Lana's Biggest Key to Ensuring WWE Doesn't Give Up on Polarizing Character

If one thing has become abundantly clear since her reintroduction as a member of the SmackDown Live women's division, it is that Lana is not ready to compete in lengthy, competitive matches against the likes of Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, Natalya and Naomi.

She is inexperienced and unconvincing, two undesirable traits that will steadily dissipate the more she works during live events and television tapings.

The biggest key to ensuring WWE does not quit on her is something that has always been her strong suit: character work.

Dating back to her arrival in NXT as the spokesperson for Rusev, Lana has always excelled at doing the little things necessary to get her character over with fans.

From the facial expressions she utilized to the manner in which she carried herself, it became obvious she was portraying an uptight Russian official who spoke for Rusev and acted in his best interest.

When she underwent a character change in 2015, breaking free from the oppressive rule of Rusev, she smiled more, played to the crowd and took on the personality of a tried-and-true babyface. She was even a little shy, the freedom to be herself without her brutish charge ruling over her still relatively new to her.

C.J. Perry, the woman behind Lana, is an actress and producer, according to her IMDb profile. Her time spent in Hollywood taught her the value of expressing emotion and getting her persona out to the masses. She has translated that into a character fans have gravitated to over the course of her WWE career.

As she continues on her path in the sports-entertainment company, though, it is imperative she retains those elements of her performance.

One of Paul Heyman's great philosophies, revealed in the 2004 WWE Home Video release The Rise and Fall of ECW, was how important it was to accentuate the positives and hide the negatives.

If Lana is struggling in the ring, do not put as much emphasis on that part of her character. Sure, let her get in there and work with the talented women around her, but capitalizing on her ability to get her persona over with the audience would benefit her more than simply wrestling ever will.

Look at the chants of "we want Lana" that filled arenas in 2015, when WWE was wrestling with the idea of turning her babyface. Listen to those same chants in 2017, when she made her SmackDown Live debut. 

Some will argue her appearance has to do with her popularity, but in an industry that has and always will be fueled by characters, it is her work in that field that will guarantee her success.

Looking ahead, Lana has the potential to develop into a beloved member of the SmackDown Live roster. She has been doubted and disrespected so much by her fellow competitors that seeing her emerge from the abyss of in-ring performers to become a respected wrestler whose journey to gold could inspire cheers.

If not, her ability to be a despicable heel is well-documented.

Either way, what she brings to the table beyond her ability to deliver a suplex is what will dictate her success.