Hulk Hogan prices

[gottagitdemjs]

Whether you love him or you hate him, wrestling would not be what it is without him. He is basically the wrestling equivalent to Babe Ruth in baseball or Michael Jordan in basketball. Again, you may not agree, but you know it's true. This thread is for discussing the continually rising prices of everything Terry Bollea (EVERYTHING, not just cards)...

I'm sure there are some on here that know much more that me and will be able to contribute to this thread in a major way (and if I have something wrong, please let me know and I will correct it. I typed up most of this based on what I have learned over the years...). But for those that don't know, here are Hogan's most collected cards...

1. 1982 Wrestling All-Stars Series A Hulk Hogan #2
-This is normally referred to by the wrestling collecting public as Hogan's "rookie" card. It is the equivalent to the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle of wrestling cards. The Wrestling All-stars set was produced in two series (A and B) and sold via mail away purchase via various wrestling themed magazines or event programs for $5 per set by a company called Pro Wrestling Enterprises based out of Minnesota. Each set came with the cards wrapped in cellophane. It is plagued by various condition issues, most notedly, corner damage due to the packing process, centering, and stray ink marks on the surface. There are currently no PSA 10's and a BGS 9.5 recently sold on a Goldin Auction for a little under $23,000 which I'm pretty sure is the highest price ever realized for a wrestling card. This card now commands 4 figures even in lower grades.

2. 1998 Topps WCW/nWo Authentic Signatures Hulk Hogan
-some of you big time collectors of this set can definitely help fill in some blanks here, but this is by far Hogan's most collectable autograph card. There are multiple versions of it. Some are signed "Hulk Hogan", some are signed "Hollywood Hogan", some are signed just "Hollywood"....there may even be more. On top of that, he signed some of them on the back and some of them on the front and some on both the front and back! This card has dark borders that are extremely prone to chipping, and the signatures on most of them have started to fade with time (beware of cards with traced over signatures as well as cards that have had their faded sigs completely wiped clean and re-signed). As of the past few months, even lower grades of this card have started to command 4 figures. A BGS 8.5 with an 8 auto (Hollywood Hogan sig) sold in Oct 2020 for $1,525. A PSA 8 with the Hollywood only sig sold for $1100 the same month.

3. 1985 Topps WWF/WWE #1 Hulk Hogan and all of it's foreign versions (Canadian O-Pee-Chee and Australian Scanlans)
-This is Hogan's first officially licensed rookie card (Card #1 with the gold background). With the 82 wrestling all-stars card starting to get out of reach for most casual buyers, the Topps rookie has seen a meteoric uptick in prices, especially in high grades (PSA 9's are cracking $500+ with sealed boxes of packs approaching $2000). It has all the makings of the next $1000 wrestling card. There is another card in the set (card #16) that is nearly identical on the front only having a teal green background and a Hogan logo on the back that is also collectable, but the wrestling collecting public favors card #1 as the flagship rookie. As with most Topps cards from the 80's the Canadian O-Pee-Chee company released their version of the set as well. It is in far fewer supply than the American Topps version and therefore commands a higher resale price. Lastly is the version created by the Australian company Scanlans. The only difference on the card, other than the Scanlans logo is that it was actually printed in 1986 rather than 85. These are EXTREMELY rare and only tend to show up for sale a few times per year.

4. Everything else...(Recent Topps autographs, late 2010's Upper Deck autographs, Leaf Autographs, Japanese "rookie" cards, etc.)
-I will update this entry from time to time, especially if a new "it" card arises. With Hogan recently re-signing with WWE, there has been a new wave of high end Hogan autographs hitting the market including the massively popular 2020 Topps Transcendent Collection signature cards. Other cards that continue to rise in price are his 2015 Topps Chrome autographs and refractor variants, his 2005 Topps Heritage Auto, and the various Allen & Ginter mini autos he has had over the years (both as Hulk Hogan and Thunderlips). For a brief time in the early/mid 2010's he signed cards for Upper Deck that sell well. He was also featured in an employee only Fleer Precious Metal Gems set with other Upper Deck spokesmen in 2013. There are 125 copies of this purple card with a PSA 10 recently selling for a hair over $1700. Other cards that tend to sell for big money are various rare Japanese "odd-ball" cards from 1982-85 that usually came as magazine cutouts or stickers by Gong, Popy, Cosmos Menko, and BBM. These rarely show up on ebay so they have yet to grab a very big market share or strong foothold with collectors.


