DIGITAL DABBLINGS #14 – What’s New from Topps WWE and Insert Set Focus Part 7

Welcome back. It’s been another busy fortnight in the Topps app world; we had another SmackDown Live exclusive PPV and the dawn of the VIP program.  The physical-to-digital Topps 2017 set continued with Wave 2, and with it came a second triple signature this time featuring Bayley, Nia Jax and Liv Morgan.  That sig along with the Wave 1 New Day will get a special Daniel Bryan signature.  

Five Star has shown up in game, and while it offered the first card of Tyler Bate the inaugural UK Champion, it didn’t have much more.  While the name is based on a popular high-end physical set, no such set physical set exists for WWE yet.  The signature set was made up of two variations, a 150cc Gold and a 1000cc Silver set.  The 7 card checklist is pretty mundane, with repeats of Kalisto, Dean Ambrose, Triple H and Brie Bella.  New signatures of Peyton Royce, Andrade “Cien” Almas and Apollo Crews didn’t exactly set the game on fire (in fact as of this writing, they’re all still available), though the Peyton is incredibly desirable topping out at about $40 for the gold and $5-10 for the Silver.  The remaining Golds besides Brie are under $20 currently, Silvers are under $10.  Out of the FIVE base variants, only the Gold and Bronze have any real value, as they are the only ones with card count.  Golds sold out at 500cc, and bronzes are sitting under 3000cc currently.  

Topps has been unusually forthright with upcoming content lately, and we’ve been treated to previews of more than a few new sets coming out before the huge SummerSlam set later this month.  Later this month we will be treated to a second version of the Undisputed set which while the earlier version offered some nice signatures failed to set collectors aflame.  It’s actually based on the physical version of the ultra high end set ($25 for a pack of 5 cards, one of which is either a relic or signature).  

Topps popular VIP program has just arrived in the app; with a purchase of 1,000 diamonds in July a collector would get the ground level VIP package, which will include a free pack of diamond only SummerSlam later this month and access to a specially priced 1,100 diamond  pack.  The purchase of over 22,000 diamonds in July would get the “Champion” VIP package which includes two SummerSlam diamond packs, and three different diamond packs.  Both levels also include access to an 8 card signature chase set for Victory Wave 3.  

What’s New

New Sets:

• Battleground PPV Set, Focus, Poster, Predictors & Topps Now
• Five Star Wave 1
• Monochrome 2017
• PPV Logos (Marathon)
• WWE 2017 Wave 2 Released (based on physical cards)

Signature Series

• Cesaro

Inserts

• Sunday Showcase Asuka, Sting & Jeff Hardy
• Victory Wave 1 #5-8 & Award – Emma, Jason Jordan, The Brian Kendrick, Arn Anderson & Kevin Owens

New Insert Set – Monochrome 2017

1. Charly Caruso
2. Lana
3. Ember Moon
4. Mickie James
5. Mandy Rose
6. Cathy Kelley
7. Carmella

      Award: Sasha Banks

New Insert Set – Victory Wave 2

1. Sasha Banks
2. Big Cass
3. Erick Rowan
4. Dana Brooke
5. Cactus Jack
6. James Ellsworth
7. Karl Anderson
8. Mojo Rawley

      Award: Brock Lesnar

Base Variants

• Purple Bobby Roode, Randy Orton, Corey Graves, Seth Rollins, Rich Swann, Peyton Royce, Charlotte Flair, Neville & Sheamus
• Gold Rush (50cc) Roman Reigns

Marathons

• Archives #10-13 & Award #2 – Liv Morgan, Macho Man Randy Savage, Andre the Giant, AJ Styles & Bobby Heenan
• Colorful Characters #13-15 – Stone Cold Steve Austin, Rikishi, Road Dogg
• Focus Famous Finishers #14, 15 & Award – Brock Lesnar, AJ Styles & Shawn Michaels
• PPV Logos #1, 2 – Battleground & Capital Punishment
• NXT Awards #4 & 5 – Bobby Roode & Asuka
• Then & Now #9-12 – Becky Lynch, Naomi, Nikki Bella & Charlotte Flair (final card)

Insert Set Focus Part 7

This time:  Roman Empire, Splatter Art, Aerialists Series 2, Halloween

25.  Roman Empire

After fairly successful single superstar insert sets of Bret Hart, Charlotte Flair and Mick Foley Topps decided they needed to prop up Vince McMahon’s chosen one, Roman Reigns.  Each one celebrated a specific moment in his career and the odds were pretty long for the single variant issue.  As you can see from the CC listed below there aren’t that many of these out there, probably just enough for each Roman collector to get a set.  The award ended up under 100 CC!  

1. Summerslam 2014 vs. Randy Orton 793
2. Hell in a Cell vs. Bray Wyatt 341
3. Summerslam 2015 w/Dean vs. Wyatts 201
4. Wrestlemania 2016 522
5. Portrait 287

      Award NXT 85

Roman isn’t the most popular performer in the game, though he does have his fans.  These do come up from time to time in the secondary market, usually under $4 a pop.  I have no idea what the award could sell for, since there’s so few, and there’s so little demand.  

26. Splatter Art

This set was a direct lift from the other apps, complete with three variants, Light Blue were limited to 500cc, Green were only available for 24 hours and Orange were open editions (and still available in packs today).  The award of Batista was his first in game card which made it unique, but still not that desirable.

1. Bobby Roode
2. Big Cass
3. Xavier Woods
4. Bayley
5. Dolph Ziggler
6. Austin Aries

      Award – Batista

These cards sell for $1-3 apiece regardless of the variant, though of course the Orange OEs don’t move at all.  They’re a nice set, but nothing exciting.

27.  Aerialists Series 2

The very first insert set in the game returns with a second series to bore players yet again.  The performer choices were a bit off, in that who really considers half of these folks high flyers?  Kevin Owens?  Not a flyer.  Similar makeup from series 1, two variants, Green is open and White was only available for 24 hours.  The award Lita has 201cc for the open and 110 for the limited.  

1. Kevin Owens
2. Daniel Bryan
3. Seth Rollins
4. Charlotte
5. Sami Zayn
6. Enzo Amore

      Award – Lita

Coming off of the Roman Empire set, this design is just a bit too familiar, even if it was first.  Once again none of these set the game on fire, and all can be had for under $2.  Greens also can still be found in packs.  The awards are available readily for under $9.

28.  Halloween

This time we finally come to Halloween, a single variant holiday set which promised to offer the creepiest superstars in the WWE, though why we didn’t get a Boogeyman I don’t know.  The distribution scheme was a bit odd, the first three were available three days before Halloween with the remaining two released on the holiday itself.

1. Bray Wyatt 1,540
2. Doink the Clown 1,594
3. Kane 1,592
4. Luke Harper 517
5. Undertaker 575

      Award – Paul Bearer 293

These still have quite a bit of popularity with fans, especially the Undertaker card, which I get at least one trade request for weekly.  Taker regularly sells for $4-5, the others go for $2-3.  Full sets with award run from $15 to $25.  You have to love the Jack-o-Lantern and fog design too.  

Next time: Taglines, Charisma Series 2, Election Day & Entrances

Don’t forget you can find me in game at GRENDELSEN, and I’m always happy to trade or answer any questions you might have.  Leave questions or concerns here and I’ll see you next time.

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NOW CHECK OUT LAST WEEK’S ARTICLE: DIGITAL DABBLINGS #13 – What’s New from Topps WWE and Insert Set Focus Part 6