Highlights

• Sports trading cards have shifted from being a child's hobby to a lucrative investment, with some cards selling for millions of dollars.
• Both vintage and modern wrestling trading cards can be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars, thanks to factors like autographs, patches, and special inserts.
• Popular wrestlers like Darby Allin, Paige, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Roman Reigns, and Charlotte Flair have trading cards that are highly sought-after and can fetch significant prices, reflecting their fanbase and success in the industry.

Sports trading cards have come a long way from the cardboard kids used to stick in the spokes of their bicycles. What was considered a child's hobby has now turned into big business. In 2022, a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle was sold for 12 million dollars. Trading cards are becoming investments for the future. WWE trading cards may not be as valuable as other sports, but they most definitely have a market. Both vintage cards and modern cards can be worth hundreds and even thousands of dollars. Like all trading cards, the hunt is for the rookie card of your favorite superstar.

Modern trading cards consist of parallels, refractors, patches, short prints and autographs that all add to their value. When purchasing a pack (or a box) of cards, the odds on getting these special inserts are listed. Many card hobbyist will rip boxes and boxes of cards in an effort to hit big on one special insert that can make their purchases an investment. In the recent AEW Upper Deck 2023 set, the hunt is for exclusive black and gold autograph parallels. The wrestling trading card business is hot, and many of the cards have a great return on investment.

UPDATE: 2024/01/29 07:30 EST BY CHRISTOPHER DAVIS

13 Wrestling Trading Cards That Are Worth Money

Sports trading cards are back and red-hot in American popular culture. The craze that was every boy's retirement plan in the 1980s has risen to prominence again. Sports cards are everywhere! Trading cards have actually become big business in today's market. With cards being numbered (the amount of duplicates a card has), autographed, parallelled and patched, collectors are finding the values are skyrocketing. While professional wrestling trading cards aren't as popular as their basketball, baseball and football counterparts, their value is on the rise. With professional wrestling experiencing a boom period, their trading cards are becoming a financial investment.

All Card Values are sourced from www.mavin.io

13 Darby Allin 2021 Upper Deck Autograph

Has Sold For 150$ Online

All Elite Wrestling would join the world of sports cards in 2021. Their Upper Deck sports cards are highly sought after by collectors. The Darby Allin autograph card has sold for over $150 dollars online. With e-Bay offering versions of the card for even higher prices. As one of the four pillars of AEW, Darby has a strong fan following. That following would love to grab the 2021 Upper Deck Autograph of Allin. The popular AEW star is also popular in the sports card world.

12 Paige 2015 Topps Rookie Autograph

Average Price Of 184$

Another AEW star, who has an expensive trading card is Saraya, the former Paige in WWE. As Paige, Saraya would win the WWE Divas Championship on her main roster debut the night after WrestleMania 20 in 2014. Her 2015 Topps autograph card is worth an average of $184 dollars online, with some numbered variations going for over $500 dollars. With Saraya's milestone victory at AEW's All In at Wembley Stadium, in her home country, her rookie card will be ready to spike in price.

11 Stone Cold Steve Austin Topps WWE Transcendent Auto /25 2019

Has Sold For As High As 1300$

While those in the card hobby know how hard it is to pull a low number autograph card, if you are lucky enough to pull the 2021 Stone Cold autograph, you will have a $600 dollar card. The card has gone for as high as $1300 dollars.

Showing that the king of the WWE Attitude Era is still relevant today, Austin's autograph card is an incredible find in the world of sports cards. With Austin getting back in the ring in 2022, his cards grew interest from younger fans and collectors as well.

10 Roman Reigns 2014 Topps Chrome Autograph

Listings Online Go From 400-800$

In 2014, The Shield would break up and Roman Reigns' singles stardom would begin to skyrocket. With that so did the value of Roman Reigns trading cards. Reigns 2014 Topps Chrome autograph cards are listed online between $400-$800 dollars. The price of the card will only continue to rise as the Tribal Chief continues to dominate. The Head of the Table is one of the most coveted wrestling trading cards and, being a sure fire future WWE Hall of Famer, it will continue to be that way.

9 Hulk Hogan 1982 Wrestling All Stars Rookie Card

Has Sold For $3612

Hulk Hogan may indeed be immortal in professional wrestling. The absolute king of WWE in the 1980s, Hogan's feuds are legendary. Hogan's 1982 Wrestling All Star Rookie card is one of the kings of the trading card industry. The average value of the Hogan rookie card is $1,317. A recently sold Hogan graded rookie sold for $3,612. The card was graded by PSA, the industry leader. Cards grade between 1-10, based on corners, surface, cut and other criteria. The Hulkster is still an industry leader in trading cards, showing us that Hulkamania will never die.

