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Review:
When it comes to collecting things, nothing goes more hand in hand than WWE and trading cards. From the 80s bubblegum packs featuring Hulk Hogan, to today’s high gloss cards featuring John Cena (no awful tasting gum this time; sorry old school fans), nothing beats opening up a pack and discovering new facts about your favorite superstars.

The latest release from Topps is the WWE 2009 set on sale from October in Target, Walmart, Toys-R-Us and other retailers.

The box I received arrived in full color print featuring images of WWE Superstars Edge, Triple H and John Cena on the outside. Inside are 24 packages, each containing 7 cards (Card packs with Relic Cards contain only 4 cards). The packages feature a posed image of John Cena in his signature hat.

After inspecting the packaging I opened a few packs of the cards; my initial impressions were that they were of the same high quality as other card offerings from the WWE and Topps. Because the cards are so glossy they must be handled carefully and around the edges to avoid smearing or smudging fingerprints on the cards themselves. You definitely feel like your collecting something worth while.

Each superstar pictures comes as a studio pose or an in-ring action shot; all of the highest quality and detail. All cards have a high-gloss finish on the front and most contain either silver or gold embossed names at the bottom of the card, as well as the WWE brand the wrestler is associated with (RAW, SmackDown, ECW, or a special designation depending on card type).

The backs of the cards have a matte-sheen finish and for the regular cards feature an interesting fact. Here’s one example I pulled from the Big Show card… “Big Show: Show was one of America’s best high school basketball players of his era, where he averaged a ‘double-double’ throughout his career. The 500-pound, South Carolina native is arguably the most multi-skilled ‘giant’ ever in WWE. Show is an avid ‘car nut’ who loves to collect classic automobiles and has the skills of a master automobile mechanic.” Most of the facts are detailed like this, so you won’t be rolling your eyes going “heard this all before”. I genuinely had no idea about this info on the Big Show.

Some cards also have a designation as ‘ToppsTown Code Cards’. These cards still contain the same high-quality glossy front and factoid on the reverse as well as a date expiring code usable at ToppsTown.com. Instructions read “Use this special code to unlock a world of sports, games, collecting and more! Get free virtual cards, watch videos, make new friends, customize, your clubhouse and hang out with the pros.”

There are several super collectible inserts that you’ll get in some lucky packs. These include “Legends of The Ring” (featuring an old school star), “Reign of Honor” (commemorating WWE championship reigns), “Ringside Relics” (featuring real pieces of ring worn attire), Autograph Cards, Dual Legacy Autographs (featuring father and son wrestlers), “Sketch Cards” (hand drawn by the WWE stars) and Signed Mat Relics (featuring real mat from the ring).

From back of packaging – Approximate odds per pack of finding special inserts: Reign of Honor 1:6; Gold Parallels 1:24; Black Parallels 1:24; Platinum Parallels 1:11225; Legends of the Ring Gold Parallels 1:24; Legends of the Ring Platinum Parallels 1:50500; Autographs 1:54; Dual Legacy Autographs 1:55; Signed Matt Relics 1:213; Shirt Relics 1:24; Sketch Cards 1:2857. One Autograph, Dual Legacy Autograph or Signed Mat Relic per box. One relic card per box guaranteed. NO GUARANTEED NUMBER OF SPECIAL INSERTS PER PACK.

Interestingly no purchase is necessary to attempt to win any of the relic/autograph prizes; An option to mail in an entry is available, however if you’re from Canada and win you must “first correctly answer a mathematical skill-testing question: 10 + 5 x 2 – 8 = ?”

To conclude, if you are a WWE fan that has yet to experience card collecting, I’d definitely start here. If you’re already an avid collector then everything you’ve grown to love…and some, can be found in these sets. Well worth the money.

