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: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 2019 Topps Living Set #179 RC
The Reason Graded: While I own a few Topps Living Set cards the arrival of this second-generation MLB star in this weekly release sparked my first purchase from this popular brand that's clearly popular with flippers. I ponied up for 10 copies of the card --solely with potential grading in mind -- but didn't receive a single perfectly centered card in my batch, which was a bummer. After some grumbling, I picked out this one from the batch and sent it in.
The Grade: BGS 9.5

Reality Check: It graded as well as I thought it could -- maybe better -- so I wasn't unhappy with the grade and it appears that I'm perhaps on the luckier side with just two 10s out there better than it via BGS ... for now. This is a card that will likely be graded more and more often so those won't last but but it appears that this one is arriving between 8.5 and 9.5 more often than not. I have a second one I'll submit to PSA at some point with my sights set on a 10 there. We'll see sometime later this year.

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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: 2016 Topps WWE Road to WrestleMania (24-pack retail box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 24
Cards per pack: 7
Cards in this box: 161
Base set completion: 
105 of 110 (95 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards: The Four Horsewomen, Roddy Piper, Dusty Rhodes, Sting, Ric Flair, Triple H, Bray Wyatt, Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar, Seth Rollins, John Cena, Kevin Owens, Undertaker, Braun Strowman, Sasha Banks Charlotte, Bayley, Alexa Bliss, Ric Flair, The New Day, Paige, Becky Lynch

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The box: 2016 Topps WWE Road to WrestleMania (24-pack retail box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 24
Cards per pack: 7
Cards in this box: 168
Base set completion: 
110 of 110 (100 percent)
Duplicates: 3

Notables on base cards: The Four Horsewomen, Roddy Piper, Dusty Rhodes, Sting, Daniel Bryan, Ric Flair, Triple H, Bray Wyatt, Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar, Seth Rollins, John Cena, Kevin Owens, Lana, Chris Jericho, Stardust, Undertaker, The Dudley Boyz, Braun Strowman, Sami Zayn, Sasha Banks Charlotte, Bayley, Alexa Bliss, Ric Flair, The New Day, Paige, Becky Lynch, Lana

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Buzz buys and busts a lot of boxes right here for Buzz Breaks, but one of my goals just might be to rip fewer blasters this year 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 there are a dozen weird, cheap or interesting cards.

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BEFORE THE NBA CAREER ... 
The Card: LeBron James 2003 Sports Illustrated For Kids #264 (BGS 9)
The Price: $11
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: There was a time when this was a popular card in the hobby -- maybe not Tiger Woods SI For Kids big, but popular. What is it? It's a card pulled from a perforated sheet in an issue of the kids' magazine, something it has done since the 1980s, showcasing countless big-name athletes and many others who don't have much -- or any -- cardboard. Everybody knows how much hype there was for James back then -- and his first cardboard from SAGE was huge -- but this one was one of only a few options until his NBA cardboard arrival on Rookie Cards (and plenty more) on 2003-04 releases. Ultimately all those early cards don't command as much interest as NBA stuff, but I liked the look and price on this one for a slab -- especially when you consider higher-graded cards can push $50-100 and 10s can be quite big at auction even today ... at least for a card found in a magazine.
Grab a box right here: No boxes for this one ... click here for NBA boxes

Keep reading for five more interesting items ...

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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 Raw wrestling cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs per box: 11 (10 packs plus Relic-Women's Revolution bonus pack)
Cards per pack: 7
Cards in this box: 75
Base set completion: 
45 of 90 (50 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards: Elias, Charly Caruso, Batista, Ember Moon, Brock Lesnar, Ronda Rousey, Roman Reigns, Ruby Riott, Bray Wyatt, Alexa Bliss, Seth Rollins, Nia Jax

Rookie Cards (1) – Buddy Murphy

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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 ...

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The last of eight seasons of Game of Thrones will be upon us next month, but the cardboard for the hit series keeps on coming with the newest set announced earlier this week from Rittenhouse Archives. 

That one is Game of Thrones Inflexions -- and it includes new autographs from top stars who haven't had ink in years and have gone on to added fame in other TV and film roles.

That roster? It includes Emilia Clarke, Jason Momoa, Gwendoline Christie and many others who are all set to have new ink when it arrives on May 22.

