Of course, card collectors enjoy cards from major sports like baseball, basketball, hockey, and football. But many fans also enjoy sports outside of the big four. Wrestling certainly qualifies.
With its combination of athletics and theatrics, professional wrestling has thrilled people for more than 100 years. And some companies have produced trading cards of some of the most memorable grapplers from the past years. Here are some of the most highly sought-after first-year cards.
The Undertaker 1991 WWF Classic
In 1990, the WWF hired former basketball player Mark Callaway from the WCW. The massive and athletic wrestler was given the gimmick of an Undertaker. He would go on to have one of the greatest careers in wrestling history, winning 21 straight matches at Wrestlemania and capturing the World Heavyweight Championship several times.
It did not take long for Callaway to have a trading card that featured him in his famous outfit. The 1991 WWF Classic trading card of the Undertaker can be had in a PSA 9 for slightly under $500.
Ric Flair 1982 Wrestling All-Stars
In the 1980s, the two biggest Wrestling stars in the world were Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair. Hogan was the favorite of children and those who preferred the bombastic WWE. Flair, who plied his trade in the NWA and later the WCW, was the favorite of wrestling purists. Their careers will be forever tied together.
Flair's rookie card, which comes in 1982's Wrestling All-Stars set, is quite rare, with graded copies being ever harder to come by. If you want one, you have to be prepared to pay up. Cards graded in a 7 and up go for thousands of dollars.
Stone Cold Steve Austin 1991 Cromy WCW
Steve Austin first became a star in the early 90s. The WCW wrestler looked much different with platinum blonde hair. It wasn't until he reached the WWF in 1995 that he shaved his head and became Stone Cold Steve Austin. He would go on to become a wrestling legend, headlining several Wrestlemanias.
Austin's first wrestling card came in the Spanish language 1991 game set from Cromy. The 36-card set also features Sting's rookie card. The Cromy cards are not easy to find, but eager collectors can purchase a graded copy for a few thousand dollars.
Bret Hart 1987 O-Pee-Chee
Bret Hart was one of many sons of legendary wrestler Stu Hart to become a professional, and he quickly grew into a superstar. In the early 1990s, the Hitman became the biggest star in the WWE, regularly headlining pay-per-views. Renowned for his technical ability, Hart put on classic matches with Shawn Michaels and Stone Cold Steve Austin.
Fittingly, Hart's most prized rookie card is made by the Canadian company O-Pee-Chee. Graded cards sell briskly online and a PSA 9 copy runs for around $750.
Hulk Hogan 1982 Wrestling All-Stars
There have been plenty of wrestling superstars, but Hulk Hogan is the biggest name of all time. He competed for decades, performing in the WWE, WCW and TNA. He inspired legions of current wrestlers and personalities.
Like Ric Flair, Hogan's most popular rookie card comes in the 1982 All-Stars set. Since this was a set that collectors had to send away for, they are exceedingly rare. The Hogan card is incredibly expensive, especially when graded. A BGS 9.5 copy of the card recently sold for more than $50,000.
*Any perceived investment advice is that of the freelance blogger and does not represent advice on behalf of GoCollect.