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. Would they capture yours? I'd be interested to know -- sometimes they might, sometimes they won't and that's fine. It's a buyer's market out there with plenty of options and bargains as well as high-end gems to chase.

So, with all that said, here are a few Buzz Buys ... and this time around it's the biggest roundup ever (in volume, not price).

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A UNIQUE SURPRISE 
The Card: Tony Gwynn 2015 Panini Immaculate Collection Collegiate Memorabilia (/99)
The Price: $16.25
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: It took me a while to find one of these (only casually looking), but this card of the Baseball Hall of Famer is one of a few that show him in his other sport, basketball, which he played at San Diego State. His estate auctioned off a number of game-used pieces and other memorabilia in 2015, generating more than $217,000 partly going to the Tony and Alicia Gwynn Foundation to help kids in need. His first Aztecs basketball uniform went for $11,858 in that SCP Auctions sale and the buyer was Panini America. These cards aren't all that plentiful in this release -- and they certainly aren't the only place the swatches went as there are just 99 standard cards and a second one limited to five copies with a much larger prime swatch. The follow-up release to this one had a few more, including prime cards, and he also had posthumous autographed cards (stickers) showing him in his basketball uniform in a National Treasures release. Spoiler alert: you'll see one more of these here at some point.
Grab a box right here: 2015 Panini Immaculate Collection Collegiate (when available)

Keep reading for 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 ...

A BIG BLASTER PULL
The Card: Shohei Ohtani 2018 Topps #700B hand on helmet SSP photo variation
The Reason Graded: Not that long ago, I pulled this card from a Series 2 blaster box and decided that it needed a slab since these SSPs appear to be relatively rare -- and I was even more surprised to see how they didn't grade all that well on the pop report. Meanwhile, mine looked very clean ... so I had to do it.
The Grade: BGS 9.5

Reality Check: Only one card graded better than mine and four others have equaled it while eight cards have checked in at a BGS 9 or lower -- that seems pretty low for a modern card, though the skinny stock here clearly could have issues after these cards hit packaging. I'll admit that this was a pull while Ronald Acuña Jr. hunting in Series 2, but this feels like a win on top of a win with it grading so well after being pulled from a discounted box. Here's hoping his third season is as strong or better than his first two, which are remarkably similar from the batting side.

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: 2018 Topps Heritage WWE wrestling cards (blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (when available)

Packs per box: 13 (10 standard, one Relic/Shawn Michaels pack and one coin pack in this one)
Cards per pack: 6 in standard
Cards in this box: 63 (62 cards, one coin)
Base set completion: 24 of 110 (22 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Kairi Sane, Tomasso Ciampa, Dean Ambrose, Bayley, Undertaker, Carmella, Asuka, The Rock, Billie Kay

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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: 2019 Topps WWE Women's Division wrestling cards (Walmart blaster)
First Buzz preview & Checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs per box: 11 (10 packs plus one one-card hit pack)
Cards per pack: 7
Cards in this box: 71
Base set completion: 
55 of 100 (55 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards: Becky Lynch, Bayley, Nia Jax, Beth Phoenix, Asuka, Peyton Royce, Billie Kay, Liv Morgan, Carmella, Mia Yim, Ronda Rousey, Alexa Bliss, Sonya Deville, Stephanie McMahon, Paige, Kairi Sane

Rookie/First NXT Cards (8) – Toni Storm, Kacy Catanzaro, Chelsea Green, Lacey Evans, Marina Shafir, Nikki Cross, Lacey Lane, Jessamyn Duke

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Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today's your day then as we launch 8 in 8 -- a series of a eight breaks of wax boxes and wax packs in as many hours today. We'll post one every hour ... this is Hour 2.

The box: 2019 Topps WWE Women's Division wrestling cards (hobby)
The cost: BlowoutCards.com

What's inside this one? Keep reading ...

