The good news is that unlike other sports, the autographs of pro wrestling divas or big name stars won’t set you back nearly as much as their baseball, football and basketball counterparts if you’re buying on the secondary market. Television and the WWE brought immense publicity to the sport, but wrestlers knew they were only as popular as fans made them. Most were willing signers.

Big name wrestlers who helped transform the sport in the 1980's like Hulk Hogan,

Bruno Sammartino and Rowdy Roddy Piper can be found for under $50. One exception might be Andre The Giant, who never signed a lot of autographs. Expect to pay more for stars who shunned the limelight away from the ring. Any current wrestling personality with an immense fan base will be much tougher to locate as well since they’re sometimes treated like superstars, with ‘handlers’ and others keeping fans at a respectful distance.

Still, most wrestlers are very accommodating despite sometimes grueling schedules. With limited endorsements, they realize that being good to fans is not just a recommendation, it’s a necessity. Many find they aren’t recognized outside the ring and are happy to oblige autograph requests in person when asked.

There are wrestling autograph conventions at which stars sign for a fee. This makes it easy for collectors to get items signed by a number of personalities all in one place at the same time. The fact that fans are indeed willing to pay would indicate the wrestling autograph world is indeed thriving.

Recently retired world champion Ric Flair signed hundreds at a collectors convention in Pennsylvania, at a price of $50 per autograph. Getting your photo taken with the World Wrestling Federation Hall of Famer, also known as “Nature Boy," was an additional $50. Flair is one of wrestling’s biggest stars. His autograph is coveted much like the long ago stars now highly sought-after by serious collectors of wrestling memorabilia. Respected names like Jim Thorpe and Joe Louis actually worked the wrestling circuit when money was tight and their autograph on anything wrestling related is highly desirable as is anything signed by the early stars who made their living as wrestlers.

While stories of fake autographs can haunt other sports, most wrestling autographs on eBay are indeed real. With most wrestling autographs worth less than $25, it is not a fertile ground for those who wish to create a fake autograph market. There are more lucrative ways for a forger to make his money. Still, it is best to do your homework and be aware of a seller’s reputation if you are buying wrestling autographs.

If you pay for a wrestler’s autograph, don’t expect to turn a quick profit. The market is active and there are plenty of collectors but most know the value of a certain grappler’s signature and aren’t likely to help you make a mint.