From the Favorites Box: Andre the Giant, 1990 Classic WWF #130

A series where I post some thoughts about favorite cards. Previous cards in the series are available here.

 

 

Quick exercise in imagination:

Picture yourself attending one of those 1970s wrestling exhibitions. You know, the kind where the local gym or civic center puts on a challenge: "STEP INTO THE RING AND LAST FIVE MINUTES AGAINST [insert wrestler of minor fame here] AND WIN 100 DOLLARS!"

Now imagine on this particular night you're feeling some bravado. A little spunk. (After all, you've been working out more than usual, and earlier this week your co-worker said "OUCH!" when you shook his hand.) 

 

And when no one in the audience accepts the $100 challenge issued by the master of ceremonies—not even after some major-league cajoling—you walk right up to the ring and hop in there.

 

The raucous, spirited cheer from the crowd only emboldens you.

 

"WE'VE GOT A CHALLENGER!", the emcee yells out.

 

You turn left and right and put a hand up to acknowledge the audience. Then you strut around your corner while the emcee takes the microphone again and introduces the wrestler of minor fame that you'll be going up against. It's a guy who locals have dubbed "Andre the Giant".

 

You turn to the opposite corner and watch, stunned, as the behemoth lifts one of his size-24 feet over the middle rope and into the ring, and stares you down like so:

 

 

Suddenly the crowd is no longer on your side.

 

Is your first reaction to take a step back and reach for the ropes so you can get out of there? 

I'm pretty sure mine would be. And that would finish my exercise in imagination.

I'll let you finish your version of the story however you'd like. But that look on The Giant's face? That does it all for me. Why would he even need to trash talk? Or say anything? It's a special ability that not everyone has—not even every wrestler.

 

And simply for that special ability to intimidate without a word, like Andre is doing on his trading card up there, 1990 Classic WWF #130 has a spot in my box of favorite cards.

The Crusher

Last year I picked up the first wrestling card in my collection, and mentioned that I wasn't sure how much larger the collection would get.

Well, I just acquired wrestling card #2, so my collection has now doubled in size!

Here it is:

1991 Swanson WWF #12, Macho Man Randy Savage

How do you even begin describing the '90s coolness factor with this one?

The first thing I notice is the shades. Wow. Then there's all the neon. And the hat. And the background that resembles the background from every single 1990s high school yearbook in existence.

Get past that, however, and you'll also see a classic menacing wrestler's pose. Just look. Those hands are ready to clamp down and grapple with you. Do you stand a chance? No. No you don't. (I wonder if Randy learned that pose from his father Angelo, who was a tremendous professional wrestler himself.)

In a funny way, the pose also reminds me of another wrestler. His name is The Crusher.

That's him on the right. (Don't worry. Bugs Bunny took care of him.)


Returning to the card, though, here's the back:

Notice how the information is printed in both English and French. That's because this card is from a set that was only available in Canada. And if the name Swanson sounds familiar, you're onto something. In 1991 you'd find two of these wrestling cards packed inside select Swanson TV dinners (available in your grocer's freezer).

Here's the complete 12-card checklist:

1 Jake The Snake Roberts    
2 Bret Hit Man Hart
3 Bushwhackers
4 The Mountie
5 Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase
6 Ultimate Warrior      
7 Hulk Hogan                   
8 Texas Tornado                     
9 Rockers                       
10 Legion of Doom                   
11 Big Boss Man                       
12 Macho Man Randy Savage

So, if you grew up in Canada back then and really liked the WWF, you may have begged your mom or dad to buy Swanson TV dinners every week until you had the complete set. Or at least until you found your favorite wrestler.

I'm happy to have this card in my collection now, along with the Hulkster. Talk about two monuments of professional wrestling. To quote Randy Savage himself,

Oh yeaaaaaah!