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.