Asuka vs. James Ellsworth set for WWE SmackDown next week
James Ellsworth is set to have his first match in WWE since being released last November.
It will be another intergender match involving Ellsworth as he faces Asuka on next week’s episode of SmackDown. That was announced tonight, with Paige coming to the ring and making the match when Ellsworth called out Asuka. Ellsworth challenging her was part of a storyline where he knew she wasn’t there this week.
WWE also announced that Carmella will again defend her SmackDown Women’s Championship against Asuka at Extreme Rules on July 15.
Ellsworth’s last match for WWE took place on November 7, 2017. He lost to Becky Lynch and was then written off television as he was superkicked by Carmella. He returned at Money in the Bank earlier this month, was again paired with Carmella, and helped her retain her title against Asuka.
Carmella didn’t appear on SmackDown this week due to her and AJ Styles traveling to Australia to promote WWE’s Super Show-Down pay-per-view, which is taking place in Melbourne this October.
Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.
In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.