Has the WWE Universe Seen the Last of the Inferno Match?

WWE fans are no strangers to dangerous matches. The Elimination Chamber, Hell in a Cell and TLC are all billed as some of the most dangerous matches in all of professional wrestling. However, the WWE has never offered a match as dangerous and downright brutal as the Inferno Match.

In WWE history, there have only been four Inferno Matches.

The last one took place at Armageddon 2006 and saw Kane burn MVP for the victory.  Was that the last Inferno Match we'll ever see?

Obviously, the WWE was much different six years ago.

The most prominent change made since that match was the change from TV-14 to TV-PG. Even as lenient as they've been with language and even blood, an Inferno Match would certainly be pushing it.

In the same vein, the WWE has received a lot of flak for things much less controversial than match where the objective is to ignite your opponent.

Take, for example, Daniel Bryan choking Justin Roberts with a necktie. That incident resulted in his prompt release. More recently, Chris Jericho was suspended for 30 days due to his incident in Brazil. In both cases, the WWE had its hand forced into punishing their wrestlers for, essentially, doing their jobs.

Aside from the PG problem, there isn't exactly a place for the Inferno Match in 2012. Undertaker and Kane, the pioneers of the Inferno Match, are both on their way out. Undertaker has competed in two of the four Inferno Matches and Kane has competed in all four. It wouldn't feel quite right without them.

'Taker only wrestles once a year. That said, Undertaker is likely person to compete in another Inferno Match—should there ever be another one. His WrestleMania matches are becoming harder and harder to top. Also, given the importance in his last few 'Mania matches, an Inferno Match may fit the bill for a future defense of The Streak.

The Big Red Machine, on the other hand, is likely preparing to hang up his boots. His time in high profile programs is coming to an end, meaning he may not get another opportunity to compete in a fifth Inferno Match. And what would an Inferno Match be without Kane?

Have we seen the last of the Inferno Match?

This match is just as rare as it is brutal and dangerous, so a six-year hiatus for the match isn't quite an indication that we'll never see it again. Even though a fifth Inferno Match would be rather unlikely, you learn never to say never when it comes to professional wrestling.

Michael Prunka is a Bleacher Report Featured Columnist. To stay up to date with his WWE and NHL commentary, you can like his Facebook page and follow him on Twitter.