James Ellsworth, come back. Please!
Ellsworth, who has taken plenty of criticism in this space for how WWE has used him, can’t really be fired, can he?
“SmackDown Live” general manager Paige sent Carmella’s sidekick packing last week, and Ellsworth even put out statement on Twitter thanking WWE for giving him the opportunity to work for them.
The move is either a creative miscalculation by WWE or a work and a smart attempt at misdirection prior to Becky Lynch facing Carmella for the SmackDown women’s championship at SummerSlam on Aug. 19. Let’s hope it’s the latter.
By removing Ellsworth last Tuesday, it gave Lynch a chance to beat Carmella without his being able to interfere. It should make Carmella want him back at all costs for the match at Barclays Center when her title will be on the line.
Ellsworth needs to be at SummerSlam in some form for the Lynch-Carmella story to have greater meaning and get a proper final act. Lynch becoming champion again by upending Carmella and Ellsworth allows everything to come full circle. It would complete a rare long-term, cohesive story in WWE.
Ellsworth cost Lynch a chance to be Ms. Money in the Bank two years ago, when he pushed over the ladder just as she was set to grab the briefcase. Not only did he steal Lynch’s moment, but a man being involved in the finish of the historic match took away from what was a big deal for the women’s roster. It was also Carmella who hit Lynch in the back with a chair two nights later on “SmackDown Live” in the Money in the Bank rematch to again cost her the briefcase.
It is the main reason Lynch, who also fell just short of winning Money in the Bank this year, needs to be the one to beat Carmella and Ellsworth. Let him do a “surprise” run-in at SummerSlam if he isn’t added back by Carmella’s side.
Ellsworth already dressed up as Asuka at Money in the Bank. He could try a disguise again, maybe a security guard or as Lynch’s best friend, Charlotte Flair.
In the process, Lynch would return the championship to a proven in-ring performer and save the audience from having to watch another pay-per-view singles match involving Carmella, who is an excellent heel, but still needs to improve her in-ring abilities.
If that is not how Lynch becomes champion, then why did WWE bring Ellsworth back in the first place? A few intergender matches with Asuka? To make Carmella going over on Asuka more believable? His presence would be wasted if he really is done.
Lynch becoming champion for a second time also opens up the possibility of a feud with Flair when she returns. Book that right now for Evolution if you can.
In that scenario, Charlotte could lay the seeds for her to go heel in time for a potential match with Ronda Rousey at WrestleMania. Maybe one or all of the Four Horsewomen of MMA can interfere in a Lynch-Flair match at Evolution. That way, there is no clear winner between the two, and you set up the Four Horsewomen vs. Four Horsewomen feud for Survivor Series the following month. It would be rare opportunity for all the parties involved to be in the same building.
Before any of that can happen, Lynch needs to set things right by overcoming Carmella and Ellsworth and completing the story’s more than two-year arc.
So, James Ellsworth, come back. Please!