8 Charlotte Flair 2022 Color Blast Panini

Has Sold For $2990

The 2022 Charlotte Flair Color Blast from Panini is a remarkable card. The card has crisp colors and highlights Flair dominating Alexa Bliss on the front. The Flair Color Blast is valued at $1400 and has sold for as high as $2,990. The Queen of WWE clearly could be the queen of trading cards as well. Charlotte has become a household name even to the most casual professional wrestling fan. Much like Roman Reigns, Charlotte will be another sure fire WWE Hall of Famer when her career winds down. That popular culture crossover appeal could continue to soar the value of her trading cards.

7 Sting 1988 NWA Superstars Rookie

Valued At 160$

The 1988 NWA Superstars Sting rookie card is a must-have for any Sting fan who collects trading cards. Who knew when that 1988 rookie card came out that Sting would still be in the ring in 2023. Sting had a heated feud with Nature Boy Ric Flair in 1988.

The '88 rookie features the surfer Sting look, with dyed blonde hair and vibrant face paint. The card is valued at $160 but some sellers price the card as high at $2500. With the Stinger destined to retire sooner or later, the value of the card will only rise.

6 Mr. McMahon Topps 2020 Autograph Purple

Valued At $1000, Only 10 In Existence

The Mr. McMahon character autograph cards are exceptional pieces for any WWE trading card collector. The Topps 2020 Purple Autograph card is a short print, with only 10 being produced. The card has a value of a little more than $1000. With the downward public relations projection of Mr. McMahon, his card value will drop. If you are in the hobby as an investment, it may be time to pull the trigger on selling high instead of hoping McMahon's public image improves. Still, as the visionary behind WWE, Mr. McMahon the character will always have value.

5 Bret Hart 1987 O-Pee-Chee Rookie

Has Sold For 800$

The Bret Hart 1987 O-Pee-Chee rookie card displays Bret with the tag team championship around his waist and hitman glasses on his face. The card values at $112 and has sold for as high as $800. To the right collector, the Excellence of Execution is extremely valuable. Ironically, the '87 Hart rookie has an American flag boarder around the Canadian star. O-Pee-Chee is the Canadian equivalent of Topps trading cards.The Hitman would be proud that the Canadian company produced such a valued card. The pink and black attack is on high display in this rookie card.

4 John Cena 2002 Rookie Card

Autographed Version Has Been Valued At 800$

The John Cena rookie card in 2002 does not suggest WWE knew what type of star they had in Cena. In the card, Cena is barely recognizable mid-move. Its almost like you can't see him! The '02 rookie card is now worth $100, with autographed versions going for over $800. If the hobbyist were lucky enough to find this base card and store it away, they most definitely made a great investment. Cena may be the most recognizable professional wrestler on the planet. Yet, 20 years ago he was stuck with an action shot rookie card.

3 Ric Flair 1982 Wrestling All Stars

Has Been Valued At $1300

The Ric Flair drip is as popular today as it was 40 years ago. Flair is synonymous with popular culture. That timeless quality is also found in Ric Flair trading cards. His 1982 Wrestling All Stars card is trimmed in Carolina blue and displays a young Flair on the front. The iconic picture foreshadows Ric Flair becoming arguably the best to ever do it.

The card has a value of $1300. Many of these 1982 All-Star cards have been reprinted, and their value decreases exponentially. Yet, if a fan gets their hands on a first print '82 Flair they have themselves a gem of a trading card.

2 Undertaker 1991 Classic Rookie

Average Price Of 77$

The Undertaker was truly a rookie in WWE back in 1991. His rookie card was produced by Classic and features Undertaker in his traditional black suit and hat. The rookie Undertaker attire would become iconic. The card has a sharp Royal blue border, with the Undertaker's name written in white with a red background. The card is sold online for an average of $77. The '91 Classic WWE cards were mass-produced, therefore the odds of finding this card are pretty solid. Holding onto an Undertaker rookie card would be a wise investment, as the Phenom of WWE's value will only rise over time.

1 Becky Lynch 2022 Panini Prizm Autograph

Only 50 Produced, Has Sold For About 500$

Becky Lynch is the "man" of WWE and she may be the man of trading cards as well. Her 2022 Panini Prizm autograph card values at $131 and has sold for almost $500. With Lynch being on top of the profession and eventually headed back to the main event title picture, her price will only soar. Becky Lynch has broken a lot of glass ceilings in professional wrestling, and her sports cards being some of the most valued is another demonstration of her dominance. Becky Lynch is a once in a generation talent that WWE has. The trading card industry sees it as clearly as the WWE Universe.