How WWE Can Better Showcase Raw's Women's Division Ahead of WrestleMania 33

No one could have predicted, immediately after the draft this past summer, that the SmackDown women would be outshining the Raw women on a weekly basis.

And yet, here we are, nearly eight months later, and that's exactly what's happening. SmackDown, despite having lesser-skilled, lesser-celebrated female wrestlers, does a better job of showcasing them than Raw.

The WWE fans are invested in the SmackDown women's division. And SmackDown has been willing to take chances and give the title to some unexpected but deserving Superstars. Naomi, the former Funkadactyl, won the SmackDown title in dominant fashion. Alexa Bliss, the smallest woman on the roster, is a bonafide star.

WWE fans like to be surprised. They like the storyline to be fresh and interesting. And that is the direct opposite of what Raw currently is. Here are a few ways that WWE can mix things up and better showcase the Raw women's division before WrestleMania.

Stop Messing with Emma(lina)

Emma needs more television time. The Australian dynamo disappears for weeks and months at a time. It is beyond the point of a joke—even a trollish joke at the audience's expense. The woman is 28 years old—in the prime of her career—and her bumper ads get more air time than she does. The doctors surgically repaired her back for this?

Emma reposted the latest Raw graphic on Twitter—apparently, "Emma" is coming soon—but it's not cute anymore.

Just stop. It's enough. Get the poor woman in the ring, where she can perform in front of her fans. If she's nursing an injury that the fans don't know about, then have her manage Dana Brooke. But do something with her, rather than wasting her and our time.

Book a Dominant Title Reign

After WrestleMania, the whole Raw women's division needs to start fresh. No more playing hot potato with the title. No more trading wins on Raw and pay-per-view. The sign of a healthy division is stability, and for there to be stability, there needs to be a champion with a long reign. There certainly should no title change, and no threat of a title change, before WrestleMania.

Title changes need to mean something. A babyface overcoming the odds. A babyface turning heel and abandoning her principles. A heel stabbing her friends in the back.  A title switch every fortnight is bad, lazy storytelling. Because booking every win as unexpected and shocking means that no win is unexpected and shocking.

Let Alicia Fox Wrestle

Before the Four Horsewomen arrived on the scene. Natalya, Summer Rae and Alicia Fox were the three best female wrestlers on the roster. Today, Natalya is on SmackDown. Summer is out with a neck injury. And Foxy is collecting dust backstage. She hasn't been a regular performer since Team Bella split up.

Somehow, she went from feuding with Nia Jax to valeting for the Cruiserweight division. Is this any way to treat the veteran woman on the roster?

Even if it's just to squash her, featuring Foxy is always a good idea. She's a great athlete and has got an expressive face along with comedic timing to match. No one else can play "crazy" the way that she can.

Get Jerry Lawler off Commentary

On the Raw Talk post-show after Fastlane, Renee Young and Jerry Lawler interviewed Sasha Banks and Bayley. And right in the middle of discussing Nia Jax's physical dominance, Jerry Lawler dropped this gem of a joke:

"

"She got hit by a car once and it took three surgeons to remove it. She's big, she's big."

"

Hardy-har-har.

WWE has a misplaced loyalty to veterans who don't evolve with the times. Michael Hayes, for example, is still backstage at SmackDown, despite reportedly using the N-word to Mark Henry's face and drinking with Rosa Mendes, who's a recovering alcoholic, according to ProWrestling.net and former WWE Creative worker Court Bauer (h/t Cageside Seats).

Lawler doesn't need to be fired. He doesn't need to be suspended. But he shouldn't be interviewing the women if he can't control his mouth. The female wrestlers are actively fighting for respectability. They don't need this guy undermining them at every turn.

Take a look at Bayley and Sasha Banks' faces in the above clip. That tells everything that the WWE brass needs to know.

Turn Sasha Banks Heel

Sasha Banks as a babyface is adequate. Sasha Banks as a heel is legendary.

It must be her Eddie Guerrero idolization; Sasha knows how to lie, cheat and steal, and she looks good doing it. She knows how to get fans to hate her; check out the chorus of boos at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn. She also knows how to make fans cry. Remember when she stole Izzy's headband at NXT Takeover: Respect?

But ever since Team BAD broke up, Banks has been a babyface. And although that probably makes her more marketable (and sells more sunglasses), it's doesn't do the Boss justice in the long run.

Whether before WrestleMania or at the event itself, Banks needs to turn heel. And then, finally, the fans can watch the Bayley versus Banks feud that they've been dying to see.