Clash in Italy was a monumental night for Sol Ruca. The new WWE Raw Superstar became the first-ever Black Women’s Intercontinental Champion. Besides that glass-ceiling-breaking moment, the former NXT Women’s North American Champion also debuted a new version of her finisher. Reports are that WWE changed Sol Ruca’s finisher due to her repeated botches of the Sol Snatcher. Here’s the latest on WWE changing Sol Ruca’s finishing move at Clash in Italy.
Sol Ruca Defeats Becky Lynch to Become IC Champion
It’s been a whirlwind year for Sol Ruca. In the past year, she became an NXT sensation, creating a buzz with her ongoing storyline with Zaria. John Cena also handpicked her to be a part of his final show. After winning the NXT North American and Speed Championships, the surfer-esque Superstar was earmarked for the main roster.
Many expected Sol Ruca to join SmackDown. However, she was drafted to Raw, where her current boyfriend is also contracted. On her Raw debut, Sol Ruca made a splash by targeting Becky Lynch.
The two women competed at Saturday Night’s Main Event in a quick contest. Becky Lynch would pull her rival, referee Jessika Carr, in the way of a Sol Snatcher. Carr would call the bell, resulting in a DQ for The Man.
Sol Ruca got her revenge at Clash in Italy. The two women had a much more competitive match. Also, Jessika Carr averted yet another disaster in this match. In the end, Sol Ruca won the Title after dropping The Man with her Sol Snatcher.
Long-time Sol Ruca fans may have noticed that she changed how she performed the move. Now, word has come out that WWE changed Sol Ruca’s finishing move setup to avoid future botches.
Sol Ruca Tweaks Sol Snatcher
The WWE Universe has gone bonkers for Sol Ruca, and with good reason. Not only does she have the “it” factor, but the Raw newcomer also has an exciting moveset. One of the most awe-inspiring moves in WWE is Sol Ruca’s Sol Snatcher.
As a standout athlete, Sol Ruca scales to the middle rope with her back to her opponent. She uses the momentum to spring into a back flip going forward. This movement is known in gymnastics and Parkour as a reverse gainer flip.
“With my background, I wanted my finish to be something that incorporated that. I feel like my background is pretty unique. We do have some other gymnasts in wrestling, but I just wanted something that was unique to me and something that I could do on anyone.
It doesn’t matter if I’m tired at the end of the match or if they’re bigger than me, if they’re smaller than me. I was trying to think of something that hasn’t necessarily been done before.
I did a move in gymnastics on the bar called a straddle back, which is a release move from the high bar to the low bar. It’s essentially the same sort of rotation, which is like a reverse gainer.”
At Clash in Italy, Sol changed the way she performed the reverse gainer. Instead of springboarding, Sol started already on the middle ropes. She remained balanced and gained momentum by bouncing on the rope before taking off.
The end result was a smooth Sol Snatcher to put away Becky Lynch for Sol Ruca’s first main roster Title victory. So, why did WWE change Sol Ruca’s finisher?
Sol Ruca’s History of Sol Snatcher Botches
WWE is investing a lot in Sol Ruca. They weren’t going to let her first Title win be mired by a Sol Snatcher botch.
After all, Sol Ruca botched her first Sol Snatcher on the main roster. The new IC Champion confronted then-IC Champ, The Man. However, instead of their heated debate, fans were left chattering about how Sol Ruca missed her Sol Snatcher on her Raw debut.
Her next major botch was at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Sol Ruca was expected to hit Jessika Carr with the Sol Snatcher after Becky Lynch threw her in the way. However, Sol was already taking off while Carr was being pulled in place, causing the newcomer to hesitate. It was almost a catastrophe, but it was played off well by the veteran referee.
Officials believe the extra spring caused Sol to take off too high, too quickly, and with not enough time to gauge where her opponent is. By already being on the ropes, Sol can measure the distance to her opponent while bouncing on the ropes to get the same momentum…but at a more calculated and safe pace.
With Clash in Italy over, it’s unknown who Sol Ruca will face next. Becky Lynch and many other women wrestlers are entrenched in the Queen of the Ring Tournament.
While Sol Ruca’s plans are unknown, other women who competed at Clash in Italy seem to have new plans in motion. After all, Jade Cargill attacked a top WWE Superstar after Clash in Italy went off the air!