The Cost of Being A Wrestling Fan: October 2024

For those wondering, here are the October expenses..

I managed to spend more than half as much in October than I did in September, so that's good.  Let's jump in!

Let's start with my streaming services at $37.32,  $19.99 for the AEW WrestleDream PPV, and $16.43 on the Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling bundle on Triller, Mikey split the cost with me.

I bought some wrestling cards this month at live events, ebay, and huskerhav spending $188.51 on the hobby.  I'm very focused on getting NWA Wonderama cards signed.  I've very rarely purchased signed cards, however I came across the dual signed Tully Blanchard and Jimmy Garvin cards from a reputable seller on Ebay.

They were selling them for less than it would cost me to buy the cards and then locate both wrestlers to have them sign them. I'm on the fence on this is something I am going to continue to do or not.  

I attended two wrestling shows in October, first up was the Ringwars promotion that Wesley attended as well.  I paid for the tickets in September, however we spent $44.12 on gas, food, and snacks and drove 114.8 miles round trip for the show.  Wesley also got a Ringwars Logo sticker for $5.

The second show of the month was Limitless Wrestling where I spent $40 on my ticket, $27.56 on gas and food with 74 miles driven round trip.  I bought a card from Joseph Alexander and a Limitless Limited Edition Zilla Fatu card, and spent $20 on a tremendously awesome Perry Von Vicious t-shirt. 

The remaining October wrestling purchases was a 1 year digital subscription to PWI Magazine for $10 and $52.75 for a meet and greet with IWGP World Champion: Zack Sabre Jr. at the New Japan show in Lowell, Mass in November. 

Next month has potential to be a bit more expensive, I have two big wrestling shows I'm attending and there area couple big signings to add some Wonderama cards to my collection, and finally finishing my grail card.  

Thank you for reading, please leave a comment, check out my other posts, and if you want like my blogs Facebook page.  You can also head over to Amazon and pick up a copy of my book the 2024 Limitless Wrestling Almanac, or any of my other books.

Until next time!

The Cost of Being A Wrestling Fan: September 2024

Here are the September monies spend on my beloved pro wrestling, and to be honest I'm a bit embarrassed at the total, even though I have no regrets!

Wrestling cards were a big chunk of the month spending $323.39 on various cards.  They ranged from signed NWA Wonderama cards to a new indie card set so I can get Gabby Forza to sign her rookie card.

I bought a few wrestling tickets for shows not in this month which totaled $221,  An indie show in Maine in October, AEW November 6th in Manchester, NH and NJWP November 8th in Lowell, Mass.  Locally I spent $40 on a Limitless Ticket and spent $19.58 on Gas and Food.  

On the 20th I went to Worcester, MA for Big Time Wrestling featuring STING!  My buddy Jay and I tried for years to go see Sting and something seemed to always happen to prevent us going or it was cancelled.  I met Sting at WrestleCon this past April, however Jay still hadn't so I went with him and Mikey came with us.  Gas, Food, Tolls, and Parking was $87.34.  I did go ahead in buy the Sting meet and greet for $205 to finish out my Sting signed card collection, I now have NWA, WCW, TNA, WWE, & AEW Cards signed.  This was also a much better experience than WrestleCon because we got a good couple minutes with Sting rather than the 10 seconds in Philly.

Streaming services were $37.23 and the AEW All In / All Out PPV package was $34.99, the final $56 went towards two custom wrestling VHS tapes and they are bad ass.  FTR vs. Briscoes feud and Mike Awesome vs. Masato Tanaka in ECW.  

Drove a combined 476 miles for wrestling shows this month.

Thank you for reading, please leave a comment, check out my other posts, and if you want like my blogs Facebook page.  You can also head over to Amazon and pick up a copy of my book the 2024 Limitless Wrestling Almanac, or any of my other books.

Until next time!

More Than Mania Signed Cards

These are the cards that I got signed during the weekend in no particular order!

