Paige's Controversial Comments Elevate Her Status as a Heel

Paige and the WWE are under siege among many wrestling fans and the oft-uptight journalists who cover the genre.

As I told Nick Hausman on WZ Daily, for such an over-the-top, larger-than-live product that is supposed to be fun, one would be hard-pressed to find a more sensitive group of people who follow it.

But in times of heightened sensitivity, where outrage has been monetized and nicknamed Twitter, there is no better environment to create a visceral heel—especially in the character-starved Divas division.

Paige's controversial comments about the death of Charlotte's brother on Raw created a firestorm both in and out of the ring. The ensuing fallout and (mostly temporary) disgust validated WWE's otherwise bold decision to position an otherwise ice-cold Divas feud in the main event.

Paige's actions are being called tacky, disgusting and in bad taste. Good.

Every heel in WWE should aspire to be described not only in these terms, but in the do-gooder tone that accompanies them.

"

I didn't know Reid Flair, but what Paige said tonight bothered me. Storyline or not, there was no class involved. #RAW

— Jackson Herod (@JacksonHerod) November 17, 2015"

"

Wow it looks like Paige's comment about Reid Flair REALLY turned off a lot of people. WWE is putting it out there like it's a good thing. No

— Jessi (@seventeenblack) November 17, 2015"

"

Wow, Paige with the low blow about Charlotte's dead brother Reid. Reid Flair died from a heroine overdose in Japan a few years back btw

— Mike D. (@DouceyD) November 17, 2015"

"

You should keep talking about me. It's making me trend. 😘

— PAIGE (@RealPaigeWWE) November 17, 2015"

People are angry. Ric Flair is crying. Paige is trending. And the first truly potent villain of the Divas revolution is (re)born.

Many insist that this angle crossed the line and, due to its sensitive nature, it doesn't matter who approved it. Of course it matters.

As the only full-time WWE employee in this mini-controversy, Charlotte's blessing was imperative. She willingly participated, so any further assumptions about how and why she did so are just that—assumptions.

Coming out of the segment, Paige feels like a legitimate heel. Finally divorced from the tweener character that is common in the division, WWE can now tell a more effective story of good vs. evil.

This is not the first time a real-life death has been used to advance a WWE storyline, and it won't be the last. It's a caveat that makes people uncomfortable, as heels are wont to do. Stardust recently teased the return of Cody Rhodes. If this happens, it's quite obvious what direction that storyline is headed.

The Reality Era has been responsible for producing far too many likable heels, which only undermine rivalries and confuse audiences. It's no coincidence that this era, filled with bad guys whom fans actually cheer, has consistently logged record-low ratings, per James Caldwell of PWTorch.

A Kevin Owens promo shouldn't be praised for its charismatic delivery. If anybody, whether it be shrewd fans or self-important journalists, praises a heel, it simply means he sees right through the act.

Instead, all that charisma should be used to strike a nerve. Sinister characters are hindered by parameters. They're supposed to tick people off and go too far. Heels should always be portrayed as bad people who deserve comeuppance. Because bad people do bad things.

WWE's future isn't only about creating stars; it's also about manufacturing antagonists. The token, haphazard villains who barely elicit genuine boos are lame. The personal cheap shot taken by Paige is the type of stunt that makes her three-dimensional.

Most, if not all, of the individuals who were miffed by Raw's show-closing angle will be tuning into Survivor Series for the next chapter in a suddenly compelling feud. Many will be in support of Charlotte to vanquish her enemy and put this whole issue to bed.

For WWE and Paige, this was the goal all along.

Alfred Konuwa is a featured columnist and on-air host for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @ThisIsNasty, and subscribe to his weekly wrestling podcast.