2005 Topps WWE Heritage mixes new and old. That holds true to both the designs and the superstars that make up the checklist. And what a checklist it is.
This is the first WWE set from Topps in nearly two decades. They held the license in the mid 1980s when Hulk Hogan was king and professional wrestling underwent massive growth. Topps’ last WWE (then WWF) set was released in 1987. Since then, the license jumped around to Classic, Action Packed, Comic Images and Fleer. Topps made a few WCW sets in 1998 and 1999.
The 90-card base set uses three different designs. All are inspired by baseball sets from the past. The first 58 cards, then-current stars, use 1956 Topps Baseball. Divas (#59-70) borrow from the 1965 Topps Baseball design. Legends (#71-89) resemble 1960 Topps Baseball. The set is rounded out by a checklist.
2005 Topps WWE Heritage Autographs
2005 Topps WWE Heritage has, arguably, the greatest autographs ever assembled for a WWE release. Using the 1955 Bowman Baseball design, the look as though they’re set inside a television set. All are signed on-card, something that wouldn’t happen in a Topps WWE set again for nearly a decade.
That’s all fine and dandy, but none of that would matter if the signers were poor. They’re not. Like the base set, there’s a mix of active and retired wrestlers and personalities. Big names include Hulk Hogan, John Cena, Shawn Michael, Trish Stratus and Lita. Bobby “The Brain” Heenan and Hillbilly Jim are exclusive to retail packs. Those in hobby packs land 1:36 packs, which is one in 1.5 boxes.
Additional Inserts
Ringside Relics add an event-used memorabilia angle to the product. Hobby packs have shirt swatches. Retail cards have pieces of mats and have two wrestlers on them.
If there’s one area where 2005 Topps WWE Heritage is light, it’s in the basic inserts. Outside of autographs and relics, Stickers are the only other chase cards. They’re easy to pull at 1:4 packs with ten in the set. Although they don’t borrow directly from a past set, the design is reminiscent of other Topps stickers from the 1970s and ’80s.
2005 Topps WWE Heritage Wrestling Cards Checklist
Click on links to shop for cards or check current market values on eBay.
Cards per pack: 5
Packs per box: 24
Release Date: November, 2005
Shop for 2005 Topps WWE Heritage boxes on eBay.
Base Set
90 cards.
Superstars
1 John Cena
2 Batista
3 Carlito
4 Orlando Jordan
5 Paul London
6 Johnny Nitro
7 Joey Mercury
8 The Hurricane
9 Rosey
10 The Rock
11 Steve Austin
12 Hulk Hogan
13 The Big Show
14 Chris Jericho
15 Danny Basham
16 Edge
17 Eric Bischoff
18 Eugene
19 Jim Ross
20 Jonathan Coachman
21 Kane
22 Heidenreich
23 Kurt Angle
24 Rene Dupree
25 Ric Flair
26 Rob Van Dam
27 Shawn Michaels
28 Tajiri
29 Triple H
30 Kerwin White
31 Val Venis
32 Viscera
33 Steven Richards
34 Booker T
35 Chris Benoit
36 Christian
37 Doug Basham
38 Eddie Guerrero
39 Funaki
40 Hardcore Holly
41 JBL
42 Juventud
43 Psicosis
44 Super Crazy
45 Shelton Benjamin
46 Chris Masters
47 Nunzio
48 Randy Orton
49 Rey Mysterio
50 Scotty 2 Hotty
51 Tazz
52 Theodore Long
53 Undertaker
54 William Regal
55 Antonio
56 Romeo
57 Snitsky
58 Robert Conway
Divas
59 Sharmell
60 Trish Stratus
61 Torrie Wilson
62 Christy Hemme
63 Lita
64 Lilian Garcia
65 Maria
66 Stacy Keibler
67 Victoria
68 Candice Michelle
69 Michelle McCool
70 Melina
Legends
71 The British Bulldog
72 Chief Jay Strongbow
73 Classy Freddie Blassie
74 “Cowboy” Bob Orton
75 Bobby “The Brain” Heenan
76 Gorilla Monsoon
77 Hillbilly Jim
78 Iron Sheik
79 Jake “The Snake” Roberts
80 Jerry “The King” Lawler
81 Junkyard Dog
82 “Mouth Of The South” Jimmy Hart
83 “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff
84 Nikolai Volkoff
85 “Rowdy” Roddy Piper
86 Sgt. Slaughter
87 “Superstar” Billy Graham
88 “The Million-Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase
89 Godfather
90 Checklist
Autographs
17 cards, 1:36 hobby packs.
Bobby Heenan and Hillbilly Jim – 1:473 retail packs (neither are in hobby).
Individual odds for each card are noted.
Bobby “The Brain” Heenan – 1:944 retail
Chief Jay Strongbow – 1:510
Christy Hemme – 1:1,574
Hillbilly Jim – 1:947 retail
Hulk Hogan – 1:530
Iron Sheik – 1:530
Jerry “The King” Lawler – 1:510
John Cena – 1:510
Kane – 1:510
Kurt Angle – 1:530
Lita – 1:510
“Rowdy” Roddy Piper – 1:510
Sgt. Slaughter – 1:520
Shawn Michaels – 1:520
Stacy Keibler – 1:510
Torrie Wilson – 1:520
Trish Stratus – 1:510
Ringside Relics – Event-Used Shirts
7 cards, 1:17 hobby packs.
Individual odds for each card are noted.
Chris Jericho – 1:158
Eugene – 1:214
Hulk Hogan – 1:70
John Cena – 1:89
Kurt Angle – 1:185
Shawn Michaels – 1:196
Triple H – 1:104
Ringside Relics – Event-Used Mats
3 cards, 1:12 retail packs.
Booker T vs. Christain
JBL vs. Batista
Rey Mysterio vs. Eddie Guerrero
Stickers
10 cards, 1:4 packs.
1 Hulk Hogan
2 The Rock
3 Batista
4 Shawn Michaels
5 Carlito
6 Kurt Angle
7 Triple H
8 John Cena
9 Torrie Wilson
10 Christy Hemme
World’s Greatest Managers DVD Cards
4 cards. Set included in specially marked copies of the “World’s Greatest Managers” DVD.
V1 Bobby “The Brain” Heenan
V2 “Classy” Freddie Blassie
V3 “Mouth of the South” Jimmy Hart
V4 Paul Bearer
Promo Cards
John Cena
