Top Pulls of 2019: #1

Here it is, the long-awaited top pull of 2019.  Precedent was set for this back in 2010, when an entire box was hailed as my top pull of the year.  Well, it happened again.  One box of cards was judged to be so righteous, so sincere, that it comprised the totality of the year's top spot.  Fittingly, I purchased this box at the 2019 NSCC in Chicago.  Let's see what the gods provided.

First of all, I should point out that the hobby box I bought, 2018 Topps WWE Legends, promises three autographs per box, and a minimum of one auto per mini-box (of which there are two).  I'll allow the scene to unfold so you can experience it "You Are There" CBS radio-style.

#IC-1 1-2-3 Kid / X-Pac Identity Crisis Gold Parallel (04/10)

While Sean Waltman was never one of my favorites, this is a tough low-numbered card to get.

Next up:
#A-BH Bret "Hit Man" Hart AUTO Bronze Parallel (30/99)

Last year a single bronze Bret autograph made the number two slot.  Still not exactly sure why he writes his name with a bunch of quotation marks (???) after but not before HITMAN.  Strange, but consistent.


Next:
#A-SI Sika AUTO (081/199)

Yeah, half of the Wild Samoans, and Roman Reigns's dad.  Just a base auto, but the only one of those in the box.

Next:
#A-BT Booker T AUTO Gold Parallel (09/10)

My goodness!  Really great, stylish signature, and another gold in the box.  King Booker, one of the best ever Kings of the Ring.

Up next, another auto.  If I remember correctly, I hit a fourth autograph in this product in the first box I bought earlier this year, so it was not a big surprise to get more than the guaranteed three.
#ASR-RS Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat AUTO Shirt Relic Blue Parallel (08/25)

Man, just one of the best, right from the era when I first started watching wrestling.  The man is a true legend, and his WrestleMania III match with the Macho Man is so iconic that all you have to do is say their names together and a fellow fan will know exactly what you are talking about.  "Savage/Steamboat."  There.  You did it.  You just gave me that nonchalant upward head nod guys do.

(And by the way, the guy has, like, a paragraph to write on every card sticker, and he does it just beautifully.  A technician in and out of the ring.)

So, yeah, I got four hits in the box.  Time to gather up the plastic that was on the box and all the wrappers and throw them away, and... WAIT A MINUTE.

There's another pack wedged in the box.  How did I not notice that when I took the packs out?  And it's thick, which is how it got stuck in there.  Let's see...

#HOF-JR Jake "The Snake" Roberts AUTO Hall of Fame Ring (46/99)

Jake the Snake.  Say that to a non-wrestling fan, and they'll still have some recollection of the man.  A true icon of the business.  Too bad a Topps lackey got a little careless with the Elmer's when affixing the little fake ring thingy, but it's still a nice card.

And there you have it, folks, the top pull of 2019.  Thanks for reading, I'm sending plenty of well wishes your way so that whenever you're opening packs of cards this year, you're having a good time!

Top Puls of 2019: #2

Card: 2018 Topps WWE Legends #A-DB Daniel Bryan AUTO (036/199)

From: Hobby Box

Why I Like It:
Bryan had a great 2019, holding the title at the most important part of the WWE calendar, the stretch from the Royal Rumble to WrestleMania.  And let's talk about that belt!  The moment that stands out in my mind is Bryan chanting "Fickle!" at the crowd, going true eco-warrior heel.  He was getting so much heat that his "Yes!" chant all but disappeared during his five-month reign.  This card is nice and clean, and the autograph is on-card.  Not an amazingly valuable card, but one I'm happy to display in my collection.

Top Pulls of 2019: #3

Two-tie, all-tie!
(Anyone else familiar with that expression?  My dad used to say it all the time.  Drop a comment if you can relate.)
We have two cards coming at the third slot this year.