Other currently very popular or very valuable non-card collectables

-Action figures: His first known action figure is from the Japanese company Popy in 1981. A loose one recently sold for $1,850. It is a very crude, low detail fig that features Hogan in black trunks. I do not know very much more about this figure, so feel free to fill me in. His first licensed figures are from the LJN Wrestling Superstars line in 1985. There are three versions: one with him in his typical yellow trunks and boots with red kneepads and a white headband (the most common and least valuable although mint on card (MOC) versions bring $500+), one with him in a white tank top with Hulkamania written in red across the chest with white kneepads and red trunks, boots, and headband (the second rarest and quite valuable in good condition, MOC sells for over $1000), and finally one with him in a red tank top with Hulkamania written in yellow across the chest with yellow trunks & boots and a red headband and kneepads (the rarest and most valuable, MOC version will set you back nearly $3000). He also has 3 different late 80's and early 90's Hasbro figures that are all mass produced and hold little value unless mint on card. That being said, Hasbro did produce his most collectable figure. It is a figure that came as a mail-away in a 1993 issue of WWF magazine. It came in a sealed polybag and features Hogan in a red tank top, red pants, yellow boots and a red/yellow bandana. Think of it as the "silver prizm" of Hogan Hasbro figs. There are a lot less of them than the regular one, but there are always a few on ebay at any given time, and man do they sell... Still sealed versions of this fig have been eclipsing the $1000 price range over the past year or so. There is also one other rare polybagged mail-away Hasbro figure only available in the UK that was issued through a WWF VHS video (Lighthouse maybe?). It is basically a series 1 Hasbro Hogan fig. The only difference and the real "value" is the poly bag that it comes in that distinguishes it from the regular mass produced fig. It also sells north of $1000.

-Sports Illustrated issue from April 29, 1985: Hogan is the first (and I believe only) wrestler to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated. The issue has been gaining steam, value-wise, in the past few years. Autographed copies will set you back roughly $200. High grade copies (by CGC) will go for $600+

-1990 Tonka Wrestling Buddies: You remember these from when you were a kid. Tonka made plush/pillow versions of Hulk Hogan, Macho Man, Million Dollar Man Ted Debiase, and Ultimate Warrior (series 1). A loose, clean Hogan will set you back $100 while a mint in box version sells for $300+ with one recently fetching $500.

[dpeck100]

Nice write up.

One correction the Hogan is closer to the center of the sealed pack. Both 82 A and B are not numerically collated in the pack. 83 is.

[Archangel1775]

Originally Posted by dpeck100

Nice write up.

One correction the Hogan is closer to the center of the sealed pack. Both 82 A and B are not numerically collated in the pack. 83 is.

Agreed, great write up but I do have to ask, what do you know about this wrestling set? Have you even opened any? Pffft...









I am kidding...I know....great collection.

[gottagitdemjs]

Originally Posted by dpeck100

Nice write up.

One correction the Hogan is closer to the center of the sealed pack. Both 82 A and B are not numerically collated in the pack. 83 is.

Thanks. Correction made. I made an assumption and I shouldn’t have. I just knew that Andre is always on top.

Originally Posted by Archangel1775

Agreed, great write up but I do have to ask, what do you know about this wrestling set? Have you even opened any? Pffft...

I am kidding...I know....great collection.

Maybe someday...*sigh. 😔

[booyahlaw]

Great list (and great article from SMR with DPeck last month)! The rise in value of his cards over the past few months has been impressive. While I love the action in the 2015 Chrome autos (I was able to pick up one out of /5 earlier this year) I am particularly impressed with the rise in value of his non-chrome Topps autos from 2015 (sticker versions). I can't believe these have been moving like they do. My favorite autograph of his is the Road to Wrestlemania Mat Relic auto numbered out of 25. Despite scarcity, the last few of these I have seen at auction did not go for very much.

I do have a soft spot for his sticker cards from the 85 and 87 sets, as well as the New Zealand Superstars set cards from 1989. Also like the art with the leaf wrestling sets.

[dpeck100]

Originally Posted by gottagitdemjs

Thanks. Correction made. I made an assumption and I shouldn’t have. I just knew that Andre is always on top.

Maybe someday...*sigh. ��

There are certain colors that are the most susceptible to centering woes and the yellow cards are some of the toughest. I would say the light blue are the easiest to find centered.

