Ellsworth points out that prior to receiving a contract with WWE, he was told that they had a creative idea for him at SummerSlam. The idea never happened, but Ellsworth informs that he was supposed to have a contract match against Heath Slater, where he’d pick up the victory and win a WWE contract. Slater started to receive babyface reactions on Smackdown during that time, so WWE had to change their plans.
Ellsworth says he never gets scared, but he was terrified the night he faced A.J. Styles on Smackdown Live. This fear almost cost him his life because he failed to take the Styles Clash correctly.He tucked his chin while taking the move and this was a huge mistake. Luckily, Styles realized what was happening and adjusted quickly to save Ellsworth.
Jericho informs that he was the one who got the Styles Clash unbanned when Styles debuted in WWE. He says the secret was to never call it the Styles Clash around McMahon, because that name was taboo. Jericho points out that the Styles Clash is such an easy bump to take if you do it correctly.
Ellsworth pinned Styles that night without a WWE contract, and then fought Styles for the WWE Title shortly thereafter, still without a WWE contract. Jericho says that has to be the only time that’s ever happened.
