The WWE Collection - The Early Years

When putting together my collection of WWE Autograph, I went after the wrestlers that I remember watching growing up.  While he wasn’t my favorite wrestler growing up (it was Snuka and the original Rock, Don Muraco), Hogan has the most expensive card out of all of them, so we will start with this 2022 Leaf Pro Set.  

Then we have a 2012 Topps Classic Hall of Fame autograph of Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka and a 2024 Panini Select Signatures Blue #/49 of Don “The Rock” Muraco.  These two will be always tied together with Snuka going off the top of the cage against Muraco at Madison Square Garden. 

Muraco is a 4th Intercontinental Champion in WWF history, holding the championship 2x’s.  His 1st reign was 155 days in 1981 and his 2nd reign was 384 days in 1983, making him the 4th longest combined reign in history. 

Here’s is the man Muraco would lost the Intercontinental Champion in 1984 to, Tito Santana.  Tito would also have 2 reigns, 216 days in 1984 and 255 days in 1985.  I will always remember WWE showing Santana getting his knee surgery on the Saturday morning show.  Below is his 2023 Panini Select Legends Red #/49 autograph.

In keeping with the Intercontinental theme, here is the man that would beat Tito during his 1st reign.  Greg Valentine would hold the title for 284 days before relinquishing it back to Santana. It was during Valentine’s reign that Santana would have the knee surgery. 

Here is the last of the Intercontinental Champions autographs.  Gunther would break this wrestler’s 35 year old record for holding the title 453 days, The Honky Tonk Man.  Here is his 2023 Panini Select Ringside Action Tie-Dye #/25 autograph. 

This wrestler was never able to take the Intercontinental Championship from the Honky Tonk Man, but he was known to Hogan’s best friend, Brutus “the Barber “ Beefcake.  This is his 2024 Leaf Sports Heroes Pink #/15 autograph.

While this wrestler never held the Intercontinental Championship, he was Tag Team Champions in 1979 with a yet to be Intercontinental Champion in Tito Santana. They held the title for 6 months before losing them to the Wild Samoans. Below is a 2023 Panini Impeccable Immortal Ink #/99 autograph. 

I will always remember these last two for the constant feuds they had. Iron Sheik and Sgt. Slaughter. Both cards are from the 2022 Panini Prizm Legendary autograph set.