FROM TRADING CARDS TO MATCH-USED GEAR, COLLECTORS ARE STEPPING INTO THE SQUARED CIRCLE TO OWN A PIECE OF SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT’S GOLDEN ERA
By David Hofstede | August 5, 2025
1982 was a pivotal year in the long, strange history of professional wrestling. That was when Vincent McMahon Jr. purchased the World Wrestling Federation from his father, Vince Sr. Back then the WWF was just one of many regional promotions, each with its own heroes and villains (or “heels” and “babyfaces,” in wrestling parlance). Vince Jr. began building a national promotion by buying his competition and poaching the top talent from the territories that wouldn’t sell. Three years later, his crusade culminated in the first WrestleMania, an event that propelled the WWF into an unprecedented level of popularity and pop culture prominence.
McMahon’s success changed the perception of professional wrestling, elevating it from its seedier roots into family-friendly entertainment provided by a stable of larger-than-life superstars. That opened the floodgates for merchandising, including action figures, trading cards, and toys, many of which are now highly sought after by fans who grew up idolizing legends like Hulk Hogan, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, and the Junkyard Dog. The national outpouring of condolences and shared memories after Hulk Hogan’s recent passing is a testament to the impact he and the WWF had on generations of fans.
“Wrestling cards and collectibles have surged in the market over the past few years,” says Joe Orlando, Executive Vice President of Sports at Heritage Auctions. “The increased attention is, in part, due to the generational cycle that often affects the hobby. The nostalgia is strong for collectors who grew up during the 1980s and 1990s, which is often referred to as the Golden Age of wrestling. Its meteoric rise happened without the benefit of the internet or social media. Wrestling went viral before the term was even used to explain an explosion in mainstream viewership.”
Due to their limited distribution and the prominence of the wrestlers featured – including Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, and Ric Flair – the cards from 1982’s Wrestling All-Stars Series A have become highly sought after by collectors. Heritage’s August 23-24 Summer Platinum Night Sports Auction includes a PSA-graded complete set of the 36-card series.
1982 was also the year that fans could respond to an ad in Wrestling News magazine for Wrestling All-Stars Series A, billed as “the first set ever of real professional wrestling trading cards.” For just $5 they would receive a complete set of 36 cards depicting many of the top performers of the era, from Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant to Ric Flair and Dusty Rhodes. A second set, Series B, comprised 36 more cards featuring such icons of the squared circle as Kerry Von Erich, Ricky Steamboat, and Sergeant Slaughter.
“A big part of the trading card world didn’t even know these cards existed until people started posting about them years later on internet message boards,” says collector David Peck, who also wasn’t initially aware of their existence despite being a self-described “wrestling fan from the time I was in diapers.”
But once he discovered the cards, the pursuit of building complete sets became an obsession. Today Peck is actively involved with the PSA Set Registry and is the owner of some of the highest-graded examples of the most notable cards in the wrestling genre. He acquired thousands over two decades, at one point owning dozens of complete sets.
As a result of the way the cards were manufactured, packed, and shipped, however, higher-grade examples remained elusive. “They were sold by a mom-and-pop shop in Minnesota, and only about 2,000 sets were made,” Peck says. “Centering on the cards is a big problem, and since they were shipped in cellophane, corners can be a problem as well. They were also a bit longer in length than standard trading cards, so some people trimmed them to fit into a plastic sleeve.”
After Wrestling All-Stars Series A came Series B, featuring the likes of Jesse Ventura, Kerry Von Erich, and The Iron Sheik. This PSA-graded complete set of the Series B cards is available in Heritage’s August 23-24 Summer Platinum Night Sports Auction.
During Heritage’s August 23-24 Summer Platinum Night Sports Auction, other wrestling fans will get a crack at a portion of Peck’s collection when he offers complete sets of Wrestling All-Stars Series A and Series B, both of which are ranked as the No. 4 best examples in existence. Among the highlights in the Series A set are six PSA Gem Mint 10 cards and 28 PSA Mint 9 cards, including Hulk Hogan (#2), considered the most important wrestling card ever made.
“When you combine wrestling’s immense popularity and the historical importance of these sets with the inherent scarcity of the issue, you now have the key ingredients that so many collectors covet,” Orlando says.
But it isn’t just trading cards that have wrestling fans on the hunt. Much like game-worn jerseys, ring-worn outfits have been gaining more attention from collectors. In February, Heritage sold a photo-matched ensemble worn by “Macho Man” Randy Savage for more than $45,000. The former WWF Heavyweight Champion and Intercontinental Champion was as famous for his flying elbow off the top rope – and for being accompanied to the ring by his manager (and wife), the beautiful Miss Elizabeth – as he was for his ornate, colorful costumes, several of which are featured in Heritage’s August auction.
This circa 1985 signed robe and 1990s outfit worn by ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage are available in Heritage’s August 23-24 Summer Platinum Night Sports Auction.
The selection of Savage’s match-used apparel includes pieces from moments that fans still remember, such as a green sequined robe that dates to his 1985 arrival in the WWF and comes with a Savage autograph and an apparent photo match to his 1985 O-Pee-Chee rookie card. Other highlights include a pair of signed trunks from Savage’s 1989 WrestleMania V match against Hulk Hogan and a lightning bolt-clad outfit Savage wore in several 1990s Slim Jim advertisements.
While Peck remains laser-focused on trading cards, he has also noticed interest rise in vintage authentic apparel like the Macho Man ensembles offered by Heritage. “You see a Babe Ruth jersey sell for tens of millions, so it’s only natural to see a similar progression in wrestling garb as a sought-after collectible,” he says. “Savage remains very popular among collectors. I expect these items will garner some major attention.”
