In the world of sports card collecting, Panini’s National Treasures brand is renowned for its high quality and premium cards featuring on-card autographs and authentic memorabilia. However, as Panini prepares to bid farewell to its WWE licensing with the release of the 2024 National Treasures WWE edition, the reaction from collectors has been mixed at best.
Expectations were high for the WWE edition of National Treasures, hoping it would uphold the brand’s reputation for excellence. Unfortunately, early breaks of the First Off the Line (FOTL) boxes revealed a different story. Instead of the coveted on-card signatures, collectors found sticker autographs and relics labeled with disclaimers questioning their authenticity in relation to the featured wrestlers. This departure from the usual standard left many questioning if the product lived up to the expectations set by its predecessors in different sports.
The disappointments faced by collectors with the 2024 National Treasures WWE release fall in line with a familiar pattern seen during licensing transitions in the hobby. Adam Gellman, a wrestling card expert, highlighted on a podcast the trend of manufacturers prioritizing clearing inventory over maintaining premium features during such transitions. This scenario has left many collectors feeling let down by the final product released under Panini’s WWE license.
Reactions to the product have been polarized, with some collectors expressing their dissatisfaction with the departure from the usual standards of National Treasures. On the other hand, there are hobbyists who appreciate the product for what it is, acknowledging it as a suitable conclusion to Panini’s tenure in the WWE trading card market.
Adding to the intrigue is the delay in the full hobby release, raising questions about the possible improvements—or similarities—that the standard boxes might offer compared to the FOTL breaks dominating the market currently. The uncertainty surrounding the delayed release only adds to the speculation and interest surrounding the fate of the final WWE cards under Panini’s production.
As Panini’s exit from the WWE trading card scene nears, the 2024 National Treasures WWE release serves as a snapshot of a brand navigating the end of a licensing era. The market’s response to the product will ultimately dictate whether these final cards can redeem themselves in the eyes of collectors or if they will be remembered as a footnote in the brand’s history. With a visually appealing design but falling short of the usual National Treasures prestige, the product stands at a crossroads as collectors await the verdict on its legacy.
