Introduced in 1998, the inferno match stipulation saw Kane, known as the “Big Red Machine,” face off against his storyline brother, The Undertaker, in what is considered one of the finest inferno matches in WWE history.
In a recent episode of The Undertaker’s podcast, “Six Feet Under,” Kane shared insights into the chaotic preparations that took place behind the scenes for this groundbreaking event.
“Just four hours before the match, they told me, ‘Okay, go out and work with the stunt guys; they’ll show you how to do a burn,'” Kane recounted. “We had this nomex sleeve with cooling gel to prevent burns.
I had to roll and place my arm under the ring while they switched it out.” Kane also detailed the rigorous safety instructions he received, highlighting the real risks involved in the match.
“They warned me, ‘Keep your arm behind you and your head this way. If you turn towards your face, the flame could go right into your mouth. If you feel any tingling, hit the deck immediately, and we’ll spray you with fire extinguishers. You can’t hesitate because that tingling means the cooling gel has evaporated, and you’re just seconds away from third-degree burns.’
I had to keep all of this in mind while also wrestling The Undertaker.” While many wrestlers might find one inferno match to be sufficient, Kane participated in several, including one against MVP, who recently reflected on the frightening experience.