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 ...

BIG BAT LEADING OFF ...
The Card: Fernando Tatis Jr. 2019 Topps Chrome Gold Refractors #203 (/50) -- RC parallel
The Reason Graded: Buzz found this rarity of a top RC in the absolute same box as the card that batted lead-off here last month -- and when that one graded really well I knew that this one would end up in a slab, too. Easily one of the best boxes I've seen for any non-premium product in years of collecting. I figured they needed to be slabbed together and matching grades would be cool, too.
The Grade: BGS 9.5

Reality Check: A matching pair is what we ended up with here -- and this also reinforces the fact that this was one of the best boxes I've ever seen. I was a little surprised to see only six copies of this card graded, but they're all at least a 9.5 with only one topping this mark. Meanwhile, 14 of them have been graded by PSA -- five 10s -- so perhaps some of Tatis' big-spending fans are also PSA fans, too. (Looking at you, Phil Hughes.)

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 WWE Then Now Forever (Series 2) (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: 164
Base set completion: 
98 of 100 (98 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards: Sasha Banks, Mandy Rose, Otis Dozovic, Eddie Guerrero, Lacey Evans, Steve Austin, Edge, Shawn Michaels, Velveteen Dream, Becky Lynch, Jake Roberts, Sting, Seth Rollins, Shinsuke Nakamura, Roman Reigns, Bayley, Matt Hardy, Ted DiBiase, Andre The Giant, Bray Wyatt, Dakota Kai, Beth Phoenix, Randy Savage, Drake Maverick, Goldust, Bianca Belair, Randy Orton, Braun Strowman, Drew McIntyre, Bret Hart, Jeff Hardy

Rookie/First NXT Cards (21) – Ronda Rousey, Peyton Royce, Billie Kay, Ruby Riott, Liv Morgan, Ricochet, Ember Moon, Zelina Vega, Andrade "Cien" Almas, Alexander Wolfe, Danny Burch, No Way Jose, Kona Reeves, Hanson, Rowe, Akam, Rezar, Killian Dain, Hideo Itami, Mark Andrews, Raul Mendoza

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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 this time around there's a little bit of everything.

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RARE STUFF 
The Card: Addie Joss 2019 Panini Flawless Legendary Jumbo Materials Sapphire (/7)
The Price: Just under $80
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: I don't pony up this big for single cards all that often, but something grabbed my attention here. Actually, it was a mix of a few things (beyond just the price) for a Hall of Famer who only has memorabilia cards in only a few releases (Diamond Kings, Flawlesss, National Treasures) from just the last two years. First, price. Second, this one has a huge swatch and based on the look of it, I'd bet big money that the material came from a $12,426 pair of game-used pants sold by Lelands in late 2017. Third, Joss played just nine years -- 1902 to 1910 -- won 160 games in that span and fell ill in spring training the following year and died at age 31 from tubercular meningitis so it's not some decades-later coach-worn piece. (Learn more about his career here  -- and there's a ton more here that's also interesting.) For memorabilia and cardboard, there's just not much to go around for him and my gut feeling about this one's price felt even better when I checked eBay completed sales to see easier versions of this card pushing $200. With the price of those pants -- and the fact that there are no known jerseys out there beyond anything hanging out at the Hall of Fame per the auction house -- there could be fewer jumbo cards like one this made in the future and a finite volume of memorabilia cards in general for this notable name from the past. I'd grab 'em while you can if you have any interest.
Grab a box right here: Panini Flawless (all years)

Keep reading for 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: 2018 Topps WWE Then Now Forever (Series 2) (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: 164
Base set completion: 
97 of 100 (97 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards: Sasha Banks, Mandy Rose, Otis Dozovic, Eddie Guerrero, Lacey Evans, Steve Austin, Edge, Shawn Michaels, Velveteen Dream, Becky Lynch, Jake Roberts, Sting, Seth Rollins, Shinsuke Nakamura, Roman Reigns, Bayley, Matt Hardy, Ted DiBiase, Andre The Giant, Bray Wyatt, Dakota Kai, Beth Phoenix, Randy Savage, Drake Maverick, Goldust, Bianca Belair, Randy Orton, Braun Strowman, Drew McIntyre, Bret Hart, Jeff Hardy