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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: 2019 Topps WWE Women's Division wrestling cards (Walmart blaster)
First Buzz preview & Checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs per box: 11 (10 packs plus one one-card hit pack)
Cards per pack: 7
Cards in this box: 71
Base set completion: 
54 of 100 (54 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards: Becky Lynch, Bayley, Nia Jax, Beth Phoenix, Ember Moon, Asuka, Peyton Royce, Billie Kay, Lita, Liv Morgan, Carmella, Mia Yim, Ronda Rousey, Alexa Bliss, Sonya Deville, Stephanie McMahon, Paige, Kairi Sane

Rookie/First NXT Cards (8) – Toni Storm, Kacy Catanzaro, Chelsea Green, Lacey Evans, Marina Shafir, Nikki Cross, Jessi Kamea, Jessamyn Duke

Continue reading →

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 ...

The Card: Ronald Acuña Jr. 2018 Topps Chrome Update #HMT25 Rookie Card
The Reason Graded: I only opened a couple of mega boxes for this brand but did land this guy -- and, man, do I wish this card had used the bat-down photo. (What could have been?) I recently revisited a few of my boxes holding the finds of my buys last year and this one struck me as a clean example worth a slab, especially with him having had an elite season coming up just short of being the youngest member of the elite 40-40 Club.
The Grade: BGS 9.5

Reality Check: Turns out I was right, though this is a card that's heavily graded with a growing pop report since I submitted this one. There was a 10 grade right after mine in the serial-numbering line and there have been plenty of 9.5s graded since -- and even the 10s aren't all that rare for this one. There's plenty here to feed the demand for a guy who should be on collector radars for years. You'll see more of Acuña here.

Keep reading for more of this month's 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: 2019 Topps WWE Women's Division wrestling cards (hobby)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 24
Cards per pack: 7
Cards in this box: 165
Base set completion: 
100 of 100 (100 percent)
Duplicates: 32

Notables on base cards: Becky Lynch, Bayley, Nia Jax, Beth Phoenix, Mickie James, Elizabeth, Sherri Martel, Shayna Baszler, Ember Moon, Asuka, Billie Kay, Lita, Candice LeRae, Mandy Rose, Ruby Riott, Liv Morgan, Sasha Banks, Carmella, Mia Yim, Ronda Rousey, Alexa Bliss, Maryse, Paige, Trish Stratus, Stephanie McMahon, Ronda Rousey, Peyton Royce, Lita, Zelina Vega

Rookie/First NXT Cards (19) – Toni Storm, Kacy Catanzaro, Io Shirai, Xia Li, Mia Yim, Chelsea Green, Lacey Lane, Deonna Purrazzo, Nina Samuels, Marina Shafir, Kairi Sane, Nikki Cross, Lacey Evans, Jessamyn Duke, Jessi Kamea, MJ Jenkins

Continue reading →

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: 2019 Topps WWE Women's Division wrestling cards (Walmart blaster)
First Buzz preview & Checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs per box: 11 (10 packs plus one one-card hit pack)
Cards per pack: 7
Cards in this box: 71
Base set completion: 
54 of 100 (54 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards: Becky Lynch, Bayley, Nia Jax, Beth Phoenix, Mickie James, Elizabeth, Sherri Martel, Shayna Baszler, Ember Moon, Asuka, Billie Kay, Lita, Candice LeRae, Mandy Rose, Ruby Riott, Liv Morgan, Sasha Banks, Carmella, Mia Yim, Ronda Rousey, Alexa Bliss

Rookie/First NXT Cards (11) – Kacy Catanzaro, Io Shirai, Xia Li, Mia Yim, Chelsea Green, Lacey Lane, Deonna Purrazzo, Nina Samuels, Marina Shafir, Kairi Sane, Nikki Cross

Continue reading →

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: 2019 Topps WWE Undisputed wrestling cards
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here

Packs per box: 10
Cards per pack: 5
Cards in this box: 50
Base set completion: 
31 of 90 (34 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards – Finn Balor, Ruby Riott, Rey Mysterio, Tommaso Ciampa, Shawn Michaels, Kofi Kingston, Deonna Purrazzo, Shinsuka Nakamura, Asuka, Drake Maverick, Bray Wyatt, Keith Lee, Nia Jax, Adam Cole, Peyton Royce, Trish Stratus, Zelina Vega, Shayna Baszler, Drew McIntyre, Ricochet, Bayley

Continue reading →

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 ...

