-
The Undertaker Being Set on Fire (Elimination Chamber, 2010)
Heading into the match, The Undertaker had a tough task on his hands as he was defending his World Heavyweight Championship against the intimidating card of R-Truth, CM Punk, Chris Jericho, Rey Mysterio, and John Morrison.
But as his iconic music hit, it wasn’t his opponents who proved to be his greatest obstacle. As he made his iconic slow walk to the ring, a pyrotechnic malfunction caused several flames to burst directly underneath him, causing his signature leather coat and hat to catch fire.
This caused a rare break in The Undertaker’s methodical character as he sprinted through the remaining flames, shedding his burning coat. Once he entered the pod, he spent 20 minutes frantically pouring water over his chest and arms in an attempt to cool his rapidly blistering skin, which resulted in first and second-degree burns.
Crucially, in the lead-up to the PPV, The Undertaker had specifically warned the lead pyrotechnician and executive Kevin Dunn that the flame bursts were too close to the ramp where he stood. Despite those warnings, the technician failed to adjust the blast, resulting in his immediate firing before the match had even finished.
Famously, many described the backstage area as a “ghost town” immediately following the incident. Once the match concluded, The Undertaker told Vince McMahon, “I don’t want any excuses. I don’t want any apologies. I don’t ever want to see that pyro guy again, because if I do, I’m gonna kill him.”
The Undertaker made two crucial decisions that likely saved his life. First, he chose to wear a heavy, long-sleeved leather duster so he could display the World Heavyweight Championship around his waist. This choice ultimately protected his arms from being directly scorched by the blast.
Second, he made the last-minute decision to pour an extra bottle of water over his head and shoulders, feeling that his hair was too dry. Because he was soaked, the water provided a vital layer of protection when the flames momentarily engulfed him.
This incident remains the most dangerous moment in Elimination Chamber history, as it involved a terrifying, unscripted threat to a performer’s life before the match even began, proving that even the most calculated spectacles can go horribly wrong.
While the Elimination Chamber contains ten tons of steel and 800 feet of chains, this list proves that it isn’t just the cage that can be the most lethal weapon. Whether it’s a Frog Splash gone wrong or a pyrotechnic miscalculation, there is one lesson current and future superstars of the WWE can learn from these moments: it isn’t just what happens after the bell rings that matters, but everything that leads up to it.
More From LWOS Pro Wrestling
Header photo – WWE – Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on WWE Elimination Chamber and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the significant news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world.
You can check out WWE programming on Netflix (Raw), USA Network (SmackDown), The CW (NXT), Tubi (WWE Evolve), A&E (WWE Superstar Sunday – Rivals, WWE LFG, and Greatest Moments), and Peacock (WWE Main Event, as well as archives and premium live event streaming). Follow WWE on social media to relive top moments and matches on YouTube, and catch fast-paced action on X (WWE Speed).