Rookie/First NXT Cards (21) – Ronda Rousey, Peyton Royce, Billie Kay, Ruby Riott, Liv Morgan, Ricochet, Ember Moon, Zelina Vega, Andrade "Cien" Almas, Alexander Wolfe, Danny Burch, No Way Jose, Kona Reeves, Hanson, Rowe, Akam, Rezar, Killian Dain, Hideo Itami, Mark Andrews, Raul Mendoza

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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 Then Now Forever (Series 2) (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: 164
Base set completion: 
97 of 100 (97 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards: Sasha Banks, Mandy Rose, Otis Dozovic, Eddie Guerrero, Lacey Evans, Steve Austin, Edge, Shawn Michaels, Velveteen Dream, Becky Lynch, Jake Roberts, Sting, Seth Rollins, Shinsuke Nakamura, Roman Reigns, Bayley, Matt Hardy, Ted DiBiase, Andre The Giant, Bray Wyatt, Dakota Kai, Beth Phoenix, Randy Savage, Drake Maverick, Goldust, Bianca Belair, Randy Orton, Braun Strowman, Drew McIntyre, Bret Hart, Jeff Hardy

Rookie/First NXT Cards (21) – Ronda Rousey, Peyton Royce, Billie Kay, Ruby Riott, Liv Morgan, Ricochet, Ember Moon, Zelina Vega, Andrade "Cien" Almas, Alexander Wolfe, Danny Burch, No Way Jose, Kona Reeves, Hanson, Rowe, Akam, Rezar, Killian Dain, Hideo Itami, Mark Andrews, Raul Mendoza

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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 (when available; click for all WWE wax)

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 – The Rock, Sasha Banks, Mandy Rose, Bayley, Seth Rollins, Undertaker, John Cena, Carmella, Xavier Woods, Big E, Jeff Hardy, Matt Hardy, Chris Jericho, Kurt Angle, Paige

NXT Future Stars/All-Star Rookies (15) – Kairi Sane, Kyle O'Reilly, Velveteen Dream, Tommaso Ciampa, Johnny Gargano, Bobby Fish, Kassius Ohno, Billie Kay, Bobby Roode, Asuka, Liv Morgan, Pete Dunne, Sarah Logan, Sonya Deville, Andrade "Cien" Almas

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What: 2018-19 Leaf Pearl sports cards
Arrives: January
Box basics: 11 premium cards including one cut auto per box (two boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What’s buzz-worthy: Leaf Pearl will take on a multi-sport approach in in the coming year with a range of athletes and sports stars from the past and present with autographs from O.J. Simpson, Lionel Messi and plenty more in the mix along with some legendary pieces of memorabilia, too.

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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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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 Then Now Forever (Series 2) (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: 164
Base set completion: 
97 of 100 (97 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards: Sasha Banks, Mandy Rose, Eddie Guerrero, Lacey Evans, Steve Austin, Edge, Shawn Michaels, Velveteen Dream, Candice LeRae, Becky Lynch, Jake Roberts, Sting, Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, Shinsuke Nakamura, Roman Reigns, Bayley, Matt Hardy, Ted DiBiase, Andre The Giant, Bray Wyatt, Dakota Kai, Beth Phoenix, Randy Savage, Drake Maverick, Goldust, Bianca Belair, Randy Orton, Braun Strowman, Drew McIntyre, Bret Hart, Jeff Hardy, Otiz Dozovic

Rookie/First NXT Cards (21) – Ronda Rousey, Shayna Baszler, Peyton Royce, Billie Kay, Ruby Riott, Liv Morgan, Ricochet, Ember Moon, Zelina Vega, Andrade "Cien" Almas, Alexander Wolfe, Danny Burch, No Way Jose, Kona Reeves, Hanson, Rowe, Akam, Rezar, Killian Dain, Eric Young, Hideo Itami, Mark Andrews

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 (blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (when available)

