WWE Royal Rumble 2012: Kharma's Return and Its Effect on the WWE Divas

The WWE Divas Division is about to get interesting.

When Kharma announced her pregnancy in April of 2011 and left the company for the short-term, she left the Divas Division behind in shambles. There was a noticeable lack of focus on the group by WWE creative and an even more noticeable lack of in-ring talent.

Since then, Kelly Kelly enjoyed a lengthy Divas Championship reign, Beth Phoenix and Natalya have teamed up to eliminate the so-called "Barbie dolls" in WWE in a tandem that has been anything but dominant and WWE creative still refuses to take its female talent seriously.

That all changed with the 21st entry into the 2012 Royal Rumble match. Kharma made her return to WWE television and immediately made her presence felt—flattening Dolph Ziggler with an Implant Buster. And while her stay in the match was not a lengthy one, it was a definitive notice to the ladies in the locker room that the most intimidating force in women's wrestling was back.

The first two women on Kharma's list will likely be the Bella Twins. After all, it was the sisters who poked fun of the mother-to-be on her last night on Raw. It was the twins who Kharma threatened with vengeance when she returned. With her return on Sunday night's Pay-Per-View, Kharma will look to make her threat a reality by punishing Nikki and Brie for their insults.

One of the intriguing parts of Kharma's initial run with WWE was her interaction with Kelly Kelly. For weeks, she would stalk to the ring and destroy any Divas in her path. She never laid a hand on the beautiful blond from Jacksonville, instead allowing her to escape.

Due to the pregnancy announcement and consequential maternity leave, the WWE Universe was left without a conclusion to the story. Unfortunately it seems unlikely, given the current booking of the Divas division. With Kelly on her way back down the ladder, that the mystery will be resolved.

Speaking of the current state of the Divas Division, which brings us to the current Divas Champion and Kharma's likely Wrestlemania opponent, Beth Phoenix. A match between the two has been a dream match since each woman dominated their respective companies.

From 2007 through 2009, Beth was the top woman in the WWE, and Kharma under her Awesome Kong moniker, built a reputation for the TNA Knockouts division through a series of tremendous matches with Gail Kim.

Beth and Kharma are the complete opposite of what modern-day WWE looks for in their Divas. Both women are powerful and talented in-ring performers with backgrounds in professional wrestling.

A match between the two at Wrestlemania would not only provide the company with a legitimate wrestling match at the event for a women's title since Mickie James challenged Trish Stratus at Wrestlemania 22. It may also change the direction of women's wrestling in WWE.

Kharma brings with her intrigue and fan interest that was missing from the Divas Division during her absence. It is apparent, from the way she is treated as a major star, that the creative team is motivated by her character and her presence. As a result, the Divas' focus receives the attention it is often lacking.

Whatever path she takes on the Road to Wrestlemania, she gives fans something in terms of women's wrestling in the sport's top promotion they have not had in years: A reason to care.