The most dangerous match in WWE history

Professional wrestling is built on spectacle, drama, and controlled risk — but sometimes, the danger becomes very real. Among all brutal encounters in sports entertainment, one match still stands above the rest as the most terrifying ever witnessed inside a WWE ring: the Hell in a Cell clash between The Undertaker and Mankind at King of the Ring 1998.
From the moment the cell lowered, fans expected violence — but nobody expected history.
The bell rang, and within seconds the action moved to the top of the 16-foot steel structure. The crowd inside the arena buzzed nervously as the two men fought above a sea of metal. Then came the moment that changed wrestling forever. The Undertaker grabbed Mankind and hurled him off the cell. Mankind crashed through the announcers’ table, hitting the floor from nearly two stories high.
Commentator Jim Ross screamed in shock, delivering the unforgettable line: “Good God Almighty! He’s killed him!” Medical staff rushed out as fans sat in stunned silence. Many believed the match was over — but it had barely begun.
Amazingly, Mankind climbed back to his feet and insisted on continuing. He was helped onto a stretcher, yet moments later he staggered off and climbed the cell again. What followed was even worse.
Back on top, the steel roof gave way during a chokeslam attempt. Mankind plunged straight through the cage, crashing into the ring below. The impact knocked out his tooth, drove a chair into his face, and left him unconscious. The audience watched in horror as officials debated stopping the contest.
Still, the match continued. Bleeding, barely conscious, and barely able to stand, Mankind endured chair shots and a tombstone piledriver before the referee finally counted the pinfall.
This wasn’t just a match — it was a test of human limits. Both performers pushed past pain, fear, and safety in a way rarely seen before or since. The encounter permanently changed how fans viewed hardcore wrestling and led WWE to adopt stricter safety precautions.
Even decades later, the image of a body flying from the top of the cell remains unforgettable. Many brutal matches have happened since, but none captured raw danger quite like that night.