WWE releases Undertaker, John Cena WrestleMania 25 autograph plaques

Here’s one for the wrestling fans…

World Wrestling Entertainment has released a pair of autographed plaques for Undertaker and John Cena — 11×14 framed pieces limited to only 500 that include a piece of ring rope and ring mat (respectively) — highlighting the premiere event of pro wrestling, WrestleMania.

The items are available on WWEShop.com and are only $99. Cena is an autographing machine — you can buy signed photos at every live event as well as find him in nearly every WWE-licensed trading card set since 2005 — and you can even get a free autographed photo if you buy a copy of the 12 Rounds DVD on the site. (Yeah, we’ll pass, too.)

But Undertaker? He doesn’t do many signings at all. He hasn’t appeared on a WWE-licensed certified autograph trading card since 2001 (it’s worth a lot more than $100), and he typically only signs for these plaques each year. This one notes his 17-0 undefeated streak at WrestleMania 25 on April 5 in Houston.

Previous plaques have been more like standard trading card displays — an 8×10 photo along with a swatch of ring mat (think a photo and sports card display) on a wood backer. This year’s version is a shadowbox with one photo from Undertaker’s legendary entrance and the other his dangerous swan dive into the floor (well, and part of a cameraman) during his classic match against Shawn Michaels.

The Undertaker plaque is a great buy for wrestling fans — so much so dealers will often pick up these items just to flip for more in online auctions.

The Cena? We’ll wait 12 more rounds. (But we’re pretty sure Hackler will pick them both up.)

Chris Olds has collected sports cards and memorabilia since 1987. Before coming to Beckett Media, he wrote about the hobby for the Orlando Sentinel on his blog, SportsStuff, and for the San Antonio Express-News and The Tuscaloosa (Ala.) News. Do you have a comment, question or idea? Send e-mail to him at colds@beckett.com.