PPV Rewind - WWE Survivor Series (2012)

#5 (WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match) – Big Show vs Sheamus.

(WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match) – ©Big Show vs Sheamus.

Big Show defeated Sheamus at the previous pay-per-view event, “Hell in a Cell” to win the World Heavyweight Championship. The following night on RAW, Big Show attacked Sheamus and his friend William Regal at a social event. A week later following this incident, Sheamus would call out Big Show to the ring on RAW, only to have Big Show appear backstage and deliver a devastating knockout punch to William Regal. This gave William Regal a concussion and a broken jaw. The results of this encounter set up the rematch for the Survivor Series.

This match was a physical hard-fought match, as Sheamus took Big Show to his limits and gave him everything he had. He kept the big man reeling, as he clipped the knee of Big Show and sent him to the ropes, where Show would be tied up with nowhere to go. Sheamus went to the apron and delivered one thunderous clobbering blow to the chest after the other, as Big Show remained helplessly tied in the ropes. Big Show would be freed from the ropes as Sheamus climbed to the top turnbuckle. Sheamus dove off the ropes to attempt a Diving Shoulderblock, but had this move countered into a Spear from Big Show.

The action then spilt to the arena floor, as Show rammed Sheamus into the steel steps. Then, he began to work over the shoulder/arm area. Big Show took advantage of this match and slowed the match down with a few rest holds to try and ware Sheamus down. Sheamus would counter and fight back, connecting with a Slingshot Shoulderblock that sent Big Show stumbling back.

Show would fight back with a thrust kick. Sheamus too attempted to fight back but was dropped with a Side Slam. The latter would next have this shoulder slammed hard into the steel ring post after he attempted to go back on the offensive but to no avail. Big Show set up Sheamus for a corner Slingshot Splash. Sheamus took advantage of this opportunity, as he got up and courageously picked up the 400+ pound Big Show over his shoulders and slammed him with an Electric Chair Drop.

Both men went tooth and nail, exchanging punches and chops to one another. Sheamus took him down with a high knee smash and a flying clothesline to get the crowd excited as he mounts a comeback, as this quickly becomes a hard-physical battle. Sheamus counters the Chokeslam into the White Noise, which ended up being one of the biggest highlights of the match. The crowd became unglued as Sheamus called for the Brogue Kick. Big Show instinctively dodges as he pulls the referee in the way, causing Sheamus to kick the referee instead.

With the referee knocked out cold, other WWE officials and medics rush to ringside to check on his condition, as does Sheamus who feels guilty over the inadvertent Brogue Kick. Big Show gets up to his feet, takes advantage of the distraction and lays Sheamus out with the Knockout Punch. Show makes the cover as another referee makes the three count. Big Show retains the World Heavyweight Championship.

Immediately thereafter, another referee tells the ring announcer that he has reversed the decision based on Big Show pulling the initial referee in the crosshairs of Sheamus’ Brogue Kick and has therefore disqualified the Big Show. Sheamus would get the win by DQ, but the Big Show would still retain the World Heavyweight Championship.

A livid Sheamus would then attack Big Show with a Steel Chair. Big Show, crawling up the rampway, begins pleading with Sheamus to stop and begs for mercy. The crowd starts to chant: “We want tables!”, as Sheamus continues his assault on Big Show. Finally, Big Show is laid out with a Brogue Kick at the top of the ramp way, as Sheamus celebrates with the crowd.

This match was very good and can be (arguably) considered as a Match of the Night candidate by other wrestling fans and journalists. A lot of good, hard, physical action. Big Show and Sheamus have good chemistry and it showed throughout the match. The crowd was interested and engaged for the most part. The pacing of the match was relatively good, a little too slow in parts, but it all became worth of the conclusion and aftermath.

Match Rating: 3 ½ Stars