Bayley, Nia Jax, Women's Wrestling and More from the Lean-in Mailbag

From the moment Bayley debuted in WWE, I could feel the sea change Stephanie McMahon was trying to create with the manufactured debut of the Women's Revolution. Bayley is the human embodiment of that tag line, and with Nia Jax being featured in squash matches and Paige M.I.A., she couldn't have made her debut soon enough.

That sea change is why this mailbag will take on a certain theme of women in wrestling. Because on the strength of Bayley, so will WWE.

Hug Money

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@ThisIsNasty With the same children-appeal, does Bayley have the potential to reach the same heights as Cena or is there a glass ceiling?

— Jonah (@ItMattersNot_) September 8, 2016"

The UFC and the defunct Strikeforce could have featured women punching each other in the face for an eternity, but they weren't given the main event opportunities until the division was elevated through the star power of Gina Carano and Ronda Rousey.

That's what Bayley can do for women's wrestling in WWE. Likable, innocent and a one-woman concession stand, Bayley's palpable star power will make her allies more relevant and her enemies more villainous.

Recently on Raw, WWE shrewdly added a backpack to the impish Superstar's growing list of on-screen accessories—right around back-to-school season.

There's simply no screwing this up.

Not Like Most Women's Wrestlers?

To categorize staged, competitive wrestling matches between men and women as violence against women is an insult to actual domestic violence.

Nia Jax's size and continued dominance over the women's division could lead to future opportunities against male wrestlers.

There is somewhat of a conflict, as WWE is a publicly traded company that features family-friendly content. However, with the right story and a carefully laid-out wrestling match (no strikes to the face, etc.), WWE could get away with entertaining angles that pit Jax against smaller male wrestlers. With WWE doing a similar "monster" angle with Braun Strowman, future intergender matches against small jobbers would make Jax stand out.

Having said that, Jax still has a long way to go in terms of being a believable monster heel. Despite her size, she is being miscast as a fire-breathing monster, as she seemed much more bubbly and upbeat in real life when featured on WWE's Breaking Ground series. WWE needs to take the time to see what really makes her tick, because the charisma is there.

Tearing Paige?

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@ThisIsNasty is it likely that Paige is released/leaves WWE by the end of the year?

— Victor Balderas (@VictorBaldera20) September 8, 2016"

Paige picked the wrong time to book a reservation for WWE's doghouse. Early artifacts of the Women's Revolution can be traced back to the night after WrestleMania XXX, when Paige—the first-ever NXT women's champion—debuted with a win over AJ Lee to capture the Divas Championship.

By now, common logic would dictate Paige should be knee-deep in WWE's rejuvenated women's wrestling division. Paige was front and center when Stephanie McMahon awkwardly announced the rollout of this new movement. Instead, she's just knee-deep in drama.

Paige was recently suspended for violating WWE's wellness policy. Her boyfriend, Alberto Del Rio, was also suspended, per Dave Meltzer of F4WOnline (h/t WrestlingInc), and Meltzer also reported Del Rio will be leaving the promotion. Paige has all the talent to add to the positive momentum in the women's division. She'd make the perfect foil as a morose heel to Bayley's childlike persona.

To get back on track, she needs less distractions and more wrestling.

Alfred Konuwa is a Featured Columnist and on-air host for Bleacher Report and Forbes. Like him on Facebook.