One of WWE’s most spectacular gimmick matches, the Inferno match has been a staple of the wrestling industry since the glorious days of the Attitude Era. First witnessed on American soil at the 1998 Unforgiven pay-per-view, fans were astounded when the squared circle was engulfed in flames for the sequel match between sibling rivals Kane and The Undertaker.
The aim of the game in this match was to literally set your opponent on fire, quite the barbaric twist on a traditional wrestling bout. The combatants would compete under no disqualifications and no count-outs, and would not be able to achieve victory via pinfall or submission. Fortunately for those in attendance, the flames are controlled and only ever reach as high as the top ropes at specific points in the match, usually when one of the two superstars hits one of their signature moves. To this day, only six Inferno matches have taken place on WWE television and ‘The Big Red Machine’ has appeared in almost all of them, needless to say Kane is pretty used to feeling the heat.
Since the end of the Ruthless Aggression era, the Inferno match has been quietly retired and only brought back on a rare occasion, usually under a different guise or name. The most recent Inferno match took place at the TLC pay-per-view in 2020 between Randy Orton and ‘The Fiend’ Bray Wyatt. Due to the absence of a live audience, WWE were able to up the ante and cover the entire Thunderdome in pyrotechnics. It was a marvel to see in an era where the PG rating is champion.
If you’ve never had the chance to witness the raging flames of an Inferno, Ring of Fire or Human Torch match, then prepare yourself for one hell of a gimmick match.
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