Before Masterchef there was only one high-stakes cooking show.

Airing on SBS for the past decade, there’s no crying, no emotional breakdowns, no tear-jerking back stories on Iron Chef. It doesn’t matter that you’re a financial analyst now rediscovering your life’s purpose in the perfect quenelle. On this Japanese TV show, it’s about how absurdly high your hat is, how reflective your silky Power Ranger-like chef’s garb is, and of course: how you well you can stand the heat when your kitchen station catches on fire.

Presented by flamboyant host Takeshi Kaga (with an odd penchant for capsicum) and dubbed in English (not always quite in sync) for foreign viewers, the show’s set is a flood-lit arena, where guest chefs challenge resident Iron Chefs in a timed cooking battle around a theme ingredient. Think WWE meets My Kitchen Rules, complete with slow-motion action replays.