It’s hard to believe that Kharma arrived on the scene just one month ago. It was May 1st that Kharma finally debuted at Extreme Rules, crushing a departing Michelle McCool with the Implant Buster signalling that she had arrived. Now, just one month later, it is Kharma who is departing having announced her pregnancy last night on Raw. Unlike Michelle however, this isn’t an indefinite goodbye as Kharma says she’ll be back in one year.
It’s going to be a long wait until we get to see Kharma in the ring again, but we’ll always have this past month… And what a month it was.
Kharma burst into the WWE, breaking through the company’s self-imposed barriers about what a Diva should look like. Fans had been calling for WWE to sign the former Awesome Kong since she departed TNA last year, but it had to be seen to be believed. Would WWE actually sign someone who didn’t fit their ‘mold’? I remained confident that WWE would eventually snap up a guaranteed attraction talent, and they finally did in December last year. Even before debuting earlier this month, Kharma had already scored a personal victory. As mentioned last night on Raw, she had dreamed of being in the WWE her entire career and even auditioned for Tough Enough 2 only to be turned away. Now here was WWE, 10 or so years later, asking her to join them.
In the month since Kharma arrived, there has been a buzz about the Divas division the likes of which we haven’t seen in years. Kharma brought intrigue back into the division, making even casual fans look forward to seeing her crush the Diva du jour. That then translated into ratings for the Divas segment gaining viewers, rather than losing them, a few weeks ago. The talk about Kharma on the Internet in the last month has also been fever pitch. As has been proven time and time again in wrestling history: Give people an attraction like Kharma and they will watch and they will talk about it.
With the arrival of Kharma, there has been more of a focus on the Divas, in particular longer segments on Raw in the past few weeks. It’s a shame that it took Kharma to light a fire under the writers when it comes to the ladies, but looking at the bigger picture, the more buzz Kharma can bring, the better it is for the division as a whole. Of course, it’s highly likely that we’ll go back to 2-3 minute matches between next week and when Kharma returns next year, but we got a glimpse of what could possibly be done with a Diva if she got the time and energy invested in her as Kharma did. It felt foreign to me that a Diva would get the hype that Kharma got for her announcement throughout last night’s episode of Raw, but again, that is proof of the attention Kharma commands as every half hour we saw Michael Cole hype up that segment signifying that it was an important part of the broadcast.
Rather than undo the development they put into Kharma this past month, WWE should re-use the example they set with her and put that investment into other Divas. Give those Divas the same hype and the same strong booking. Give those girls an opportunity. I think fans — and most importantly, the critics — will be surprised at just how much these girls can do when given the chance. Then when Kharma, who has proven to be a big attraction for WWE in one month alone, returns next year, she’ll have some pretty decent competition to work with. Think about it: The buzz and increase in ratings we’ve seen this month could be even bigger.
It’s a testament to Kharma and her star power that in just one month she accomplished a lot. Sure, it wasn’t something tangible to the viewing audience like a championship, but in some ways, it’s far bigger than a belt. Kharma gave us a glimpse of what the WWE Divas can be, and what we can be if we chase our dreams. (Very Oprah of me, I know.)
For a month, Kia Stevens, the woman behind Kharma, got to live out her dream job and now she gets to live out another dream of being a mother. Congratulations and well wishes to Kia in this exciting new chapter in her life. It’s going to be a life-changing experience that I’m sure she’ll love minute of.
As for Kharma? Well, the countdown is on until we hear that sinister laughter play over the sound system in a year’s time…
Follow Melanie on Twitter at @MelanieTeamDD.
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8 Comments
Nice Write up!
LOL why I still feel like we could have gotten a sooner Kharma vs Beth , Gail , Melina , Natalya altercation within the month she was here in wwe , we didnt , we could have but we didnt lol. Oh well… It was fun having Kharma for at least a month. Im not really going to hold my breath on Kharma coming back , because things can change within a year’s time. Kharma and wwe may feel one way now , but that dosent mean they will feel the same the following year. I mean a year ago who would have thought Mickie James would be released , or Maria. A year ago who would have ever thought Michelle would have retired ? No-One so we will just have to wait and see..