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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 release: 2019 Topps WWE Transcendent Collection

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THE BOTTOM LINE ...
The Card: "Stone Cold" Steve Austin 2019 Topps WWE Transcendent Collection Autographs (any)
The Price: None of this color on eBay yet ... but they won't come cheap ($999 for base)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This high-end release has several of the biggest names in recent WWE history inside and few can top this guy, the beer-chugging, mouth-running, butt-whooping, bird-flipping hellraiser who helped redefine the wrestling landscape in the 1990s. His autographs here are his first cards signed for Topps, despite its current run of making WWE cards pushing 15 years now. (What?) He also only had one WWE-approved certified autograph before this release -- way back in the 2001 Fleer WWF WrestleMania Signature Moves Autographs set. That one is a no-frills standard card limited to only 500 copies and the only copy on eBay has a lofty asking price. It's been a strong seller in the past. The rainbow of autos in Transcendent include standard (/25), Blue (/15), Purple (/10), Black (/5) and 1/1 Gold and Red versions so these won't exactly open the floodgates to lower prices. Will there be more autos to come after these? I'm not sure I'd bank on it, but you never know. Either way, the 57 autos to come from this brand will be in demand.

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

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Have you seen the latest cool or interesting items on eBay? If not, you just might see some of those here every week as we're launching a weekly version of our eBay Buzz pieces that pop up from time to time. We’ll spotlight some items that have a story or just wow us with how much interest it might have — and we’re not just talking baseball cards, either.

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HOW YOU LIKE ME NOW?
The Item: Tom Brady 2000 Bowman Chrome Refractor (RC parallel) BGS 9.5
The Price: $19,499 Buy-It-Now
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: Think this price is crazy? It is, but it isn't -- check out that link below. You should know by now that Brady has won yet another Super Bowl ring after Sunday's snoozefest in Atlanta and you need to know that his Rookie Cards are easily some of the priciest football cards out there in top condition and in slabs. This one isn't the flashiest of them -- other big ones have autographs and command much more cash -- but this is one (non-Refractor) that I managed to pull from a pack back in the day so it gets my pick here. The pop report for this particular version shows 28 others in this grade and just one getting a 10. Just 207 Refractors have been slabbed by BGS while mine is pushing 3,000 with 103 BGS 10s and two getting a BGS Black perfect 10. Some of Brady's RCs have been faked, so slabbed is the way to go unless you want to pay big bucks to chase wax (not easy to find anyway). He's expensive but there's no doubt that he's atop the mountain right now. Is he a safe buy? Traditional thought might say that he's too pricey to get in on right now, but when Brady is the top guy in NFL history there should continue to be more attention and speculation money pumped into his cards from beyond the typical collecting base.
Similar Pieces: Other 2000 Tom Brady Rookie Cards on eBay
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for NFL boxes

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

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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 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

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Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today's your day then as we launch 12 in 12 -- a series of a dozen breaks of past wax boxes and wax packs in a dozen hours. We'll post one every hour on the hour all day long today ... this is Hour 10.

The box: 2019 Topps WWE Road to WrestleMania (blaster)
The cost: Click here for hobby

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

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Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today's your day then as we launch 12 in 12 -- a series of a dozen breaks of past wax boxes and wax packs in a dozen hours. We'll post one every hour on the hour all day long today ... this is Hour 4.

The case: 2016 Topps Heritage WWE blasters
The cost: Click here

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

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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: 2019 Topps WWE Road To WrestleMania wrestling cards
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs per box: 11 (10 standard, one Relic/Divas Revolution pack in Walmart version)
Cards per pack: 7
Cards in this box: 75
Base set completion: 
41 of 100 (41 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Ronda Rousey, Kevin Owens, John Cena, Matt Hardy, Cesaro, Sheamus, The Shield, Braun Strowman, Randy Orton, Daniel Bryan, Kurt Angle, Kalisto, Shinsuke Nakamura, Drake Maverick, Seth Rollins, A.J. Styles, Mustafa Ali, Steve Austin, Kane, Roman Reigns, Rusev, Undertaker

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What: 2019 Topps WWE Transcendent Collection
Arrives: Feb. 13
Box basics: 53 autographs -- and plenty more -- per box
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Topps' biggest high-end brand gets in the ring where no punches are pulled as Vince McMahon's first certified autograph cards and a ticket to WrestleMania are just some of the surprises in store for this one, which will be limited to only 50 boxes.

