Paige's Return Further Clouds Direction of Divas Division

One look at the current WWE Divas roster by the average wrestling fan will inspire questions about just whom they should and should not cheer—whom they should throw their support behind.

Not because WWE Creative has created a division in which shades of grey reign supreme, but because the writing staff has been so wildly inconsistent with the booking of its female talent that it is difficult to decipher who is a babyface or heel on any given week.

Last October, Brie Bella was the unquestioned top babyface Diva in the company. Then, after a month spent as sister Nikki's servant, she inexplicably became a heel, forgetting everything that she had to endure under her narcissistic and abusive sibling.

Then there was AJ Lee, arguably the biggest star the Divas division has produced in the last decade.

Throughout her initial main event run in 2012, she was either a hero or villain depending on which Superstar she shared the screen with. Even when she was a full-on babyface in 2014, she exhibited tendencies that were more closely associated with heels.

For the longest time, fans have been subjected to the uneven, nonsensical and unfair treatment of the WWE Divas by WWE Creative, and the recent return of Paige has only served to further muddy the waters. 

When the Brit left WWE television to shoot a movie, the roster was left without a definitive babyface to carry things in her absence. With the sudden and inexplicable heel turn by Naomi, the creative team had written itself into a corner.

Its solution? Turn lead heels the Bella Twins babyface again, with no real reason or explanation for the change in character and attitude.

Now that Paige is back, she is stuck in the center of a rivalry with her character undefined.

On one hand, she is feuding with the woman who put her out of action in Naomi, seemingly establishing herself as a babyface. But the continuation of her rivalry with Nikki Bella is sure to put her at odds with fans who still react favorably to the twin-sister stars of Total Divas.

WWE Creative's inability to tell a coherent story, with defined characters, when dealing with the Divas roster has led them to the current scenario. No one really knows whom to cheer, whom to boo and why to care.

The Divas Championship picture is hardly the only place fans can find this inconsistency.

Even the fringe players in the division such as Summer Rae, Alicia Fox, Layla, Natalya and Emma have been fitted into whichever situation best suits WWE Creative's needs, regardless of how little sense it makes or how much damage is done to their characters as a result.

Only Cameron and Tamina have been firmly established as heels over the last year, with no wavering in their use and booking.

Paige's return to television has shone a spotlight on the issues facing the Divas division from a creative standpoint going forward.

It has never been a secret that Vince McMahon sees the women on his roster as a sideshow, performers he can throw out in the middle of two main event matches to eat up some time and provide fans with a break between marquee bouts. One look at history tells that story.

And writing has reflected that attitude.

With a fanbase that features far more young girls than at any time in wrestling's past, it would behoove McMahon and his creative staff to reconsider the muddled mess that the Divas division has become.

Clearly define the characters, give them compelling stories and allow them to compete in more meaningful matches and segments.

NXT has repeatedly proven that women can not only deliver on the big stage, but they can steal the show out from underneath their male counterparts. Even more impressive? Fans are passionate about them because the Divas are treated with respect by management and presented as serious competitors by commentators.

If WWE Creative does not reexamine its treatment and use of the company's talent, things will continue to worsen.

Every return from hiatus or injury is going to result in confusing scenarios in which fans are left wondering who is the heroine and who is the villainess from week to week, and that is the type of unacceptable booking that doomed World Championship Wrestling late in its existence.

Worst of all, it will waste the potential of a roster full of talented women with the desire to be great but a lack of support damning them to mediocrity—or worse.