Major League Wrestling Enters Trading Card Market with Panini

Major League Wrestling and Panini America Announce

Exclusive Trading Card Partnership

Landmark licensing partnership begins this summer.

NEW YORK – JUNE 30, 2025 – Major League Wrestling (MLW), one of the fastest-growing wrestling leagues in the U.S., and Panini America, the world’s largest sports and entertainment collectibles company, announced today a multi-year exclusive partnership. As part of the agreement, Panini becomes the official trading card, memorabilia, and collectible sticker partner of MLW.

The partnership begins with Panini commemorating some of the most memorable moments from “MLW Summer of the BEASTS” which took place in New York City on Thursday, June 26, by launching products on its Instant Card platform at www.paniniamerica.net. Additional MLW products from Panini will be available later this year at mass retailers including Walmart and Target, in hobby stores nationwide, as well as on Panini’s website.

“As MLW’s global presence continues to grow, partnering with Panini – the worldwide leader in collectibles – is the perfect next step,” MLW Founder and CEO Court Bauer said. “With the world’s top-ranked fighters throwing down in front of sold-out crowds, MLW is built on iconic moments. Now, thanks to Panini, fans can collect those moments and own a piece of the fight.”

With a roster of high-octane talent and a rapidly expanding international footprint, MLW is continuing to build momentum among media and fans alike. This partnership with Panini marks the league’s first entry into officially licensed trading cards and collectibles, giving fans a new way to connect with the action inside – and outside – the ring.

“We are looking forward to this new partnership with MLW, as MLW continues to grow and expand internationally – we are positioned well to help them reach wrestling fans on a global basis and bring trading cards to wrestling fans,” said Mark Warsop, Panini America CEO.

Thoughts: Trading cards were all the rage in the ’80s and ’90s. They fell off significantly in the 2000s and appeared to be a dead industry until a notable resurgence occurred during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, the trading card hobby is bigger than ever before.

Wrestling cards used to have little to no value as a financial investment. Today, an Undertaker rookie card not only holds great value, but the deadman himself, Mark Calaway, won’t autograph his rookie card at fan conventions, so fans can’t make money off his name.

AEW star Darby Allin’s rookie card sold for over $1,000 a few years ago. Autograph cards can also fetch a pretty penny, depending on their rarity.

While Topps and Panni are considered the two titans of the contemporary trading card game, Panni is set to lose the NBA and NFL license this year. They will still produce Basketball and Football cards, but they can’t use the team and league logos. Topps currently releases Basketball cards without team and league logos until it obtains the license on October 1st, 2025.

Upper Deck has the AEW license, while Topps has WWE’s exclusive trading card offerings firmly in their pocket, thanks to the juggernaut sports apparel company Fanatics. MLW’s entry into the trading card game offers wrestling fans a third promotional option, as its eclectic roster of veterans and rising stars will introduce many first-time cards to the market.

NXT Beats AEW in Tuesday Night War

The Tuesday Night War has ended, and we have a winner. NXT beat AEW Dynamite head-to-head in the ratings.

NXT averaged 921,000 overall viewers on USA, with AEW Dynamite averaging 609,000 viewers on TBS.

It was NXT’s highest rating since September 2019 and Dynamite’s lowest-rated episode since June 2021.

NXT drew a 0.30 rating in the 18-49 demo, with AEW drawing 0.26 in the demo.

AEW was forced to move Dynamite from its regular Wednesday spot due to the MLB playoffs and went straight up against NXT in their usual Tuesday time slot.

Things got interesting throughout the week as both promotions started promoting their shows.

Continue reading →

Wrestlers Who Became WWE Champion The Quickest

Ric Flair said it best when he proclaimed the WWE Championship “is the only title in the wrestling world that makes you number one. When you are the king of the WWF, you rule the world.” No title is more coveted, and no belt symbolizes success more.

Many wrestlers spend years grinding it out to prove they have what it takes for WWE to put them front and center on the marquee. Bret Hart thought he’d never win the title. Eight years, one month, and fourteen days later, “The Hitman” hoisted the title up high.

However, an elect few made such an impression in a short time; tenure and inexperience were ignored to serve the bottom line. We’re going to look at the 12 wrestlers who won their first WWE Championship in the fastest time since Vincent Kennedy McMahon went all in on Hulkamania in 1984.

Bob Backlund won his first WWE Championship four months after he started working for the company exclusively under Vincent J. McMahon. The now-retired McMahon inherited Backlund when he bought the company from his father in 1982 and therefore did not make our list.

Universal and World Heavyweight Championships are not on the menu here. It’s all about the most coveted prize in the industry.

The fairest way to chart the list is to start when the wrestler made their in-ring/television debut in a match or angle. Many debut matches were filmed days, weeks, and months before they aired on television. To the audience, a character is only in play once they’re on TV.

Continue reading →

The Undertaker’s Greatest Non-WrestleMania Showdowns

On Friday, Mark Calaway, otherwise known as the Undertaker, will take his rightful place in the WWE Hall of Fame. Undertaker headlines the 2022 class featuring Vader, Queen Sharmell, The Steiner Brothers, and Shad Gaspard will receive the Warrior Award posthumously.

Undertaker receives so much love for his WrestleMania matches we sometimes forget about his career-defining moments outside of the grandest stage. Let’s look at the ten best non-WrestleMania matches of the Undertaker’s legendary career.

Continue reading →

The Undertaker: A Hall of Fame of his Own

Mark Calaway, better known as The Undertaker, will headline the 2022 class of the WWE Hall of Fame on April 1 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. The ceremony will occur following that night’s go-home edition of SmackDown.

There’s been a lot of talk about how WWE should present this year’s Hall of Fame. Independent film director and screenwriter Guthrie Roy Hartford of the Jobber Knocker Podcast had a great idea. He suggested Undertaker should be the sole inductee this year, with multiple inductors telling stories about “The Deadman.”