But if Kharma does come back , which she will as a face Im assuming then I hope Beth , Natalya , Melina or Gail is Divas Champion. I would love to see a Face vs Face fued between Kharma , Beth , Natalya or Gail Kim. Since Melina is heel that dosent apply to her , most likely it will be just a Heel vs Face fued. Im really sad to see that this happened to Kia/Kharma/Kong , it was like a slap in the face to all of her adoring fans. After her segment on Raw , after she spoke I didnt think her character was ruined anymore , Kharma can still be a monster and speak at the same time. Maybe its time to explore a new path for Awesome Kong , instead of her charcater beiing a mute. She can speak and Beat Dat A** LOL
Also did Jim relly call her fat ? has he look in the mirror before ?
I’m so agree with you Melina&Mickie4ever :P
Kharma you babe. I thought the WWE did an excellet job with Kharmas segmant and i think it sets up so many possibilitys for when she comes back. My only dissapointment is that the bellas didnt get much heat as i though they did a great job playing the heels and have shown what great chraracters they can be when given the chance to showcase through segamnts and stuff. When Kharma returns she will be able to have a fued already set up with them and of course everyone wants to see Gail Vs Kharma. I think if WWe used this year to build Gail up as a credible competert by giving her more frequent lenght matches her taking the fight to Kharma is more believeable considering most fans wont rember her in TNA and WWE hasnt booked her that spectacularly. Plus Kharma can seek her revange on Jim Ross…I really dislike him how could he not see Kharma’s potentiall she could have had some amazing matches during the golden era of 2000-2004 of woemns wrestling with jazz, victoria, jacquline, chayna and lita.
who wants to see Kharma power bomb jim ross and micheal cole XD XD XD
Raekon Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 5:14 pm
Me Me Me! I want to see it! ^_^
As I said in a other comment of mine, I saw Kias japan matches back then as “amazing kong” and even some feuds she had with males and females(even she were wrestling mostly vs males).
This girl/woman just had the talent from the beginning, PERIOD!
WWE being THAT blind not giving her a chance for her size?
Well she taught them better and I’m really happy about it that she got the chance not only to finally make her dreams come true, but also to open up the eyes of the WWE that was blindfolded for many years, bringing up only “barbie dolls” so people have more eye candy then real wrestlers.
I will miss her in the WWE for sure cause I was very happy that she got the chance to be up there and even get the segments she got.
Also hope dearly that she will really come back in a year.
Till then, all the best for her, her boyfriend and the little “Kharma” she is carrying(no matter if a male or female kharma, the important thing is to be healthy) in her. :)
Also a big thanks to melanie for the write up. Great job there! :)
Love her and will miss her. She’s gone now, but she made quite an impression. I hope to see her again.
Ive also watched some of her old stuff from the indies and Japan and let me say, she is an excellent performer. So versatile and creative. Why can’t all divas and knockouts be more like her? Well wishes to her next chapter as a mother. See you in 2012 Kharma.
Just a shame that we haven’t seen Gail Kim vs Kharma, or any interaction at all.
Will Gail Kim even be in the WWE when Kharma returns?
That is one of the main things I am worried about. If Gail Kim leaves WWE, I don’t think I will even be coming on DD often, not sure I’ll even watch WWE on YouTube either.
Anyway, we will have to wait and see, but Kharma vs Gail Kim, even any sort of interaction/attack, was what I personally was waiting for.
I hope Kharma has a successful pregnancy and returns in 1 years time fit and healthy.
Well a month has changed alot of things
-Kelly has replaced Eve as “the Golden Girl”
-AJ debuted
-Layla is injured
-Michelle is gone
So when a diva manages to enter in the mix of all this and more, plus get over with the fans to the point where they boo if she doesn’t make an appearence at their show, it shows she has made an Impact and while it’d be hard for Kharma NOT to get over, the impact and ruckus she caused while be infinite and held until she returns
Very nice writeup, Melanie.
It’s a shame that she had to leave so soon. She didn’t even have a first official match!
I hope over the next year the Divas division can stay strong and continue to go up from here. Even though my hopes aren’t that high, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the writers will still give the Divas some more screen time, as they did when Kharma was around.