I got these Billie Starkz signed on Saturday April 6th after TJPW vs. GCW, the pink pen looks great, I should have asked her to sign the left card Bullie Starkz

The only physical tickets from the Weekend, the Stardom and Mark Hitchcock Supershow from the 2300 Arena, and my Nemeth Brothers Comedy Show signed by both of them

Sting card from the 1988 NWA Wonderama set, my favorite cards to get signed

Signed on Friday April 5th at WrestleCon

Miyu Yamashita 2021 BBM Card, signed April 5th at Penn's Landing after the TJPW Show

Three Sabu cards, signed April 5th at WrestleCon, from the ECW, WWF, and Impact Wrestling sets.  The ECW set is also a favorite of mine to get signed

Izzy Moreno card that was made for WrestleCon, signed April 5th

This is a Paul Ellering card from the 1988 NWA Wonderama Set that Mr. Ellering signed for me years ago.  While looking through my cards to bring to WrestleCon I came across this card, even though it's an Ellering card, you can't see if face, but you can see Paul Jones and Earl Hebner.  The only official referee cards in the set is Tommy Young, but as you can clearly see Earl I had to get him to sign it.  Signed April 5th at Wrestlecon

All 4 members of Los Boricua signed April 5th at Wrestlecon, they were only charging $60 for them all to sign something...wild!

After Tommy Young my favorite referee is Bryce Remsburg, I've meet him several times and he is always so nice! Finally got some cards signed by him, and indie card and an AEW.  Signed April 5th at Wrestlecon

One half of one of my all time favorite tag team Robert Gibson of the Rock n' Roll Express!  Three cards from the 1988 NWA Wonderama set and the final from the Joey Janela Spring Break set.  Two were signed by Ricky Morton at Limitless Wrestling January 2023.  Signed April 5th at Wrestlecon.

Finally got to see Gringo Loco in person, signed April 4th at Penn's Landing before DEFY Wrestling 

Signed April 3rd at WrestleJawn, very happy to add a Colby Corino to the set

Signed April 3rd at WrestleJawn

Signed April 3rd at the Nemeth Brother's Comedy Show, Hunkamania

I didn't expect to see the Grizzled Young Vets, but I brought my Zack Gibson Card just in case, I bought the other two cards from them.  This was one of the most positive interactions all weekend, these guys were so nice just down to earth.  Signed April 5th at Wrestlecon 

Missy Hyatt signed these two 1988 NWA Wonderama cards on Saturday April 6th at Wrestlecon, I love her signature in the blue ink, so nice!  Magnum had signed the card previously for me.  

Rina Yamashita, also the 2021 BBM set, signed on April 6th after the TJPW vs GCW show

Nick Wayne signed this card for me on April 6th at Wrestlecon, I bought the card from Jordan Oliver at Limitless Wrestling in July 2023.  Very happy to have this bad ass tag team card signed.

Thank you for reading, please leave a comment, check out my other posts, and if you want like my blogs Facebook page.  You can also head over to Amazon and pick up a copy of my book Limitless Wrestling: The First Five Years, or any of my other books as well.  

Until next time! 

Signed Trading Cards: BIanca Belair, Kerry Morton, Johnny Rodz

I haven't shared a new signed cards because I haven't been going to wrestling events to get them.  Earlier this year I did several through the mail requests but I haven't sent any in quite a while.  However here are some that I got back over the last couple months.

Bianca Belair

This card is from the 2019 Topps WWE Womens Division set. I mailed this card to the performance center on September 28, 2019 and go it back August 31, 2020  

Kerry Morton

The son of Ricky Morton, I bought these cards direct from Kerry via his Instagram, they are apart of the Indie Supercard wrestling trading card game.  If anyone is interested in one of the cards let me know.  

Johnny Rodz

This is a custom card made by D'Elanas trading cards, who you can find on Instagram.  This is made in the style of the 1988 NWA Wonderama cards.  I mailed this to his wrestling school on August 21, 2020 and got it back on September 3, 2020.  

