Topps Comes Through (a redemption story)

Earlier this year in February, I pulled a redemption card for an autograph of the young WWE Superstar, Neville. While wrestling autograph cards don't usually get me all that excited, I have to admit I was looking forward to getting this card in the mail. I promptly logged onto Topps' website and redeemed the card. The wait began. I waited...and waited...and waited. Nothing.

About two months ago I decided to check on the status via the website and I saw that there was an option to forego the wait and request a replacement. I've read enough card blogs to know that if I went that route I wouldn't get the Neville auto I had been waiting on. The replacement card may be something better...or it may be something worse, like an auto of Curtis Axel!

However yesterday a fat padded envelope came from Topps and I figured it was finally my replacement card. I ripped open the mailer and I found not one replacement card, but two?!

I don't know if this is normal or not, but apparently the extra card comes as a added bonus for making me wait so long. What I don't get is what was the hold up in getting the autographed cards from Neville. I know WWE Superstars live a very grueling road life much of the year, but Neville was on the shelf injured for a good part of the 2016. Couldn't he have signed his cards for Topps during his time away from the ring? Whatever the reason, it's nice to see that Topps was at least trying to make me happy. Speaking of that, did they? What was the replacement?

I got this nice auto of Dean Malenko from 2013 Topps and I was pretty darn happy. You see I was more of a WCW fan growing up, NWA before that. I never watched much WWE until the "Monday Night Wars" heated up. I loved the cruiser weight division that WCW featured and Dean was fun to watch in the ring. A very technical wrestler that could spar with the best. 

Now the image Topps used for this card isn't the best in my opinion. In fact he looks a little creepy with the way he's looking at his opponent. None the less, not a bad replacement at all.

My bonus card is this nice WrestleMania 30 mat relic from 2014 Topps. I enjoy these type of gimmicky cards in wrestling releases almost as much as I enjoy jersey and bat cards from baseball products. I do like the fact that they tell you what event this piece is taken from as opposed to the normal line from Topps. I also enjoy watching Cesaro perform. Just check out him in the process of body slamming none other than the Big Show!

Everyone knows that Redemption cards can be risky, but for once I'm happy to say that things worked out well and I appreciate Topps for trying to go the extra mile to keep one of their customers happy.

Blaster Break - 2013 Topps WWE

I'm heading over to my brother-in-law's apartment later this evening to watch Wrestlemania.  Kinda excited if I'm being honest.  Usually I watch the wrestling PPVs online...minimized while I work on my blog or catalog cards...until I hear something that makes me maximize the screen.  This time however I'll be able to watch it on a real TV...with wings and BBQ!  So in the spirit of Wrestlemania, why not bust into a blaster box of the new 2013 Topps WWE?

Blaster boxes still retail for $19.99 and contain 10 seven card packs plus one SummerSlam 2012 Mat Relic or event-used relic card.  I love the base design this year, but the inserts (at least in retail) are really lame.  I don't care for this whole Triple Threat insert theme.  More on that later.

Like with past releases, the checklist includes both current WWE Superstars as well as Hall of Fame Superstars.  I was surprised that this new loser, Fandango was already included in the set.

The design is nicely done, even for Topps.  It does take up a lot of room and therefore reduces the size of the picture, but it works for me.  Like in past years the cards feature both RAW and SmackDown brands so some cards have red trim while others have blue.

If you've been following the WWE then you'll recognize these guys collectively as the Shield...or WWE's version of the nWo.

The selection of the Hall of Famers is basically the same from this year's earlier set, Heritage and from last year's 2012 base set.  That said I really like that they put the Bushwhackers on the same card instead of splitting them up.  RIP Mr. Perfect.

Black parallels fall 1:6 packs.  Instead of the grainy looking black parallels most of us are familiar with from the baseball products, these black parallels are a flat, slick black.  I actually like the look of these a lot.  I doubt I'll keep either of these nor will I seek out any particular black cards (well, maybe Layla's card).  Gold parallels are inserted 1:710 and I have no idea what those look like.  Silver parallels fall 1 per hobby box.

Level 3

Triple Threat is a term used frequently in wrestling, but these Triple Threat inserts are lame.  The premise is there are three tiers - 1, 2 and 3.  Odds for the cards work in the reverse order however with level 3 coming in at 1:2 packs, level 2 falls at 1:3 packs and level 1 comes in at 1:8 packs.

Level 2

There are 30 cards in the set, but each card # has 3 tiers.  From what I've gathered from my handful of these cards, this set closely follows the stories and rivalries from both RAW and SmackDown.  Outside of the idea of the set, I also don't care for the design.

Level 1

I doubt you can tell from the scan above, but the level 1 Triple Threat cards are foil cards.  These things show major fingerprints so beware!

If anyone plans to build this set please let me know as all of these Triple Threat cards are available for trade!

I guess the only reason to buy a blaster is if you like these themed mat relic cards.  I loved the Wrestlemania mat relics from this year's Heritage set.  These SummerSlam 2012 relics aren't bad.  I'm glad my blaster had the SummerSlam card over the generically listed 'event-used relic' card.

In wrapping this up this is another fun set, however I wish Topps would've come up with more, smaller insert sets instead of focusing on such a large multi-tiered set like Triple Threat.  Base design is killer, the selection of wrestlers is pretty good.  The Divas are represented, but since I didn't pull Layla's card I decided to snub the rest of the ladies!

If you're going to buy much of this however, stick with hobby.  At least a hobby boxes are guaranteed to give you a little more bang for your buck with the relics and autos.