James Ellsworth Released By WWE
It's certainly been an eventful - if short - WWE stint for the Baltimore native.
WWE today announced that they have released James Ellsworth, wishing him the best in his future endeavours.
Ellsworth has been a controversial figure during his time in WWE, with many expressing their belief that he lacks the ability to have risen as far as he did. Others, however, have commended the 32 year old for maximising his potential to an astonishing degree, becoming a regular member of the main roster in unlikely fashion.
His first televised match came on an episode of Raw in July 2016, where he was merely one of a series of enhancement talents being squashed by Braun Strowman. However, Ellsworth's pre-match promo - in which he famously claimed that "any man with two hands has a fighting chance" - caused him to gain a cult following.
WWE capitalised on his surprising popularity by shifting him to to SmackDown Live, where he was remarkably inserted into the main event feud between Dean Ambrose and WWE Champion AJ Styles. Styles selected Ellsworth as his opponent, expecting an easy match, only for Ambrose to act as special guest referee and help the newcomer to an upset (non-title) win.
He then earned a rematch with Styles, this time with the WWE Championship on the line, and came one second away from the most unlikely of title victories.
Ellsworth turned heel at the TLC pay per view in December 2016, costing Ambrose a chance to win the championship. He was then shifted into a storyline as Carmella's manager, where another controversial incident was to follow.
At Money in the Bank 2017, Ellsworth interfered in the first ever women's MITB ladder match, physically retrieving the briefcase for Carmella and dropping it into her grasp. This booking decision received considerable backlash online, and a rematch was hastily arranged for the following SmackDown - where Carmella was able to win on her own.
Ellsworth has been a controversial figure during his time in WWE, with many expressing their belief that he lacks the ability to have risen as far as he did. Others, however, have commended the 32 year old for maximising his potential to an astonishing degree, becoming a regular member of the main roster in unlikely fashion.
His first televised match came on an episode of Raw in July 2016, where he was merely one of a series of enhancement talents being squashed by Braun Strowman. However, Ellsworth's pre-match promo - in which he famously claimed that "any man with two hands has a fighting chance" - caused him to gain a cult following.
WWE capitalised on his surprising popularity by shifting him to to SmackDown Live, where he was remarkably inserted into the main event feud between Dean Ambrose and WWE Champion AJ Styles. Styles selected Ellsworth as his opponent, expecting an easy match, only for Ambrose to act as special guest referee and help the newcomer to an upset (non-title) win.
He then earned a rematch with Styles, this time with the WWE Championship on the line, and came one second away from the most unlikely of title victories.
Ellsworth turned heel at the TLC pay per view in December 2016, costing Ambrose a chance to win the championship. He was then shifted into a storyline as Carmella's manager, where another controversial incident was to follow.
At Money in the Bank 2017, Ellsworth interfered in the first ever women's MITB ladder match, physically retrieving the briefcase for Carmella and dropping it into her grasp. This booking decision received considerable backlash online, and a rematch was hastily arranged for the following SmackDown - where Carmella was able to win on her own.
Written by Jack King
jack.king@cultaholic.com Twitter: @JackTheJobber
