6 Ways the WWE Divas Division Could Be Relevant Again

Quick! When was the last time you saw a truly meaningful, enjoyable WWE Divas match?

Exactly. It’s been a while. A lo-o-o-ong while.

While the WWE Superstars continue to enjoy monster success in and out of the ring, the WWE Divas flounder in something that is less than mediocrity.

The WWE slots their matches during times in the shows when both the attendees and the TV audience are heading to the bathrooms. You hear that Divas Champion Layla is going to wrestle on TV, but if you get up to go grab that soda or beer from the fridge, chances are the match has taken place, and Layla has changed back into her street clothes and gone home.

Face it. The WWE Divas matches are the show’s equivalent of the seventh-inning stretch. Unless you’re into "God Bless America" or "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," there’s not much to see or do.

The Fabulous Moolah is spinning in her grave.

It’s time once again to make the women wrestling stars more relevant in the WWE. And here are six ways it can be done.

1. Dump the Diva Name

“Diva” conjures up so many images of high-maintenance, demanding, screechy women who will not hesitate to throw a major hissy-fit if the M&Ms in their dressing rooms are not rainbow-hued. While that might be the case for some of the women within the Divas division, it’s still too comical a name for the division to be taken seriously.

Go back to calling the division what it is—the Women’s Division. I do not think anyone will take offense with it.

2. Tone Down the T&A

I know this idea may not be popular among the adult males who watch WWE, but it needs to be said.

Beth Phoenix got it right when she made her latest heel turn. She said the women’s division had gotten too Barbie-doll like, and those Barbie dolls were diminishing the competition level. It was time to shift the focus back on the in-ring product.

Kharma, the ultimate anti-Diva, looked like the answer to a prayer when she started to make her presence felt in the division. She was going to storm the castle and take no prisoners in the process. But her pregnancy put the brakes on any traction for the division, and apparently, she is not coming back.

There is nothing wrong with making your talent look good. But add some steak to the sizzle. I would rather respect a female wrestler for her ability to perform in the ring, not because she does it with perfect hair and enhanced breasts pushed up to the point that they make watermelons look like grape tomatoes.

3. Allow for More Character Development

Two weeks ago on Raw, Alicia Fox came out as part of a heel three-woman tag team. Last Monday, she came out on Raw as part of a face tag team.

Last April, Natalya was part of a three-person face team with The Great Khali at a taping of Smackdown. The next week, she was back to being a heel wrestler.

How can we follow these women when apparently they do not know which character they will be from week to week?

The creative team needs to start building up these characters more instead of just assigning them to a certain side. If Alicia Fox is going to turn heel, then let the WWE Universe in on what prompted the turn. Was she jealous of Kaitlyn? Did she get tired of sharing the spotlight with Kelly Kelly?

Imagine how confused we would be if all of a sudden, John Cena walks into Raw and starts bad-mouthing Sheamus or Kofi Kingston, and no one knows what caused it.

As the guys on ESPN’s NFL coverage like to say, “C’mon, man!”

4. Give Their Matches More Air Time

For too long now, the WWE has treated its women’s matches as just filler time between Superstar matches. In most cases, the entrances take longer than the matches themselves.

Enter. Smile. Flaunt. Squash. Pose. Exit.

That is one area where Impact Wrestling has the edge over the WWE. Impact’s Knockout wrestlers are given a proper TV push. Their matches are competitive and last longer than the average commercial break.

For gosh sakes, Raw is a three-hour show now. Certainly they can incorporate a good storyline involving the women. Maybe even (gasp!) add a second or third match involving the women wrestlers.

How can WWE recruit good female talent if they can promise them nothing more than a glitzy photo spread on WWE.com and one minute to shine on TV?

5. Add More Titles— Perhaps a Tag Team Title

There is no better storyline than a championship chase. WWE has plenty of them on the Superstars side. Who cannot wait to tune in to see who will be named the number-one contender to Antonio Cesaro’s U.S. title?

Meanwhile, the women only have one title, and it seems to be recycled among the same three top stars. The best way to use the entire roster is to create more championships—specifically a tag-team title. Create partnerships among the women like they do with the men.

Think about it for a moment. Who were among the more popular Divas in recent history? Two tag teams—the Bella Twins and LayCool.

You would think a company as opportunistic as WWE would seize on that and build it up.

6. Create a General Manager for the Women's Division

Another checkmark for Impact over WWE was the creation of a storyline general manager to oversee the women’s division. Brooke Hogan holds that position, and from what I have seen, things seem to be going well; the women are becoming much more relevant within the organization.

Of course, it helps that Brooke’s daddy is Impact’s storyline general manager, Hulk Hogan.

Why couldn’t WWE try something like that, unless they don’t want to be accused of copycatting? However, we all know that in entertainment, there is no such thing as a new idea, just a regenerated old idea.

Three potential candidates come to mind:

Beth Phoenix. After all, she supposedly is retiring from active competition in October. If she were serious about wanting to rid the WWE of Barbie dolls, what better way to do that then as a cutthroat general manager?

Vickie Guerrero. It’s time to put an end to the “Excuse Me” shtick. With rumors of Ric Flair returning to the WWE and possibly managing Dolph Ziggler, it’s time for the creative team to find something else for Guerrero to do.

She seems to like managing one wrestler, so imagine how she could be bossing around a whole bevy of wrestlers.

Stephanie McMahon. She grew up in the business, so she knows it inside and out. Brooke Hogan is not the only woman whose daddy carries a ton of wrestling power.

What's Your Opinion?

OK, maybe some or all of these suggestions will not go over well with the male demographic of the WWE audience. But remember that the WWE bills itself as a family entertainment company.

WWE can go a long way toward fulfilling that family billing if it would just pay more attention to its women.

What do you think? Share your comments on how you think the WWE Divas division could be strengthened.

Follow Bill Atkinson on Twitter at @BAtkinson1963.