Gauging Bayley's Value to WWE's Women's Division Moving Forward

Since its inception in 2012, WWE's developmental brand, NXT, has been home to many rising stars. Few, though, have left the indelible mark on the brand that Bayley has in her three-year run. Becoming arguably the most over wrestler in all of NXT, male or female, in 2016, it has been surprising how long Bayley has stayed on NXT rather than moving up to the main roster.

A member of the self-labeled Four Horsewomen, Bayley has been an integral part of WWE's revolution of the women's division, putting on top-level matches at NXT TakeOver events against Sasha Banks, Nia Jax and Asuka, as well as working great matches with Alexa Bliss, Carmella and the much-maligned Eva Marie on NXT television.

Particularly over the last year, Bayley's name has become permanently etched in the legacy of NXT. It is rare to hear any wrestler get as universally cheered by a crowd as Bayley. Her impassioned promos, endearing personality and adaptable high-flying style have made her a fan favorite and household name without ever having to step foot in a Raw or SmackDown ring.

At WWE Battleground, Bayley made her long-awaited debut on the main roster as Sasha Banks' surprise partner against Charlotte and Dana Brooke, and the crowd reaction in Washington was thunderous, rivaling the support of any other wrestler that night.

However, the debut was considered a one-time event, with Bayley now back on the NXT roster with her sights still set on the NXT Women's Championship.

It is hard to imagine that WWE does not recognize the appeal of Bayley. Despite her gimmick beginning as a naive, one-dimensional girl who loves to give hugs, Bayley has become the ultimate babyface for NXT, and she has become a top female performer in a time when WWE needs top female performers more than ever.

With the recent brand split, WWE seems ready to go ahead with two unique women's rosters on Raw and SmackDown. While both seem understaffed, Raw at least has Charlotte and Banks, as well as some veteran presences. SmackDown's roster beyond Becky Lynch and Natalya looks inexperienced.

Monday Night Raw	SmackDown Live
Sasha Banks (c)	Becky Lynch
Charlotte	Natalya
Paige	Naomi
Nia Jax	Alexa Bliss
Summer Rae	Carmella
Alicia Fox	Eva Marie
Dana Brooke

Bayley would not just bring another good wrestler to either division, but she would also instantly add a proven top-level worker who can help keep the women's division in WWE moving forward. While Jax, Bliss and Carmella will need time to adjust, Bayley would fit in on the main card right away—she's already proved she can get top-level performances out of all three of WWE's newest acquisitions.

Can Bayley be as successful in WWE as she was in NXT? Only time will tell, but Charlotte and Banks have both made easy transitions, particularly given their recent show-stealing title match on Raw. Bayley may just have a higher ceiling than any of the other three Horsewomen, but to be fair, she also has the highest chance to fail, given her more polarizing gimmick.

Over the past decade, WWE has been looking to appeal to a wider audience with its transition to a TV-PG rating in 2007. WWE's recent development of the women's division beyond its history of sex appeal has given the company the chance to appeal to a new crowd: a younger female audience.

Credit: WWE.com

Each member of The Four Horsewomen is a role model who young girls can latch onto and cheer for. Bayley's relationship with her biggest fan, Izzy, is a great example of how she has already begun inspiring younger girls to watch and enjoy WWE. All of these women have chances to become integral parts of WWE's image, but they need to work together to do so.

Until Bayley makes her WWE debut, everyone is left in the cold waiting to see how the fans will respond to her in the long term. Perhaps WWE is scared that Bayley will not translate well to the main roster. Perhaps it wants to make sure she gets the proper spotlight for her full-time debut.

Either way, there is serious potential for Bayley to become one of the most important members of the WWE roster moving forward—regardless of gender.