He’s a man with two fists and a fighting chance.
James Ellsworth was one of the most unlikely, yet most entertaining WWE Superstars of the last two years. Originally used as cannon fodder for Braun Strowman’s initial push as “The Monster Among Men,” Ellsworth soon became a fixture in WWE. He would have programs with AJ Styles, Dean Ambrose, and most notably with Carmella on Smackdown! Live. After a departure from WWE he made a brief return once again helping Carmella before being fired by Paige in July.
Ellsworth was one of the many former WWE Superstars on hand at Stand Alone Wrestling’s Boardwalk Beatdown in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Pop Break’s Rob Crowther IV, and his team from The Bob Culture Podcast (Michael Vacchiano, and Kriss Nunez) sat down with Ellsworth to talk about his run in WWE.
I wanted to talk about the journey. You jumped from the indies to fighting Strowman [on RAW]. You got that internet reaction and signed with WWE. That’s gotta be great for you man.
It was the best, man. I was on the independents for 14 years. I had a match with Strowman, then afterwards got that following on the internet. My dreams came true and I made it to the WWE.
Which was the bigger moment? Beating AJ Styles or the Money in the Bank?
That’s a very good question. Beating Styles, the WWE Champion on the main event of Smackdown was huge. But that Money in the Bank moment created so much controversy. A lot people still bring that up. So I think maybe to the fans that was the bigger moment. But for me personally it was probably beating AJ. But to the fans, I think they remember the Money in the Bank more than anything.
You fought Becky Lynch and Asuka on Smackdown. How hard does Asuka kick?
Oh, man! She slapped me the one time. It was the slap heard around the world. I remember seeing a hundred something GIFs of her slapping me. She’s a tough cookie, that Asuka!
Any hobbies outside of the ring?
Watching movies. I like horror movies. I’m big into sports. Ravens and the Orioles are my team. Not that I want to admit that the Orioles are my team. Because they’re the worst team in baseball this year. And I have my daughters. So I like spending time with them.
Tell us about the Inter-Gender Championship. How did that come about?
Like you said, the Money in the Bank was a big moment. After that I wrestled Becky Lynch and I started really terrorizing the Smackdown Live! Women’s Division. So when WWE and I parted ways the first time, I thought to myself, “Man, what if I fought women on the indies?” Andy Kauffman was a big inspiration for it too. I really enjoyed that stuff with him. It’s been going great. I wrestled probably like 50 women this year already.
You’ve recently started the Hashtag, #RehireEllsworth. What’s going on with that right now?
So Paige fired me on TV. Again, a woman strikes with James Ellsworth! I think everybody was really enjoying the character. When I came back it was going so well. I think that it was very premature for it to just go off so quickly. So I’m starting this hashtag: #RehireEllsworth and people seem to be behind it. And hopefully you’ll see me back on Smackdown Live real soon. Well, maybe 205 Live. They got the Cruiserweight Title. You never know. I really am starting to be optimistic about it. Hey man, maybe I should help WWE and ask them about 205 Live. I love those guys and how hard they work and I’m a big fan believe it or not. I’d go in there and I’d be different obviously. It’d be broken right in half. I think a lot of people would love seeing me there and a lot of people would be like, “Why is he there?” It’d get a big reaction either way I think.
Catch James at ALL IN Weekend at Starrcast Friday and Saturday selling his new NO CHIN (ALL IN parody) limited edition 8 x 10s. And don’t forget to use the hashtag, #RehireEllsworth
-Rob Crowther IV
To check out The Bob Culture Podcast’s entire Boardwalk Beatdown podcast featuring James Ellsworth, KC Navarro, Serpentico, and former WWE Superstar Summer Rae, click here on Podbean. Click here to listen on Spotify.