Packs per box: 12 (10 standard, one Relic/Shawn Michaels pack)
Cards per pack: 6 in standard
Cards in this box: 62
Base set completion: 23 of 110 (21 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notable names pulled on base cards – Johnny Gargano, Charlotte Flair, Sarah Logan, Sonya Deville, Bayley, Andrade "Cien" Almas, Goldust, Stephanie McMahon, Roderick Strong, Finn Balor

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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 SummerSlam wrestling cards (blaster)
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: 
41 of 100 (41 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards: Braun Strowman, Elias, Ronda Rousey, Sasha Banks, Ruby Riott, Seth Rollins, Ali, Kofi Kingston, Kevin Owens, Brock Lesnar, Rey Mysterio, Natalya, Carmella, Cesaro, Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar, Shinsuke Nakamura, Bray Wyatt, Zelina Vega, Finn Balor, Bobby Lashley

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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: 
44 of 90 (49 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards: Liv Morgan, Bray Wyatt, Alexa Bliss, Bayley, Sasha Banks, Kayla Braxton, Natalya, John Cena, Mickie James, Braun Strowman, Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins

Rookie Cards (1) – Lio Rush

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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: 
46 of 90 (51 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards: Elias, Liv Morgan, Bray Wyatt, JoJo, Alexa Bliss, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Bayley, Sasha Banks, Kurt Angle, Paul Heyman, Kayla Braxton, Natalya

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: 2019 Topps WWE Road to WrestleMania
The cost: Click here for hobby

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

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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 ... it's all MLB and WWE this time with a new baseball season under way and it being WrestleMania week.

The Card: 2018 Topps WWE Then Now Forever 25 Years of Raw #RAW28 Mr. McMahon's Limousine Explodes
The Reason Graded: You don't see why? This is one of the greatest cards I've ever seen in any set, and it simply had to lead off here, too. The heat you see on the card is only rivaled by the heat that is this card. (Something like that.) So, what's the story with this? In a June 2007 episode of Raw, WWE Chairman and ultimate on-screen villain Vince McMahon had an unusual evening on the air. At the end of the show he walked through a star-laden backstage area to go to his limo at the end of his "Appreciation Night." He stepped inside, closed the door and at that exact moment it exploded on live TV. (See it happen here and read all about the fallout.) The company was bombarded with phone calls from some members of the public and it even issued a press release that McMahon was, indeed, dead. The company's stock even took a hit (seriously) as part of the story line. Somehow, it took all of these years for this epic moment to make it onto a card.
The Grade: BGS 9.5

Reality Check: I was all over this one the second I saw the checklist and knew I'd own it in a slab. The super-skinny stock and dark edges make it tough to land without a tweaked edge or corner, but mine is the first and it's nearly perfect. (The spot on the right is part of the photo, not a nicked edge.) The only thing better than a near-perfect copy of a card like this would be one signed by VKM himself ... after all, he somehow survived. This card makes me laugh and I laugh even harder with a high-grade copy.

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

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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: Check out nothing but breaks today ... 'cause Stone Cold said so.

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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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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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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 10.

The box: 2018 Topps WWE Then Now Forever (blaster box) 
The cost: Click here (for hobby boxes)

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: 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 Then Now Forever (Series 2) (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: 0

Notables on base cards: Alexa Bliss, Shayna Baszler, Finn Balor, Shinsuke Nakamura, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, Randy Orton, Bianca Belair, Drake Maverick, Lita, Steve Austin, Braun Strowman, Sting, Cesaro, Jake Roberts

Rookie/First NXT Cards: Ronda Rousey, Ember Moon, Ricochet, Billie Kay, Zelina Vega, Raul Mendoza, Alexander Wolfe, Eric Young, Hideo Itami, Mark Andrews, Killian Dain

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 Undisputed
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

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

Base cards – Dean Ambrose, Big E, Nikki Bella, Kane, Sami Zayn, Cesaro, Triple H, The Miz, Naomi, Brie Bella, Jason Jordan, Kofi Kingston, Brock Lesnar, Daniel Bryan, Kevin Owens, Becky Lynch, John Cena

Rookie/First NXT cards – None

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