15 Ups & 13 Downs For WWE In 2017

10. James Ellsworth Steals History

Carmella James Ellsworth
WWE.com

For a company so obsessed with "making history" and "creating moments," WWE sure do a good job at botching both.

There's no starker recent example of this than Money In The Bank 2017. Understandably, much of the event's promotion revolved around the historic first-time women's ladder match, with six of SmackDown's finest out to secure their spot in wrestling folklore by snatching the briefcase. It was an easy win for the company, yet they still dropped the ball.

Why? James bloody Ellsworth.

'The Chin That Eats The Pin' pushed Becky Lynch from the ladder, then took the briefcase himself, throwing it down to his ally, Carmella, ensuring that the moment would belong to a man, not a woman.

Fans were rightly incensed by the decision, but their heat wasn't the kind WWE were looking for. It was a widescale rejection of the writers, not Ellsworth and Carmella as heels, as the audience saw right through the company's Russo-esque "swerving for swerving's" sake tactics. Here's hoping they refrain from such bone-headed moves in 2018.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.