Buried Alive Match

As Edgar Allan Poe wrote in his story 'The Premature Burial,' "being buried alive is undoubtedly the most terrifying fate that a mortal can endure." And to think, WWE (then WWF) even turned this concept into a match...

In the Buried Alive match, which can be seen as a step beyond the Casket match, the only way to win is by throwing your opponent into a grave dug into a pile of dirt located outside the ring (usually on the stage) and burying them with dirt. The match is typically declared over when the opponent is completely covered and no longer visible.

To bury the rival with dirt, a shovel is usually used, with the winner covering the loser’s body with dirt. After the match, the burial is made more dramatic by filling the grave completely with dirt, often with the help of a bulldozer or excavator.

This stipulation, in addition to excluding pinfalls and submissions, naturally does not have count-outs or disqualifications. Various thematic tools, especially around the grave area, can be used as weapons, such as shovels or wheelbarrows.

Typically, this stipulation is fought in a 1 vs 1 format, but on one occasion it was contested in a tag team match (in which burying just one member of the opposing team was enough to win). In all Buried Alive matches fought so far, The Undertaker has always participated, and this stipulation is closely associated with his character.