After his storyline with Styles and Ambrose ended, Ellsworth allied himself with Carmella. On the January 3, 2017 episode of "SmackDown", Ellsworth started accompanying Carmella to the ring for her matches, helping her win. Ellsworth entered the 2017 Royal Rumble match at number 11, but he was eliminated by Braun Strowman after only 15 seconds. Throughout the months of January and February, Ellsworth appeared in various backstage segments with Carmella, often helping Carmella win by distracting her opponents. Ellsworth made his WrestleMania debut on April 2 at WrestleMania 33, managing Carmella in the six-pack challenge for the Smackdown Women's Championship which was won by Naomi. On April 25, Carmella and Ellsworth formed an alliance with Natalya and the returning Tamina. On the May 16 episode of "SmackDown Live", Carmella scored a victory over Naomi in a non-title match via distraction from Ellsworth. Dubbed The Welcoming Committee, the team of Carmella, Natalya and Tamina managed by Ellsworth defeated Flair, Lynch and Naomi in a six-woman tag team match on May 21 at Backlash. On June 18 at Money In the Bank, Ellsworth helped Carmella win the first ever Women's Money in the Bank ladder match by pushing Becky Lynch off the ladder and dropping the briefcase to Carmella.