Thanks for reading, please leave a comment, read my other posts, and like my blogs Facebook page, check out my weekly podcast The Wrestling Insomniac on the Nerdy Legion Podcast Network and while your at it pick up my book over at Amazon in Kindle or Paperback.

Until next time!!

Signed Trading Cards: Dr. Tom Prichard, Steve O, & Jim Cornette

Here are some through the mail successes that I've had.

Dr. Tom Prichard

I mailed these cards on March 1, 2019 and got them back signed on March 8th!  This is the fastest turn around I have ever had when I've mailed cards to someone.

The card on the left is from the Topps 2016 WWE Then, Now, Forever set and shows Prichard as his character Zip when he was one half of the Body Donnas.  The card on the right is from the 1995 WWF Action Packed card set.  Sadly Jimmy Del Ray passed away in 2014.

Steve O

Steven Olsonoski was trained by Verne Gagne and debuted in the AWA in 1978.  He is known for this time in the AWA and Georgia Championship Wrestling.   This card is from the Series A 1982 Wrestling All Stars trading cards set.  I mailed this out on April 29, 2019 and got it back on May 17, 2019.

Jim Cornette

One of the greatest wrestling personalities of all time that I have thoroughly enjoyed over the years.  I already have a few cards signed by Mr. Cornette but when I came across this card of him holding the NWA World's Championship I just had to ask him to sign it.  To me he is synonymous the tradition of the NWA and it just seemed fitting.  This card is from the 2008 TriStar TNA Impact Cross the Line series.

Thanks for reading, please leave a comment, read my other posts, and like my blogs Facebook page and while you're at it check out my weekly podcast The Wrestling Insomniac on the Nerdy Legion Podcast Network. 

Until next time!

Signed Trading Cards: Anthony Greene Series II

I attended Limitless Wrestling "Welcome to the Dance" on March 9th and there I bought another set of trading cards from Anthony Greene. You can read about the show here.  Once again this is a high quality set of cards that I recommend you add to your collection.

To get your own set contact Anthony Greene on his many social media platforms:

Twitter: @retroag Instagram: retroag_ Facebook: Anthony Greene

The cards were made by Todd Graham of Proving Ground Brand where you to can get your own custom trading cards made.  Following the link above of catch him on Facebook.

There are nine cards in the set number and are numbered 10 - 18, going along with series I.  They measure the standard 2.5 x 3.5 inches and the design is based on the 1991 Impel WCW trading cards.  The cards are printed on a thick wax card stock.

Front of Card 18

Back of Card 18.  The backs of the card each feature a different interesting fact to go along with the photo on the front of the card. 

also signed by the Platinum Hunnies

To get your own set contact Anthony Greene on his many social media platforms:

Twitter: @retroag Instagram: retroag_ Facebook: Anthony Greene

The cards were made by Todd Graham of Proving Ground Brand where you to can get your own custom trading cards made.  Following the link above of catch him on Facebook

Thanks for reading, please leave a comment, read my other posts, and like my blogs Facebook page and while you're at it check out my weekly podcast Podcast of 1,000 Holds on the Nerdy Legion Podcast Network. 

Later Readers!

Signed Trading Cards: Tommy Dreamer, Teddy Hart, Retro AG, & more

On Saturday March 9th I attended Limitless Wrestling "Welcome to the Dance" where I got these trading cards signed.  You can read my report about the show here.

Tommy Dreamer

This card is from the ECW set that was released in 2000 as an accompaniment with the Original San Francisco Toymakers ECW Bash of the Brawlers Action figures.

I'm not sure how many cards are in this set but I have cards signed by Dreamer, Lance Storm, Jerry Lynn, Steve Corino, and Super Crazy.  Other unsigned cards that I have are Tajiri, Rob Van Dam, Sandman, & Sabu.  Other cards that I have seen are Chris Candido, Axl Rotten, Nova, Balls Mahoney, Little Guido, Rhino, Justin Credible, Mike Awesome, & New Jack.  Each wrestler has two cards.

