James Ellsworth, one of the most unlikely WWE superstars in recent history, has officially been released from his contract. WWE announced Ellsworth’s release on social media earlier today. This comes just after he was turned on by Carmella on Smackdown last week. He then embarked on the recent European tour with WWE, and he was primarily beaten down by the Smackdown women’s division on most shows. Speculation that Ellsworth would be released from the company increased all throughout the week, especially after his partnership with Carmella came to an end. Ellsworth worked for WWE for just over one year.
BREAKING NEWS: WWE has come to terms on the release of WWE Superstar James Ellsworth. https://t.co/10BKMUMBs1
— WWE (@WWE) November 15, 2017
James Ellsworth has been wrestling professionally for several years now, mainly on the independent circuit as Jimmy Dream. He competed from 2002 to 2016 before being signed to a contract by WWE. He owns and operates his very own professional wrestling promotion in Maryland called Adrenaline Championship Wrestling, which he founded back in 2009. James Ellsworth would appear on WWE shows often when they would come to the Baltimore area. He appeared as one of Adam Rose’s “Rosebuds” on a few occasions as well, but Ellsworth became instantly famous when he appeared on Raw on July 25th last year.
Ellsworth was the first victim to lose to Braun Strowman during his push after he parted ways with The Wyatt Family. Ellsworth’s unusual appearance and pre-match promo before the match against Strowman made him instantly beloved by the WWE universe. Not long after that, WWE signed him to a full time deal, and he even defeated then WWE Champion AJ Styles on three different occasions! He had been working alongside Carmella in recent months. Ellsworth had memorable appearances with Strowman and Styles, he participated in the Royal Rumble, he helped Carmella win the Money in the Bank briefcase, and he even had a Wrestlemania moment when he was suplexed by Becky Lynch. Not a bad run for someone who was never truly meant to be a WWE Superstar in the first place.