2016 Topps WWE Then Now Forever - Retail Hang Pack

I loved wrestling as a kid.  Now that I'm big kid, I still enjoy it.  I may not watch every week, but I go through periods that I do.

As it pertains to cards, there's no other sport where I've gotten the return on investment that I have on wrestling cards.  I've probably broken even over time by selling off cards that I wasn't keeping for my own collection.  The clientele is smaller, but it's dedicated.  Once I was allowed to join the APTBNL team and I saw this pack, I wasn't passing on it.

The Pack:

The odds:

The cards:

Seth Rollins 2016 Topps WWE Then Now Forever #142 (front)

Seth Rollins 2016 Topps WWE Then Now Forever #142 (back)

The design is obviously the same as the Topps baseball design.  While not a fan of it on baseball, I believe that it works for wrestling.

Rollins was the first card in the pack.  I'm showing them in the order that they came out.  If you no longer watch WWE but did in the 1980s and 1990s, you may recognize some of the names.

Bruno Sammartino 2016 Topps WWE Then Now Forever #158

The wrestling community has lost many superstars of the 1980s-2000s.  It's fantastic to see that Bruno is still with us.  It gives credence to drugs destroying so many lives.  I don't believe Sammartino is known to have had drug issues.

Greg Valentine 2016 Topps WWE Then Now Forever #169

As a kid, Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat was my favorite wrestler.  Other than him, I really felt an affinity for the heels and Valentine was one of them.  Thankfully he came along when he did.  He wouldn't make it in today's professional wrestling.

Lex Luger 2016 Topps WWE Then Now Forever #180

Did ANYONE actually like Lex Luger?  He is the epitome of a guy that never should have been pushed as a face.  Nobody bought it.

Rick Rude 2016 Topps WWE Then Now Forever #190

Rick Rude was one of the best heels of his era.  He's probably best known for appearing on both WCW Nitro and WWF Raw on the same night.

Brian Pillman 2016 Topps WWE Then Now Forever #157

There was a period where I didn't watch wrestling.  From when I was probably 12 until 19, I guess that I just didn't think it was "cool."  The height of Brian Pillman's career was during that time and I don't know much of him.  I do know that he was well liked and is praised as being a great in-ring performer.

Triple H 2016 Topps WWE Then Now Forever #149

Triple H was one of those guys that I never got tired of.  When it seemed his act was close to being stale, something would change.  Sometimes it was injuries, but absence makes the heart grow fonder.  Every time he returned, I was pumped!

Stephanie McMahon 2016 Topps WWE Then Now Forever #146

Forever I will love Stephanie McMahon.  See what I did there?  Don't tell my wifey that I love another woman.

The Rock 2016 Topps WWE Then Now Forever #137

I stated that I never got tired of Triple H.  The complete opposite was true of The Rock.  His shtick got old quickly.  When he was there, I wished he would go away.  When I was gone, I found myself wishing he was there.  I feel he was at his best in the Fast & Furious movies.

Heath Slater 2016 Topps WWE Then Now Forever #123

I grew up in a state (West Virginia) that doesn't product many pro athletes.  There have been a few with West Virginia connections and this guy is one.  He also is very amusing on the mic.  One of my current favorites for the reasons mentioned.

Dana Brooke 2016 Topps WWE Then Now Forever #112

The epitome of the 12th man on a basketball roster.

Big Cass 2016 Topps WWE Then Now Forever #105

"This is Big Cass and he's 7-foot tall...and you can't...teach...that!

Epico 2016 Topps WWE Then Now Forever #199

SEE:  Dana Brooke

Eva Marie 2016 Topps WWE Then Now Forever #121

Whatever.

Diamond Dallas Page 2016 Topps WWE Then Now Forever #163

By the time I was back into wrestling, DDP was upper mid-card/main-event level.  I liked his character.  I also love guys with finishers that can come from out of nowhere.  I can't even guess how many times the "Diamond Cutter" came and I wasn't expecting it.  That reminds me, I really need to get restarted on my DDP Yoga.

2016 Topps WWE Then Now Forever Triple H Tribute #33 of 40 

2016 Topps WWE Then Now Forever The Rock Tribute #40 of 40

Inserts on guys I've addressed.  Nothing more needs said.

Neville/Tyler Breeze 2016 Topps WWE Then Now Forever Rivalries NXT #15

Neville's recent heel turn has me pulling for him.  The whole "The Man that Gravity Forgot" thing was just dumb.  I'm glad that WWE made this decision.  The whole narcissist gimmick has been done many times over the years and it's usually dumb.  This is the case with Tyler Breeze and his selfie stick.

Roman Reigns/Seth Rollins 2016 Topps WWE Then Now Forever Rivalries WWE #2

Yeah...if they'd just turn Roman Reigns already...that'd be great...

Austin Aries 2016 Topps WWE Then Now Forever NXT Prospects #2

I'm happy to see some of the former TNA guys getting opportunities.  I just wish they weren't on NXT, since I don't watch it.

Dash Wilder 2016 Topps WWE Then Now Forever NXT Prospects #6

I have no idea who this is.

Hopefully you enjoyed the look at the cards, or at least the trip down memory lane.  You can follow APTBNL on twitter at @namedlater and me at @beansbcardblog.  Please take a look at and follow my personal blog, I Feel Like a Collector Again.