It’s one hell of an idea, and I’m here to tell you why.

Continue reading →

Undertaker vs. Goldberg Set for WWE Super Showdown

WWE’s third venture to Saudi Arabia, Super Showdown, on Friday, June 7 will feature the first-ever clash between The Undertaker and Goldberg. The Attitude Era teenager inside of me is happy to see this match come to fruition. However, should it actually happen at all?

Goldberg only works well in short matches. Undertaker’s recent matches suggest his best days are behind him. The age factor looms over this legends outing like a sore thumb, and the event’s controversial locale will in all likelihood dilute any good will this offering can produce.

This is a giant payday for both wrestlers and its dream match that could be better late than never. While their elaborate entrances will be longer than the match itself, Undertaker’s ring psychology will be a crucial factor in getting around their physical limitations. It doesn’t need to be a five-star classic. It just needs to be a compelling story.

Super Showdown will also feature HHH vs. Randy Orton and a 50-Man Battle Royal because fifty wrestlers starting in the ring at the same time is not going to look weird at all.

Will Undertaker succumb to the Jackhammer? Will Goldberg fall victim to the Tombstone piledriver? Is this a one-time only encounter or the start or something more? We’ll all find out at Super Showdown on June 7^th. Here’s hoping this under promising affair will over deliver.

Favorite Matches #3: Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels

On the evening of April 5, 2009, Michael Hickenbottom and Mark Calaway didn’t put on just another excellent performance. They produced a classic match that a generation of wrestling enthusiasts look to as the capstone of their fandom. I knew Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 25 was going to be something special considering the landscape of WWE at the time. Continue reading “Favorite Matches #3: Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels” →

Dear Undertaker, Thank You.

When one discovers their passion for a certain genre, they eventually find that one individual or character that they admire and sometimes even live through vicariously. For me, that passion is fake fighting and the character is a dead wizard with supernatural powers.

I’ll never forget the Undertaker’s first appearance, which occurred at the 1990 Survivor Series in Hartford, CT. It would be the final time the event was held on Thanksgiving night as the demise of a tradition brought about the genesis of an indelible legacy.

This imposing figure was the mystery partner of Ted DiBiase’s Million Dollar Team. As a kid who cheered every good guy and booed every bad guy, I was impressed. A year later, Undertaker won his first WWE Title from Hulk Hogan. I didn’t bat an eye when this evildoer who represented death stole the championship from an American hero.

Two months later, Undertaker prevented Jake Roberts from blindsiding Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth with a steel chair. OMG, was the Undertaker now a good guy? No, No, No. It was a simple misunderstanding…right?

Continue reading “Dear Undertaker, Thank You.” →

WrestleMania 33 Review: The End of a Legend

When it’s all said and done, the seven-hour spectacular that was WrestleMania 33 will go down as a newsworthy event that was better than it had any business being. Thirteen matches, a restroom break in the form of a Pitbull concert, one marriage proposal, the triumphant return of a popular duo, and the end of a legendary career encapsulates a roller-coaster of emotions for a show aptly named, the ultimate thrill ride.

WWE took over their home away from home this past weekend as Orlando, FL played host to the Hall of Fame ceremony on Friday along with an action packed NXT TakeOver card on Saturday. Then, the show of shows captivated a worldwide audience inside of the Camping World Stadium along with millions watching along on the WWE Network.

Kickoff Show:

Neville pinned Austin Aries to retain the Cruiserweight Championship:

Neville’s defense of the Cruiserweight title against Austin Aries was a well worked matched that was given an ample amount of time. Unfortunately, the crowd was still filing into the building, which made the match come off less than it was. Neville retained with the Red Arrow, which the Brit hasn’t used since turning heel. Fans had pegged Aries to go over, but Neville winning here will give Aries a chance to get over with the audience a little more while chasing the belt.

Mojo Rawley won the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal:

New England Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski sitting in the front row was a bright neon spoiler alert. Gronk’s friendship with MoJo Rawley has been mentioned over the past several weeks. Rawley was the first wrestler to declare his entry into the battle royal, so his win was a nice way to tie it all together. Plus, as a Pats fan, seeing Gronk hitting Jinder Mahal with a running tackle was a cool moment.

Surprisingly, Bruan Strowman didn’t do much in this match. Right now, he’s at the point where no one wants to see him lose. He was eliminated around the two-minute mark by ten wrestlers, which protected his character. NXT’s Killian Dain made it to the final three, which means WWE has plans for the big guy.

Dean Ambrose pinned Baron Corbin to retain the Intercontinental Championship:

When a fan-driven social media campaign got the SmackDown Women’s Title match promoted to the main card, no one expected the Intercontinental Championship match to take its place on the kickoff show. Many thought Corbin was going to win the title, but having him win it on the kickoff show won’t have the desired effect of making him stand out as a threat to be taken seriously. Smart money says Corbin wins it down the line. It was a TV match with nothing to complain about.

Now, let the main card commence.

Continue reading “WrestleMania 33 Review: The End of a Legend” →

WrestleMania 33 Preview & Predictions Show

It’s the biggest day of the year in professional wrestling as WWE unleashes the ultimate thrill ride, WrestleMania 33. The show will emanate from the Camping World Stadium in Orlando, FL.

Atlee Greene and Adam Kohn breakdown all 13 matches on the card including the Universal Championship Match between Goldberg and Brock Lesnar. Also, Randy Orton challenges Bray Wyatt for the WWE Championship.

The rumors are circulating that Undertaker vs. Roman Reigns could mark the last time the Deadman makes that walk down down the asile. If so, will Taker rule the day or fall to the Roman Empire?

Sit back, relax, press that play button and enjoy the show.