Cody Rhodes def. Intercontinental Champion Big Show (New Champion; Tables Match)

Less than one month after he put his best foot forward at WrestleMania, Big Show took one errant step that ultimately cost him his championship gold.

The title reign of The World’s Largest Athlete came to an abrupt end at Allstate Arena in Chicago on Sunday night as Cody Rhodes came away victorious from their Tables Match at WWE Extreme Rules to become the Intercontinental Champion for the second time. Big Show appeared in total control from the bout’s outset, but a timely dropkick by Rhodes caught the champion off-guard and sent the sizable Superstar reeling as his leg crashed through a ringside table for a shocking result. ( PHOTOS)

Both competitors showed no difficulty in reigniting their heated rivalry despite being unaware of the Tables Match stipulation until the WWE Extreme Rules Pre-Show on WWE.com. John Laurinaitis, the General Manager of Raw and SmackDown, ordered that a spin of the wheel during the Pre-Show would determine how Big Show and Rhodes would contest the rematch from their Intercontinental Championship clash at WrestleMania XXVIII.

Though neither Superstar has competed in a Tables Match in recent memory, the stipulation initially appeared to favor The World’s Largest Athlete by virtue of his size advantage. For the technically-proficient Rhodes to win, he would somehow need to overcome his 441-pound opponent’s size advantage and put him through a wooden table.

Big Show seized early momentum with a series of blows and shoulder blocks that brutally wore down his rival’s resiliency. Rhodes audibly writhed in agony as The World’s Largest Athlete set up three different tables at ringside in hopes of bringing their bout to a quick end.

However, a momentary lapse in concentration by Big Show allowed the challenger to finally “poke the bear” in the spirit of his father, WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes. Rhodes, who previously held the Intercontinental Title for 233 days, rose to his feet and executed a dropkick as the 7-foot champion casually extended his foot to climb back in the ring.

The attack sent Big Show’s right leg whirling around until the skyscraping Superstar attempted to regain his balance by stepping down to the ringside floor – and, unfortunately, through a table. WWE referee Justin King interpreted the course of events as being triggered by the challenger and signaled for the bell that would crown Rhodes as the new Intercontinental Champion.

Frustrated by the result, Big Show took his temper out on the new titleholder by putting him through two of the tables he’d previously set up during the match. It left him with a moral victory over his longtime rival, but also without the championship gold he’d attained only four weeks earlier.

With the win, Rhodes also added a notable milestone to the history of the Intercontinental Championship. Though the victory adds his name to the list of 31 past champions to have won the illustrious title multiple times, Rhodes becomes the first to have ever become the Intercontinental Champion by winning it in a Tables Match.