Card: 2018 Topps NXT #A-BY Bayley AUTO Silver Parallel (25/25)

2018 Topps NXT #A-VD Velveteen Dream AUTO Bronze Parallel (82/99)

From: Hobby Box
Why I Like Them:
2019 was kind to both of these performers.  Dream dominated the first half of the year in NXT.  I got to see him wrestle Adam Cole in a small venue in Milwaukee, and he lit the place up.  Bayley had the stronger second half of the year after making a major heel turn.  Her signature is quite a bit better than Velveteen's, but his minimalist sig's placement kind of makes a dong.  "Sidepipe," as my cousin Marc would call it.  Either way, I'm happy to have these cards, both of which were pulled from the same box.  Bayley's is a bit better because of the lower print run, but both are awesome.  I'm not happy with the configuration of 2019 Topps NXT.  The price is cut in half compared to previous years, but there are only two autos per box now, as opposed to ten before.  I would recommend jumping on 2018 NXT boxes, as they're sort of drying up a little.

2019 Card-vent Calendar: December 16

December 16, 2019:
2011 Topps WWE Heritage #H-23 Brian Pillman

To get the best sense of Brian Pillman, perhaps you should check out this video where Jim Ross shares an anecdote about the man.
It looks like this is a kind of nice insert from the 2011 Topps WWE set.  Currently there are no others for sale on COMC or eBay, so let's just say that I have the only one in the world.  (Fully expecting some jerkoff to "Well, actually..." and ruin my moment.)

2019 Card-vent Calendar: December 3

December 3, 2019:
2017 Topps WWE Women's Division #WWE-21 La Luchadora

If there was anyone who absolutely OWNED 2019 who is not named Megan Rapinoe, it would be Becky Lynch.  Let's run down the list.

• First women's match to headline WrestleMania
• Victorious in said match
• "Becky Two Belts"
• THE MAN T-shirt
• The new inspired-by-The Bride ring gear
• Broke everyone's heart by getting engaged
• Discovered new ice cream flavor
• Top 5 Formula One points finish
• Entered Lhasa Apso in Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, earned Best in Show
• Ran undetected Social Security scam, netting a cool $2.5K
• Guided party of billionaires down the Zambezi River, returning each one alive
• Made a really cool Etch-a-Sketch drawing of the Cure's Robert Smith

Yes' it's been a hell of a year.  Kind of makes you forget we're headed for only the third anniversary (12/20/2016) of this absolute trash pile of a gimmick.  Godspeed to you in 2020, Ms. Becky!

Botched Shirts from Pro Wrestling Tees

2019 NSCC Fallout Pt. 2: Wrestling Wrelics

In the middle of the Thursday session, I found a table that had a big box of wrestling inserts, autos, and relics. The prices were right and when I packaged a bunch of Topps WWE relics together, the guy cut me a nice deal that was about a dollar off each card's sticker price. Let's go.  

2015 Topps The Miz
Interesting two-color swatch on this one. This, you'll see, will be a theme moving forward.
 

2016 Heritage Cesaro Bronze (050/150)
This swatch looks to be from this piece of merch, but it's also possible it came from his later Cesaro Section shirt that was super popular.
   

2015 Chrome Kofi Kingston
Just blue, but $2 for a relic from the guy who's THE champ right now? A no-brainer.
 

2015 Heritage Seth Rollins
A bit of strange provenance on this card. The picture shows Seth winning the 2014 MITB match, but the back says the mat relic is from the 2015 event. Oh well, at least it reminds me of his heel run when I first got into wrestling that made Rollins my favorite current wrestler.
   

2015 Road to WrestleMania Dean Ambrose
Let's just call him MOX now.
   

2017 Topps Johnny Gargano Blue (38/50)
Perhaps the steal of this purchase. A quick check shows that the standard version of this card (#/199) is not selling for below $20 on eBay currently. Johnny Wrestling is a lot of fun to watch and should soon have a great run on the main roster.


More wrasslin' cards to show off later. Stay tuned.