Big Show def. World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus

ATLANTA - At Hell in a Cell, despite the fact that the heroic Sheamus displayed incredible intestinal fortitude by becoming the first Superstar to ever kick out of the devastating KO Punch, Big Show ultimately ended the battling Irish Superstar’s dominant, nearly seven-month reign to become the new World Heavyweight Champion! ( MATCH PHOTOS)

It was to be the first-time ever that The Celtic Warrior would lock horns with The World’s Largest Athlete in singles competition, and the intensity of the highly anticipated clash of the titans filled Philips Arena in Atlanta from the opening bell.

With Mr. Money in the Bank, Dolph Ziggler, looking on in the back — after guaranteeing that he would cash in his Money in the Bank contract on the winner — Big Show showed his power early, manhandling The Celtic Warrior from one side of the ring to the other.

Despite taking Big Show out at the knee and mounting the beginning of his offense, Sheamus was swiftly hurled over the top rope, allowing Big Show to continue his massive assault. But, no matter what was thrown his way, the first-ever Irish-born World Heavyweight Champion refused to relent, fighting back tooth-and-nail at every turn, suffering incredible punishment as the match roared on.

Big Show’s onslaught continued outside the ring, where The World’s Largest Athlete relentlessly hurled his adversary over the announcer table.

Back in the squared circle, Sheamus continued to return fire. And with major marks beginning to form all over his body, Sheamus suddenly rammed his No. 1 contender off his feet. Moments later, however, The Celtic Warrior would fall again, tasting the huge boot of Big Show.

After Big Show locked in an excruciating bear hug, Sheamus powered his way out. But when he tried to slam the giant, he ended on his back. Big Show wasted no time climbing the ropes, bringing his full weight down on the champion. However, just when it looked like Sheamus was on his way out for good, with Show poised to hit the chokeslam, Sheamus suddenly countered with an earth-shattering DDT.

As the fierce action continued, Big Show recovered and chokeslammed Sheamus, but to the surprise of the WWE Universe, the resilient champion kicked out! Sheamus, in turn, grabbed momentum and went for the Cloverleaf, only to get tossed out of the ring again.

The tide would turn yet once more, when outside the ring, the World Heavyweight Champion hurled Big Show into the post. He carried his moment back between the ropes, lifting Big Show onto his back and executing White Noise on the gigantic Superstar! 

Then, in the height of the incredible back-and-forth battle, Big Show suddenly caught Sheamus’ Brogue Kick attempt and proceeded to bring the WWE Universe to the edge of their seat. Cocking his explosive fist into the air, Big Show smashed the World Heavyweight Champion with the full force of the KO Punch. Though that certainly should have quelled the final stand for the titleholder, Sheamus once again showed the heart of a true champion by kicking out of the finisher in a moment that defied disbelief itself!

As monumental as Sheamus’ resilience was, however, it was not a feat that was destined to be repeated. While Sheamus indeed recovered and shocked all yet again by hitting the Brogue Kick on Big Show, the giant also kicked out! And when Sheamus went for a second Brogue Kick, Big Show hit a second earth-shattering KO Punch, finally finishing off Sheamus, capturing the World Heavyweight Title and forever erasing the disgrace of losing his last World Championship in 45 seconds last at WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs last December! 

The road to Big Show’s match against Sheamus proved to be as high stakes as the showdown itself. From the moment the giant earned his World Title opportunity by overcoming Randy Orton in a No. 1 Contender’s Match on the Sept. 28 edition of SmackDown, anticipation began to build for the battle between the absolute super heavyweights.

In one corner, the towering challenger: The only thing more gigantic than Big Show’s stunning size and furious determination to regain World Championship gold was his utter humiliation, after losing his last World Title in 45 seconds to Daniel Bryan at WWE TLC 2011 when Bryan cashed in his Money in the Bank contract on the war-torn colossus. In the other corner, the brutal titleholder who loved to fight: a true force-of-nature who had beaten everyone in his path since overcoming Bryan in 18 seconds to capture that very same championship gold at WrestleMania XXVIII.

As if the potential for all-out mayhem wasn’t heightened enough, both Superstars were also in possession of a finishing maneuver of earth-shattering proportions. Sheamus’ signature weapon was the Brogue Kick, an instrument of destruction so dangerous that it was recently banned pending an internal investigation to see whether the barbarous boot was too savage for the squared circle. Big Show, on the other hand, carried with him the infamous KO Punch, the self-professed “most lethal move in WWE” that was scientifically tested on the Oct. 12 edition of SmackDown to be ever more powerful than that of his Irish adversary. 

On top of everything else, the contest carried with it a true X-factor: This year’s Mr. Money in the Bank, Dolph Ziggler, had guaranteed that he would cash in his championship contract and win the World Heavyweight Title at Hell in a Cell.

Though The Celtic Warrior walked into “Hell” and did the impossible by kicking out of the KO Punch, it was the mighty Big Show that would walk out the new World Heavyweight Champion. As smoke clears, the big question that now stands is: What heights will the Irish Superstar go to the championship gold back?