Inside The Box:

Card # Name
1 Gregory Helms
2 Carlito
3 CM Punk
4 Maria
5 Kofi Kingston
6 Primo
7 Rey Mysterio
8 Natalya
9 Tommy Dreamer
10 Michelle McCool
11 Undertaker
12 Big Show
13 Charlie Haas
14 Chris Jericho
15 Evan Bourne
16 Layla
17 Christian
18 Cody Rhodes
19 Dolph Ziggler
20 Randy Orton
21 Edge
22 Mickie James
23 Festus
24 Finlay
25 Ted DiBiase
26 Goldust
27 Melina
28 Hornswoggle
29 Jack Swagger
30 Jim Ross
31 Mark Henry
32 Katie Lea Burchill
33 Mike Knox
34 Kelly Kelly
35 Matt Hardy
36 MVP
37 R-Truth
38 John Cena
39 William Regal
40 Santino
41 Tyson Kidd
42 Maryse
43 Shelton Benjamin
44 The Brian Kendrick
45 The Great Khali
46 Eve
47 The Miz
48 Triple H
49 Vladimir Kozlov
50 Alicia Fox
51 Beth Phoenix
52 Gail Kim
53 Jerry “The King” Lawler
54 Theodore Long
55 Batista
56 Tiffany
57 Ranjin Singh
58 Tony Atlas
59 Kane
60 Shawn Michaels
61 Chavo Guerrero
62 John Morrison
63 Jamie Noble
64 Jimmy Wang Yang
65 Kung Fu Naki
66 Paul Burchill
67 Jillian Hall
68 David Hart Smith
69 Curt Hawkins
70 DJ Gabriel
71 Ezekiel Jackson
72 Jesse
73 Zack Ryder
74 JTG
75 Shad Gaspard
76 Ricky Ortiz
77 Brie Bella
78 Nikki Bella
79 CM Punk
80 Santina Marella
81 Chris Jericho
82 Matt Hardy
83 Rey Mysterio
84 Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels
85 Edge
86 John Cena
87 Randy Orton
88 Triple H
89 “Stone Cold” Steve Austin
90 CHECKLIST

1 John Cena
2 Triple H
3 Jack Swagger
4 Rey Mysterio
5 MVP
6 Melina
7 Maryse
8 Primo & Carlito
9 Shawn Michaels
10 Undertaker

1 The Miz
2 Triple H
3 Santino (v2)
4 Christian
5 The Miz

1 The Ortons
2 The DiBiase’s
3 The Rhodes
4 Carlito & Primo

1 Bam Bam Bigelow
2 British Bulldog
3 Chief Jay Strongbow
4 Dean Malenko
5 Don Muraco
6 Dusty Rhodes
7 Iron Shiek
8 Jake Roberts
9 Jimmy Snuka
10 JYD
11 Mr. Perfect
12 Nikolai Volkoff
13 Rick Rude
14 Sgt. Slaughter
15 Superstar Billy Graham
16 Terry Funk
17 Vader
18 Wild Samoans
19 Gorilla Monsoon
20 Paul Orndorff

1 Batista
2 Beth Phoenix
3 Chris Jericho
4 Christian
5 CM Punk
6 Cody Rhodes
7 Dolph Ziggler
8 Edge
9 Evan Bourne
10 Gail Kim
11 Jack Swagger
12 John Cena
13 John Morrison
14 Kofi Kingston
15 Maria
16 Maryse
17 Matt Hardy
18 Melina
19 Michelle McCool
20 Mickie James
21 Montel Vontavious Porter
22 Randy Orton
23 Rey Mysterio
24 R-Truth
25 Santino Marella
26 Shawn Michaels
27 Ted DiBiase
28 The Miz
29 Triple H
30 Undertaker

1 Edge
2 Randy Orton
3 Christian
4 Rey Mysterio

1 Michelle McCool
2 Gail Kim
3 Ricky Steamboat
4 Beth Phoenix
5 John Cena
6 Jim Ross
7 Arn Anderson
8 Tiffany
9 Evan Bourne

Jerry Lawler Sketches:
Big Show
Batista
Rey Mysterio
Triple H
Edge
Undertaker
Jack Swagger

Eve Sketches:
“Speak what you feel, and act what you speak”
Musical Notes
“Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Owner”
“Passion”

Natalya Sketches:
Glory
Balance
Spirit
Honour
Energy
Calm
Peace
Sparkle
Happy
Pride

Santino Sketches:
Self portrait
Map of Italy
Landscape
Self portrait
Self portrait (with belt)
Santina
Island
Muscle
Self portrait
Santino in ring