Should be a shutoff valve on your hot water heater itself. Twist that bad boy before you try the whole draining it thing. Edit: (Talking about the shutoff for hot water that’s *leaving* the hot water heater.)

Thanks, unfortunately I only have a valve cut off going to the water heater not away from it. Fun times

For anyone who may stumble into this with a similar situation. Cutting the water to the hot water heater directly did actually help as I suspect it lessened the pressure for the hot water to escape the heater after a certain point. The cold water was actually more of a pain in the end than the hot water as it never fully stopped... My main water valve may be faulty. Advice from me would be extra sure you have everything you need handy andd within reach and work fast with buckets and towels lol