZant, while also including an impressive array of the unusual and the historic.

See a gallery and more ... below.

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What: 2015-16 Upper Deck Contours hockey cards
Arrives: March 2016
Box basics: One autograph or memorabilia card per pack -- four packs per box and 16 boxes per case (two inners)

What's buzz-worthy: The hard-hitting world of hockey meshes with MMA/wrestling as aspiring UFC fighter and former wrestler CM Punk is in play -- for his prowess as a hockey fan -- as a surprise inclusion in a new hit-per-pack brand.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

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What happens when a WWE Superstar turned UFC hopeful writes a comic book series featuring a character made famous on the big screen by a former WWE Superstar turned Bond villain?

Clobberin' time, maybe?

With apologies to Ben Grimm (aka The Thing), we're about to find out this week as Drax #1 arrives from Marvel Comics with a story penned by Phil Brooks (aka CM Punk) focusing on Drax The Destroyer from Guardians of the Galaxy. Drax, of course, was played in the 2014 movie by Dave Bautista (aka Batista in WWE) who is Hinx in Spectre, the newest Bond movie, which opens in theaters on Friday.

Get all that? Now it's time to get the details on the books.

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