When you open a pack it is odd how they are sequenced and very counterintuitive. I just opened three 82A’s recently and should have wrote down the sequence. I am almost positive Dory Funk is card number two and I do know Kerry Von Erich is card number two in the 82B and it definitely impacts its ability to grade high.

It is great to see more folks taking an interest in wrestling cards. Good luck with your collection.

Booyalaw Thank you. It’s nice to continue to see our focus get some exposure.

[win1977]

Thanks for the great write up ! I still love Hogan, granted I grew up in Canada in the late 80's.

Here's one I got signed in person, it was a thrill to see him in person. Funny cause it was at a card show and I wanted to see if he wasn't in a bad mood cause it would have just crushed the child in me. Wanted to make sure it wasn't a "never meet your heroes in person" situation. Enjoy !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b3CiqEmSZI

Here's a Flair as well to enjoy !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nBP2sm1KmE


Merry Christmas and happy holidays everyone !

[gottagitdemjs]

Originally Posted by win1977

Thanks for the great write up ! I still love Hogan, granted I grew up in Canada in the late 80's.

Here's one I got signed in person, it was a thrill to see him in person. Funny cause it was at a card show and I wanted to see if he wasn't in a bad mood cause it would have just crushed the child in me. Wanted to make sure it wasn't a "never meet your heroes in person" situation. Enjoy !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b3CiqEmSZI

Here's a Flair as well to enjoy !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nBP2sm1KmE


Merry Christmas and happy holidays everyone !

I may try making a run an an autographed 82 when tax return time comes. I have a Mahomes problem that keeps taking up a lot of my expendable funds. As a placeholder, I was able to pick up a signed O-Pee-Chee rookie along with a raw unsigned O-Pee-Chee that I'm hoping will grade high.

[win1977]

Originally Posted by gottagitdemjs

I may try making a run an an autographed 82 when tax return time comes. I have a Mahomes problem that keeps taking up a lot of my expendable funds. As a placeholder, I was able to pick up a signed O-Pee-Chee rookie along with a raw unsigned O-Pee-Chee that I'm hoping will grade high.

Beautiful cards, I actually remember as a kid having the OPC versions, this and the other back.

The good old days !

Thanks for sharing and happy holidays !

[pnft17]

Does Hogan still have his stores in Florida selling lots of wrestling related stuff? Does he do signings at them ?

[dpeck100]

Yes and yes.

They are only doing mail in stuff right now but hopefully sometime next year that changes.

[jaysfan80]

Nice Write Up! As big Hogan Collector myself (not on the level of Peck lol) I really love his Unmatched Fury and Defining moments Figs. Not rare but just incredible detail in them. Ive also been stockpiling and grading his OPC rookie as I still see it as undervalued.

[pryantexas]

1985 Topps Hogan #1 is a pop 13 PSA 10

I remember just coming up short during two different auctions... ended in the $1200 range

Then like two years ago I get a saved search notification that one was posted.... $600 buy it now or something super low. Someone else beat me to it.

I imagine the next one we see at auction goes over $5000

[dpeck100]

I own 2 of the 13 and the only blue. I would love to see one come up and watch the action.

[pryantexas]

Originally Posted by dpeck100

I own 2 of the 13 and the only blue. I would love to see one come up and watch the action.

Please put one up, I can assure you a very strong bid out of me

[dpeck100]

Originally Posted by pryantexas

Please put one up, I can assure you a very strong bid out of me

I sold a few cards a couple months ago to help pay for a Birkin for my wife but not selling anything right now.

When I said that fractional ownership was a game changer I knew this next wave would be very powerful. Bigger money is planning on making moves in wrestling and just going to hold and see how things play out. I am collector first.

Tonight a John Cena rookie is exploding. I subbed three of the ten PSA 10’s and sold one for like $125 or $150. Current bid is $1,772.

The upside in wrestling is much greater than the downside in my view. I have 31 Hogan 82 Wrestling All Stars and still trying to buy more.

[Nymets6986a]

Originally Posted by dpeck100

I sold a few cards a couple months ago to help pay for a Birkin for my wife but not selling anything right now.

When I said that fractional ownership was a game changer I knew this next wave would be very powerful. Bigger money is planning on making moves in wrestling and just going to hold and see how things play out. I am collector first.

Tonight a John Cena rookie is exploding. I subbed three of the ten PSA 10’s and sold one for like $125 or $150. Current bid is $1,772.

The upside in wrestling is much greater than the downside in my view. I have 31 Hogan 82 Wrestling All Stars and still trying to buy more.

