Elite

World

Steve

Panini, an Italian trading card, comics and collectibles company, recently announced the launch of a series of 100 World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Superstars in a digital Donruss Elite card set on the Panini Blockchain.
The set will include some of the most noteworthy WWE superstars, including John Cena, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Roman Reigns, Finn Bálor, Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley, Lyra Valkyria, Undertaker, Chyna, Chelsea Green and Kiana James.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
 Get ready for the WWE debut on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PaniniBlockchain?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PaniniBlockchain</a>! Wednesday, Feb 14 at 10am CT, Panini <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DonrussElite?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DonrussElite</a> WWE packs will be available on Panini Blockchain and feature the debuts of more than 100 legendary and current Superstars! More info: <a href="https://t.co/x0AyqICbeX">https://t.co/x0AyqICbeX</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WhoDoYouCollect?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WhoDoYouCollect</a> <a href="https://t.co/EhnHSMTyAB">pic.twitter.com/EhnHSMTyAB</a>— Panini America (@PaniniAmerica) <a href="https://twitter.com/PaniniAmerica/status/1757592393166057931?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2024</a>
</blockquote> 
According to a press release from Panini and WWE, those who purchase the digital packs will be able to virtually rip them open to the limited-edition digital assets, with further opportunities to <a href="https://blog.paniniamerica.net/wwe-arrives-in-panini-blockchain/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">participate</a> in collector events and contests:
<blockquote data-ct-non-breakable="true">
 “In addition, collectors can participate in exciting collection challenges, to win cards not available in packs and digital crafting events, where collectors can turn common cards into numbered exclusive cards.”
</blockquote>
<h2 data-ct-non-breakable="true" id="wwe-nfts">WWE NFTs</h2>
This isn’t the WWE’s first foray into digital collectibles. The company has dabbled in nonfungible tokens (NFTs) for the past few years. As Cointelegraph reported back in 2021, WWE and John Cena <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/nifty-news-john-cena-collectibles-rum-tokens-superrare-2-0-and-more">released a series of NFTs</a> featuring the famous wrestler and actor. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
 THIS FRIDAY Just in time for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SummerSlam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SummerSlam</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/WWE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WWE</a> drops a unique 1-of-1 <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnCena?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JohnCena</a> Platinum NFT! Join the 24-hour auction this Friday at 8pm ET. Go to <a href="https://t.co/gtMs8R5oCy">https://t.co/gtMs8R5oCy</a> for more details. <a href="https://t.co/xT6J0l90RG">pic.twitter.com/xT6J0l90RG</a>— WWE (@WWE) <a href="https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1427447184371355648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2021</a>
</blockquote> 
Unfortunately for Cena and the WWE, those NFTs essentially bombed, selling only a few dozen of the mid-tier offerings.
Related: <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/john-cena-calls-his-own-nft-sales-a-catastrophic-failure">John Cena calls his own NFT sales a ‘catastrophic failure’</a>
<h2 id="digital-collectibles">Digital collectibles</h2>
The wrestling world has embraced NFTs and digital collectibles over the past year. While the WWE remains the most popular “sports entertainment” company in the world, its closest competitors in All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and Impact! Wrestling both launched their own NFTs in 2023. 
The WWE also has its own NFT marketplace running on Eluv.io’s Content Fabric blockchain called “Moonsault.” However, sales in 2023 were <a href="https://cryptoslate.com/aew-ventures-into-nft-space-despite-wwe-moonsaults-declining-engagement/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">reportedly</a> slow. 
Panini and the WWE will be looking for the newly launched Donruss Elite blockchain cards to perform better. 
Panini senior vice president of marketing and athlete relations Jason Howarth, in a statement, cited the WWE’s “rabid audience and deep history” as being in line with the blockchain collectible community’s expectations. Whether this translates into championship gold for the two companies remains to be seen.

WWE gets digital Donruss Elite cards on Panini blockchain

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