These cards and the NWA Wonderama cards are my two favorite sets to get signed because it represents my two favorite times in wrestling to go back and watch.

"Retro" Antony Greene

This card was released in the Highspots crate in the month of March 2019.  I got this card direct from AG as he had extras.  Above is the front of the card which is signed by the Platinum Hunnies and below is the back of the card signed by Greene. Typically I don't like getting the back of cards signed but the set up of the back of this card is wicked cool.  These HighSpots cards are really nice and I've managed to get a few direct from the wrestlers, it would be nice if Highspots sold them apart from the subscription box.

Teddy Hart

I have searched thoroughly in the past for a Teddy Hart trading card and as far as I know this is the only trading card out there that he is featured on.  This card is from the Limitless Wrestling Moments set that was released after the Limitless Wrestling Series I set.  This moment is from September 2017 when Josh Briggs accepted Teddy Hart's open challenge for the next show.  I got it signed by Briggs back in December at Limitless Wrestling No Control in December 2018.

Brett Domino

This card is from the Limitless Wrestling Series I released in 2018.  I had the card signed by DL Hurst at Let's Wrestle Rumble in January 2019.  You can pre-order Domino's first t-shirt via his twitter @brett_domino

Thanks for reading, please leave a comment, read my other posts, and like my blogs Facebook page and while you're at it check out my weekly podcast The Wrestling Insomniac on the Nerdy Legion Podcast Network. 

Later Readers!

Signed Trading Card: Bart Gunn

Mike Polchlopek wrestled in the WWE as Bart Gunn from 1993 until 1999.  The majority of that run was as one half over the very successful tag team The Smoking Gunns with "brother" Billy Gunn.  Together they were three time WWE Tag Team Champions.

This card was released in 1995 by the WWE and was available only in the WWF Magazine.  Specifically this card was part of the set that was included in the April 1995 issue.

Last week I got a FaceBook friend request from a woman named Jennifer that I didn't know and it wasn't the typical spam friend request this person was local but I just didn't recognize her so I figured it was a mistake and hit delete.  A couple days later I get a Facebook Messenger message from her:

"Hey! Sorry to bother you but my dad is also Michael Labbe and I think he got a piece of your mail which he accidentally opened (because of the name of course).  When he was telling me about it I remembered you from the dojo with the kids!  Did you order a wrestling card?"

I order wrestling cards multiple times a month and this is the first time that this has happened so I thought it was odd.  My oldest son took karate for two years and Jennifer was one of the teenagers that help out with Canaan's age group.  Thing is he hasn't taken Karate in five years and I just didn't recognize her.

So I pick up the envelope from her and immediately I'm confused for two reasons, her dad lives in Pittston and I live in Gardiner.  The towns are close to each other and they use the same post office for delivery but they are different towns.  Also the address on the card is from my Gardiner, PO Box which I closed out in 1995! And yes the envelope was postmarked January 15, 2019.

Original Cover

Back in February 1995 I found an address online for Mike Polchlopek in Florida and being a unique name I took the chance and mailed the card with a self addressed stamped envelope and when I didn't get it back a few months later I figured that it was never coming back.  That happens more than I'd like it too, but it's the chances you take.  To get this card back FOUR years later is crazy, to have it get sent to my old PO BOX get routed to a different Michael Labbe and for his daughter to happened to know who I was, mind boggling.

Alternate Cover

This is one of the reasons why I don't but signed cards, the story behind each autograph that I get makes it worth the effort.  This April I'm going to WrestleCon where Billy Gunn will be appearing and you can bet on the fact that I will get him to sign this card!

Thanks for reading, please leave a comment, read my other posts, and like my blogs Facebook page and while you're at it check out my weekly podcast The Wrestling Insomniac on the Nerdy Legion Podcast Network. 

Later Readers!