I'm jealous

Would love to get one just out of budget for me

[jaysfan80]

The WWF Topps 3d Hogan is also a pretty rare one that I rarely see up on EBAY

[dpeck100]

Originally Posted by jaysfan80

The WWF Topps 3d Hogan is also a pretty rare one that I rarely see up on EBAY

It’s very rare. Unfortunately PSA doesn’t have a holder and doesn’t grade them.

BGS does grade them in the really large holders. There was a recent box sale in a Heritage auction for over 7k so maybe they will pick up steam.

[Nymets6986a]

Originally Posted by dpeck100

It’s very rare. Unfortunately PSA doesn’t have a holder and doesn’t grade them.

BGS does grade them in the really large holders. There was a recent box sale in a Heritage auction for over 7k so maybe they will pick up steam.

There's a BGS 8 on ebay with a starting bid of 5K

[dpeck100]

Originally Posted by Nymets6986a

There's a BGS 8 on ebay with a starting bid of 5K

It is an entire set.

[Nymets6986a]

Originally Posted by dpeck100

It is an entire set.

Oh yeah

Missed that lol

[pryantexas]

Originally Posted by dpeck100

I sold a few cards a couple months ago to help pay for a Birkin for my wife but not selling anything right now.

When I said that fractional ownership was a game changer I knew this next wave would be very powerful. Bigger money is planning on making moves in wrestling and just going to hold and see how things play out. I am collector first.

Tonight a John Cena rookie is exploding. I subbed three of the ten PSA 10’s and sold one for like $125 or $150. Current bid is $1,772.

The upside in wrestling is much greater than the downside in my view. I have 31 Hogan 82 Wrestling All Stars and still trying to buy more.

This is very true.

I'm 40 and I don't think any of the generations ahead of us REALLY cared about wrestling. I think there was some shame associated with watching it.

Well, that changed in two ways

Firstly, Hogan became a national icon... while "we" were between 5 and 15 years old

Secondly, The Rock made wrestling mainstream .... not via wrestling but by becoming the most famous person on the planet and he was NEVER ashamed of his beginning career as a wrestler

Thirdly, EVERYONE and I mean EVERYONE who was between 10 and 20 years old during the attitude era watched.... Monday night football would have ratings in the 15 range, BUT WWE RAW would be in the 8 range back then. Thats just amazing.

So yea, almost anyone "getting back into" cards right now is likely going to want a marquee wrestling card... and there just arent many to choose from.

I was outbid (barely) on the 1991 classic Undertaker PSA 10 auction a few weeks ago and I deeply regret it

[Nymets6986a]

Originally Posted by pryantexas

This is very true.

I'm 40 and I don't think any of the generations ahead of us REALLY cared about wrestling. I think there was some shame associated with watching it.

Well, that changed in two ways

Firstly, Hogan became a national icon... while "we" were between 5 and 15 years old

Secondly, The Rock made wrestling mainstream .... not via wrestling but by becoming the most famous person on the planet and he was NEVER ashamed of his beginning career as a wrestler

Thirdly, EVERYONE and I mean EVERYONE who was between 10 and 20 years old during the attitude era watched.... Monday night football would have ratings in the 15 range, BUT WWE RAW would be in the 8 range back then. Thats just amazing.

So yea, almost anyone "getting back into" cards right now is likely going to want a marquee wrestling card... and there just arent many to choose from.

I was outbid (barely) on the 1991 classic Undertaker PSA 10 auction a few weeks ago and I deeply regret it

I lost that Taker to

[Crashingwaves]

I watched that 2002 Fleer Cena PSA 10 auction as I own one too and was surprised at the $2025 ending price.

What confuses me... a 2002 Fleer Batista PSA 10 was also auctioned and it went for only $124.00.... and that is his rookie as well. Would have thought that would go for much more

Why no love for Batista? Am I wrong thinking the 2002 Fleer was his rookie.

Originally Posted by dpeck100

I sold a few cards a couple months ago to help pay for a Birkin for my wife but not selling anything right now.

When I said that fractional ownership was a game changer I knew this next wave would be very powerful. Bigger money is planning on making moves in wrestling and just going to hold and see how things play out. I am collector first.

Tonight a John Cena rookie is exploding. I subbed three of the ten PSA 10’s and sold one for like $125 or $150. Current bid is $1,772.

The upside in wrestling is much greater than the downside in my view. I have 31 Hogan 82 Wrestling All Stars and still trying to buy more.