The Card: 2018 Donruss Optic Red & Yellow #153 Baker Mayfield (RC parallel)
The Reason Graded: I found this one in a Mega Box and it was by far the best highlight of the bunch there so that's why you see it here. Mayfield has shown himself to be a spark plug among a good rookie crop since back when I pulled it, so that's another reason. A third? This brand is one that I like more than others. The color scheme of this card, a retail-exclusive, also looked good, so I figured I'd slab it up and see how it looked when it came back. These were very pricey when they first started arriving on eBay but I'm sure they have settled down by now -- still an impressive card to me either way and I'll be tucking this one away in my stash alongside my Bowman Chrome Tom Brady RC for the simple long-term appreciation. (Mine, not financial.)
The Grade: BGS 9.5

Reality Check: At the point I submitted this one, there was at most one graded and I'm still surprised that there are so few slabbed. I also was surprised with the grade figuring I'd check in at a likely BGS 9 but I'll take it. I think high-grade copies of retail-only parallels found in certain formats could be tougher future finds than people might think.

Keep reading for the rest of this month's new grades and additions.

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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: 2018 Topps WWE NXT
The cost: Click here (when available) ... click here for other WWE boxes

Packs per box: 10 (a sampling of everything in gallery below)
Cards per pack: 7
Cards in this box: 70
Base set completion: 
26 of 50 (52 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Kairi Sane, Tommasso Ciampa, Adam Cole, Peyton Royce, Triple H, William Regal, Otis Dozovic, Tucker Knight, Aliyah, Paul Ellering, No Way Jose, Andrade "Cien" Almas, Lio Rush

Rookie Cards/First NXT (5) – Shayna Baszler, Taynara Conti, Fabian Aichner, Vanessa Borne, Cezar Bononi

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The biggest weekend in professional wrestling is here with WrestleMania 35 set for Sunday in New Jersey. It's a big week for WWE with its NXT and Hall of Fame events planned, and we'll make today a big day for wrestling collectors right here on The Buzz with #BuzzMania2, a series of WWE wax box and wax pack breaks every hour.

How long will we go? Stay tuned ...

The box: 2018 Topps WWE NXT
The cost: Click here (when available)

What's inside this one? Keep reading ...

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The biggest weekend in professional wrestling is here with WrestleMania 35 set for Sunday in New Jersey. It's a big week for WWE with its NXT and Hall of Fame events planned, and we'll make today a big day for wrestling collectors right here on The Buzz with #BuzzMania2, a series of WWE wax box and wax pack breaks every hour.

How long will we go? Stay tuned ...

The box: 2018 Topps WWE Women's Division (blaster box)
The cost: Click here for hobby

What's inside this one? Keep reading ...

Continue reading →

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: 2018 Topps WWE Women's Division wrestling cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: Click here (for hobby)

Packs per box: 11 (10 standard packs and one hit pack)
Cards per pack: 7
Cards per box: 71
Base set completion: 
31 of 50 (62 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards: Shayna Baszler, Lita, Charly Caruso, Sasha Banks, Alexa Bliss, Stephanie McMahon, Kairi Sane, Nia Jax, Mandy Rose, Kayla Braxton, Lacey Evans, Carmella, Maryse, Bayley, Charlotte Flair

Rookie/First NXT cards (5) – Ronda Rousey, Ruby Riott, Asuka, Billie Kay, Sarah Logan

Continue reading →

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: 2018 Topps WWE Women's Division wrestling cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: Click here (for hobby)

Packs per box: 11 (10 standard packs and one hit pack)
Cards per pack: 7
Cards per box: 71
Base set completion: 
25 of 50 (50 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards: Shayna Baszler, Lita, Charly Caruso, Sasha Banks, Alexa Bliss, Stephanie McMahon, Kairi Sane, Nia Jax, Mandy Rose, Kayla Braxton, Lacey Evans

Rookie/First NXT cards (5) – Ronda Rousey, Candice LeRae, Ruby Riott, Asuka, Billie Kay