So, what comes in a box? Keep reading for more info and a full gallery of images released so far.

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Between everyday Buzz Breaks and the near-monthly Buzz 12 in 12 marathons, Buzz busted a lot of packs in 2018.

How many? Well, Buzz is almost afraid to count -- though it was seemingly news to me that the 12 in 12 marathons actually started early last year. (That's even more proof there's been a lot of wax to get these hands ... it's all a blur.)

It was a year of memorable pulls for me at times with some icons' autographs found in my packs. It also was fun one ripping into really old packs, too, with some cheap thrills there.

Breaks are among the most-popular items seen here nearly every day and Buzz knows that. So look for plenty of breaks in 2019 -- but, before that time comes, keep reading for links to not one, not 18, but 25 memorable breaks from 2018.

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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 (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

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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 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

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Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today's your day then as we launch 12 in 12 -- a series of a dozen breaks of wax boxes and wax packs in a dozen hours. We'll post one every hour all day long ... this is Hour 9.

The box: 2015 Topps Chrome WWE (hobby box)
The cost: Click here (when available) (more WWE boxes here)

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: 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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Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today's your day then as we launch 12 in 12 -- a series of a dozen breaks of wax boxes and wax packs in a dozen hours. We'll post one every hour all day long ... this is Hour 11.

The box: 2018 Topps Heritage WWE wrestling cards (blaster
The cost: Click here for hobby

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: 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: 140
Base set completion: 54 of 110 (49 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notable names pulled on base cards – A.J. Styles, Randy Orton, Triple H, Sasha Banks, Braun Strowman, Paige, Kurt Angle, Natalya, Kevin Owens, Roman Reigns, Shinsuke Nakamura, Brie Bella, Mickie James, Elias, Maryse, The Miz, Alexa Bliss, Shane McMahon, Matt Hardy, Mandy Rose, Chris Jericho, Lana, Becky Lynch, Natalya

NXT Future Stars/All-Star Rookies (10) – Ruby Riott, Killian Dain, Ember Moon, Peyton Royce, Nikki Cross, Oney Lorcan, Aleister Black, Adam Cole, Kyle O'Reilly, Velveteen Dream

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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: 2015 Topps WWE wrestling cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (when available)

Packs per box: 11 (10 packs plus a Relic pack)
Cards per pack: 7
Cards in this box: 71
Base set completion: 
45 of 100 (45 percent)
Duplicates: 4

Notables on base cards: The Rock, Bruno Sammartino, Ric Flair, Roddy Piper, Undertaker, Stephanie McMahon, Chris Jericho, Rob Van Dam, Randy Orton, Batista, Roman Reigns, Jerry Lawler, Bray Wyatt, Brock Lesnar, Daniel Bryan, Nikki Bella, Triple H

Rookie Cards (3) – Rusev, Xavier Woods, Emma

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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 WWE wrestling cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs per box: 11 (10 packs plus a two-card Relic/bonus pack)
Cards per pack: 7
Cards in this box: 72
Base set completion: 
43 of 100 (43 percent)
Duplicates: 1

Notables on base cards: Jerry Lawler, Mr. McMahon, Jim Ross, Stephanie McMahon, Elias, Carmella, John Cena, Maryse, Paige, Peyton Royce, Daniel Bryan, A.J. Styles, Big E

Rookie/First NXT Cards: Asuka, Kyle O'Reilly, Adam Cole (2), Montez Ford, Pete Dunne, Sonya DeVille

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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 WWE wrestling cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs per box: 11 (10 packs plus a two-card Relic/bonus pack)
Cards per pack: 7
Cards in this box: 72
Base set completion: 
42 of 100 (42 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards: Mr. McMahon, Jim Ross, Stephanie McMahon, Elias, Carmella, John Cena, Maryse, Paige, Peyton Royce, Daniel Bryan, A.J. Styles, Big E

Rookie/First NXT Cards: Asuka, Kyle O'Reilly, Adam Cole, Montez Ford, Pete Dunne, Sonya DeVille, Bobby Fish

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