Best Booking Options for James Ellsworth After Signing WWE SmackDown Contract

What do you do when the Cinderella story reaches its climax? What does WWE do with James Ellsworth now that he's a full-fledged member of the SmackDown roster?

Creativity will be key to answering those questions and scripting the next chapter of Ellsworth's unlikely underdog tale.

The man who began as Braun Strowman's punching bag has officially arrived on the blue brand as more than a guest. On Tuesday's SmackDown, commissioner Shane McMahon offered the man with the minimalist chin a contract.

Ellsworth ended up putting it on the line in a ladder match against AJ Styles. The lovable loser and insult magnet managed yet another upset, knocking off the world champ.

A SmackDown contract is now his. As is a future WWE World Championship opportunity.

The bizarre tale of Dean Ambrose and Styles using this undersized also-ran as a pawn in their feud has gone on far longer than anyone could have predicted. One appearance was surprising. Weeks' worth of Ellsworth has been surreal.

Now that he's on board full-time, WWE has to find new ways to utilize him. As Chair Shot Reality host Justin LaBar pointed out, this story has a shelf life:

To best use Ellsworth, the company has to start melting Icarus' wings off his ankles. Crashing downward will generate more pathos for the babyface. And it will make his tale more realistic.

He can make his moments of surprise glory here and there, but they will have more impact if he tailspins first.

Fodder for the Fearsome

Following Tuesday's showdown, Ellsworth now has three wins against Styles.

The first victory was funny. By the third, the champ is starting to bleed momentum. How is the audience supposed to take The Phenomenal One seriously if he's dropping bouts to a guy who looks like his day job is delivering pizzas?

We need to see Styles retaliate. The heel needs to rip the wings off the fly here.

The next time these two cross paths, Styles needs to beat the hell out of him. A savage attack would both remind us how dangerous Styles is and invoke pity for Ellsworth.

Ellsworth's popularity and likability are tools WWE has to use to get heels over. As nutty as it is, fans adore him. That's the ticket to elevating Styles and SmackDown's other heels.

The Wyatt Family should surround the underdog and crush him. Baron Corbin should flatten him at ringside with one shot.

WWE would be smart to use Ellsworth much as it did the one-legged Zach Gowen to showcase Brock Lesnar's barbarity in 2003.

In the Lunatic's Corner

Ellsworth is better suited as the sidekick, not the star. He's Kevin Hart in Central Intelligence, not The Rock.

His alliance with Ambrose has been highly entertaining. Those two have a natural chemistry. Ambrose's unpredictability meshes well with Ellsworth's aw-shucks charisma. It's a marriage WWE would do well to continue.

Miami Herald columnist Scott Fishman, for one, wants to see more of this strange pair:

Ellsworth can be Ambrose's cheerleader and biggest fan. He can be the victim The Lunatic Fringe has to protect. He would thrive as a friend whose slip-ups end in comedy.

Furthering that partnership clears two potential narrative paths.

Ambrose could make an emphatic heel turn should he grow angry with his pal and smash him into the floor. Nothing would scream villain more than him leaving Ellsworth quivering at ringside.

Alternatively, WWE could position Ellsworth at the center of a memorable moment. The underdog could turn on his friend, superkick him when he's not expecting it and shock the audience. Ellsworth could then reveal that he's now working for a heel who paid him to take out Ambrose.

That's an easy way to set up Ambrose's first feud after he's done with Styles. 

Potential Rivalries

Ellsworth is Corbin's natural enemy.

The Lone Wolf has made it clear that he hates the underdog, has a staunch anti-indy attitude and has a superiority complex. He can't be happy with Ellsworth getting all these opportunities. 

The chinless warrior is set to have his second crack at the WWE world title. Corbin has had zero.

The path to their rivalry is clear. And the size difference would make for a great David vs. Goliath tale. Steamrolling Ellsworth would be a boost for Corbin, a display of his mercilessness.

Another option would be for Ellsworth to battle The Wyatt Family.

American Alpha encountered the heel faction on Tuesday's SmackDown. Bray Wyatt revealed that he and his brothers were coming for the up-and-coming tag team:

Jason Jordan and Chad Gable will need some help in keeping things even as they face Wyatt and Randy Orton in the ring. Luke Harper is always lurking. American Alpha can bring in Ellsworth as a friend and mascot of sorts.

Of course, he won't be much actual help when the chaos breaks out. Harper is bound to feast on him.

Ellsworth will be the bones at The Wyatt Family's feet—as he should be. It will take him back full circle to his entry into WWE when Strowman mauled him.

Failures like that will reset the Ellsworth story, and WWE can have the underdog rise once more down the road.