Continue reading →

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: 2018 Topps Heritage WWE wrestling cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 24
Cards per pack: 6
Cards in this box: 142
Base set completion: 53 of 110 (48 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notable names pulled on base cards – A.J. Styles, Paige, Natalya, Kevin Owens, Roman Reigns, Shinsuke Nakamura, Brie Bella, Mickie James, Elias, Maryse, Alexa Bliss, Shane McMahon, Lana, Becky Lynch, Natalya, Bray Wyatt, Charlotte Flair, Finn Balor, Goldust

NXT Future Stars/All-Star Rookies (13) – Ruby Riott, Killian Dain, Ember Moon, Nikki Cross, Oney Lorcan, Aleister Black, Adam Cole, Johnny Gargano, Roderick Strong, Eric Young, Alexander Wolfe, Sonya Deville, Andrade "Cien" Almas

Continue reading →

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: 2018 Topps WWE Women's Division wrestling cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: Click here

Packs per box: 24
Cards per pack: 7
Cards per box: 165
Base set completion: 
50 of 50 (100 percent)
Duplicates: 12

Notables on base cards: Kairi Sane, Shayna Baszler, Kayla Braxton, Lita, Trish Stratus, Charlotte Flair, Maryse, Bayley, Stephanie McMahon, Lana, Carmella, Mickie James, Becky Lynch, Natalya, Mandy Rose, Nia Jax, Sasha Banks, Alexa Bliss

Rookie/First NXT cards (13) – Ronda Rousey, Candice LeRae, Ruby Riott, Sarah Logan (2), Billie Kay, Peyton Royce, Asuka, Sonya Deville, Liv Morgan, Zelina Vega, Ember Moon, Dakota Kai

Continue reading →

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: 2018 Topps WWE Women's Division wrestling cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: Click here (for hobby)

Packs per box: 11 (10 standard packs and one hit pack)
Cards per pack: 7
Cards per box: 71
Base set completion: 
30 of 50 (60 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards: Sasha Banks, Alexa Bliss, Shayna Baszler, Bayley, Stephanie McMahon, Kairi Sane, Nia Jax, Mandy Rose

Rookie/First NXT cards (5) – Ronda Rousey, Candice LeRae, Ruby Riott, Sarah Logan, Billie Kay

Continue reading →

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: 2018 Topps WWE Women's Division wrestling cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: Click here (for hobby)

Packs per box: 11 (10 standard packs and one hit pack)
Cards per pack: 7
Cards per box: 71
Base set completion: 
30 of 50 (60 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards: Trish Stratus, Nikki Bella, Becky Lynch, Mickie James, Natalya, Maryse, Lana, Carmella, Renee Young, Charlotte Flair, Bayley, Kayla Braxton, Stephanie McMahon

Rookie/First NXT cards (5) – Ronda Rousey, Sarah Logan, Dakota Kai, Zelina Vega, Ember Moon

Continue reading →

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: 2018 Topps WWE Women's Division wrestling cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: Click here (for hobby)

Packs per box: 11 (10 standard, one hit pack)
Cards per pack: 7
Cards per box: 71
Base set completion: 
30 of 50 (60 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards: Kairi Sane, Sasha Banks, Nia Jax, Mandy Rose, Stephanie McMahon, Kayla Braxton, Bayley, Charlotte Flair, Maryse, Lana, Carmella, Mickie James, Becky Lynch

Rookie/First NXT cards (5) – Ronda Rousey, Sarah Logan, Dakota Kai, Zelina Vega, Ember Moon

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Fans of the UFC and MMA may see a familiar face if they tune in to tonight's final of the WWE's Mae Young Classic in Las Vegas.

It's Shayna Baszler, a MMA veteran who has a 15-11 record and is one of Ronda Rousey's friends that made up The Four Horsewomen. Now, Baszler is perhaps primed for a run in a WWE ring and finds herself in the championship match of a women's tournament that the company has scoured the global independent scene to build.

Because of her stint with UFC, Baszler does have some cardboard already as does her opponent tonight, Kairi Sane, a star from Japan.

Continue reading →