搶先看:2022 SkyBox Metal Universe AEW

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All Elite Wrestling is getting Precious Metal Gems. And they’re not coming alone. 2022 SkyBox Metal Universe AEW brings the retro-inspired brand to wrestling cards for the first time.


The line, which came into its own in the late 1990s, is home to some of the boldest and most popular inserts of the era. In fact, it could be argued those sets are more popular today than they were then.


Like other recent Metal Universe sets including hockey, Marvel and the multi-sport Champions, the checklist puts new twists on several familiar inserts. Collectors can also find some new ones that stick with Metal’s over-the-top charm.


2022 SkyBox Metal Universe AEW Checklist Overview


The base set has 150 total cards. However, the final 50 are short prints that land one per pack. It’s done with foil and looks to the solar system for its design inspiration.


Standard parallels come in the form of Precious Metal Gems. These take bright colors and apply them to the background. The name carries a lot of prestige, particularly in basketball where PMGs are responsible for some of the most iconic Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant cards ever.


Mimicking the original PMGs in 1997-98 Metal Universe Basketball, the main parallels are numbered out of 100. However, there are two different types within these. Green PMGs are the first 10 copies (001/100, 002/100, 009/100, 010/100). The remaining 90 copies are Red PMGs.







Upper Deck is also including separate one-of-one Gold Precious Metal Gems and Printing Plates. The 50 short prints have Purple Spectrum versions as well that are numbered to 199.


In addition to these, select base cards also have Silver Autographs (1:75 packs), Green Autographs (/10) and Gold Autographs (1/1).







Rare Inserts


A big part of Metal Universe’s lasting popularity is the unique approach to a lot of its inserts. But it’s not just how they look. Another hallmark of the line — and late ’90s products in general — was the chase for some ultra rare corners of the checklist. 2022 SkyBox Metal Universe AEW has some of these.


Outside of cards with serial numbers, Jambalaya is the toughest of them all landing 1:720 hobby packs. That translates to approximately 1:48 boxes or 1:3 cases. The design fits in with past Jambalaya inserts including the round shape.










Metal-X channels the E-X line of the late ’90s, combining foil and acetate layers. These are 1:240 hobby packs.







Competitive Advantage cards are also scarce, falling 1:600 packs.


Getting Retro


Metal Universe AEW doesn’t just channel 1997-98 inserts. It looks to the original base set for some new inserts. 1997-98 Retro cards (1:5 packs) have the same layout only with current AEW stars. Precious Metal Gems here are the same as the base set with Green getting the first of 100 copies and Red making up the remaining 90. There also also Purple Spectrum (/199), Printing Plates (1/1) and Gold PMGs (1/1).








Additional Inserts


The 2022 SkyBox Metal Universe AEW checklist really does have a lot of inserts. Even for those that aren’t particularly tough pulls, the mix ensures a lot of variety at both the pack and box levels.


Hobby boxes include either a Palladium or (1:25 packs) or champion-focused Hardware (1:38 packs) card. Both of these sets use acetate as their foundation and have additional Gold Spectrum parallels (/25).









Planet Metal has die-cut edges along the top and bottom, just like the ’90 originals. Base versions are 1:20 hobby packs while Gold parallels are 1:60.







Intimidation Nation (1:75 packs) brings its intense close-ups over to professional wrestling. Printing Plates are available here along with autographs (/25) for some cards.






Originally a brand of its own and not part of Metal, SkyBox Premium (1:5 packs) makes the jump over. Parallels for these include Star Rubies (/50), Star Emerald (/10), Star Diamond (1/1) and Printing Plates (1/1). Some Star Emerald cards have autographs.







Other inserts include Bonzo Gonzo (1:10 packs), Feeling the Love (1:38 packs), Technicians (1:8 packs), The Merch (1:10 packs) and Turn Up the Heat (1:38 packs). All five of these have Gold parallels numbered to 25. Feeling the Love and Turn Up the Heat have Printing Plates (1/1) and autographs (1:2,000 packs) for select cards.


2022 SkyBox Metal Universe AEW at a glance:


Cards per pack: Hobby – 7
Packs per box: Hobby – 15
Boxes per case: Hobby – 16
Set size: 150 cards
Release date (subject to change): TBA


What to expect in a hobby box:


•1997-98 Retro – 3
•Planet Metal – 1
•SkyBox Premium – 3
•Hardware or Palladium – 1 Total
•Bonzo Gonzo, Technicians or The Merch – 5 Total
•Feeling the Love, Intimidation Nation or Turn Up the Heat – 1 Total

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