5 Possible reasons why James Ellsworth was fired from WWE

One of the biggest stories on this week’s SmackDown Live revolved around the WWE Championship, with General Manager Paige announcing AJ Styles’ next challenger for the title at SummerSlam.

However, just as she was about to reveal Samoa Joe as Styles’ opponent, she was interrupted by Carmella’s sidekick, James Ellsworth, who demanded that he be given an opportunity at the title due to his three victories over “The Phenomenal One” in 2016.

Paige refused to grant him a title match, which led to “The Chinless Wonder” insulting the way she looks, specifically her pale skin. Naturally, that didn’t go down too well with the blue brand’s authority figure, who promptly fired Ellsworth and had him escorted from the building.

From a storyline perspective, Ellsworth’s firing made for an entertaining segment. But, in reality, we've all been left wondering why his return to WWE television has seemingly ended when it felt like it was only just beginning.

With that in mind, and assuming he isn’t going to be reinstated any time soon, let’s take a look at five possible reasons why the guy who proved that “any man with two hands has a fighting chance” is no longer going to be on our screens.

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#5 He was only needed for the Asuka storyline

James Ellsworth returned at Money In The Bank

James Ellsworth made his first WWE appearance in seven months when he returned at Money In The Bank in June as an Asuka impersonator to help Carmella retain her SmackDown Women’s Championship against “The Empress of Tomorrow”.

Then, in the rematch the following month at Extreme Rules, his antics from inside a shark cage provided more distractions, helping “The Princess of Staten Island” walk away with her title once again.

Realistically, WWE was never going to let Carmella defeat Asuka fair and square in PPV matches, so perhaps the plan all along was for Ellsworth to come back for a short period of time until this rivalry was over.

#4 His shenanigans have tarnished Carmella’s reign

James Ellsworth helped Carmella defeat Asuka twice

Carmella cashed in her Money In The Bank contract on Charlotte Flair two nights after WrestleMania 34 to win the SmackDown Women’s Championship for the first time in her career.

That victory was marred with a hint of controversy, with The IIconics attacking Charlotte before the cash-in, but the rematch at Backlash was won in a relatively clean manner by Carmella, immediately legitimising her as championship material.

However, her two recent victories over Asuka were completely tainted by James Ellsworth’s involvement, especially at Extreme Rules, and it’s because of his shenanigans that her character no longer feels worthy of being in the title scene.

#3 Carmella doesn’t need somebody to talk for her

Carmella's promos are her biggest strength

What James Ellsworth lacks in in-ring skills and credibility, he makes up for with his ability to get audiences to instantly hate him and boo every word that comes out of his mouth.

“The Chinless Wonder” would make a great heel manager for some of the less-experienced members of the SmackDown Live roster, but Carmella has proven again and again since her main-roster debut in 2016 that her biggest strength is her promos.

Following the firing of Ellsworth, “The Princess of Staten Island” no longer has an occasional mouthpiece and she can go back to doing what she does best: laying the verbal SmackDown on the rest of the women’s division.

#2 The Women’s Evolution doesn’t need James Ellsworth

Becky Lynch will face Carmella at SummerSlam

Stephanie McMahon announced on this week’s Monday Night Raw that the first all-female WWE pay-per-view, Evolution, will take place on 28 October.

The following night, it was confirmed that Becky Lynch will face Carmella for the SmackDown Women’s Championship at SummerSlam, pitting arguably the strongest female babyface and the strongest female heel from the blue brand against each other.

Both women already have established main-roster personalities and don’t need characters like James Ellsworth getting involved in their matches to cause controversial finishes that will do nothing but make fans’ eyes roll.

Before the Women’s Evolution, Ellsworth probably would have been a good addition to Divas Championship storylines. Now? Not so much.

#1 The James Ellsworth character never had storyline closure

James Ellsworth was released by WWE in November 2017

In real life, Big Cass was released from his WWE contract the day after he faced Daniel Bryan at Money In The Bank. But, from a storyline viewpoint, his name hasn’t been mentioned on WWE television since and no real or kayfabe reason has been given for his departure.

A similar thing happened in November 2017 with James Ellsworth, when he competed in a match against Becky Lynch on SmackDown Live and was released by the company later in the month, with no explanation given to fans on-screen or off-screen about why he is no longer appearing on television.

Assuming this really is the end of the Ellsworth character, at least now there is kayfabe closure on his WWE career – something that was missing when he left the company last year.