James Ellsworth Earns A Contract And A WWE World Title Shot On SmackDown Live

Shane McMahon kicked off SmackDown this week, and he revealed that he had a surprise for James Ellsworth. Dean Ambrose blew the surprise when he told James Ellsworth that he was going to be given a SmackDown contract.

AJ Styles interrupted and argued that James Ellsworth doesn’t deserve a contract because he hasn’t earned it. Styles challenged Ellsworth to a ladder match with his contract on the line. James Ellsworth had his neck in a brace, and Shane McMahon told him that he didn’t have to compete because he already earned the contract.

James Ellsworth decided to accept the challenge anyway, but he added a stipulation. Ellsworth told Styles that he wanted a World Title shot if he won.

AJ Styles and James Ellsworth faced off in the main event, and Dean Ambrose interfered despite the fact that Shane McMahon banned him from the arena several times. AJ Styles took out Dean Ambrose with the Phenomenal Forearm, then tried to climb the ladder.

James Ellsworth pushed the ladder over, causing AJ to fall out of the ring. As AJ was trying to get back in the ring, Ellsworth hit him with No Chin Music, and AJ’s foot got tangled up in the ropes and he couldn’t get out.

With AJ stuck in the ropes, James Ellsworth climbed the ladder to win the match, then celebrated with Dean Ambrose to end the show.