NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
Sol Ruca and Zaria were inseparable for over a year as the two became familiar faces in WWE NXT.
But as Ruca began to emerge as a top contender for NXT Championship gold, Zaria missed a few opportunities to get a belt for herself. Ruca won the Women’s Speed Championship and the NXT North American Women’s Championship over the past year. As one contestant rises, another must fall and the duo, affectionately known as ZaRuca, would eventually go their separate ways.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PK Press Club
Zaria and Sol Ruca watch in the ring during NXT at the WWE Performance Center on February 3, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. (Conor Kvatek/WWE via Getty Image)
Zaria kicked Ruca ahead of her Women’s Championship match against Jacy Jayne in February, ending the tag team and sparking a feud that would culminate in an emotional match Saturday at Stand & Deliver – the biggest show of the year for NXT.
Ruca told PK Press Club Digital that there were some bittersweet feelings going into the match, just knowing what the two went through together.
“Yeah, definitely. This match isn’t just a standard match. It’s about us and our story – which started as best friends,” she said. “I mean, to be honest, I forced her to be my friend because she didn’t really want to be my friend at first, but yeah, it evolved and we accomplished a lot of really, really cool things together. But somewhere along the way, jealousy got involved. And I can understand jealousy – it’s totally normal. Everyone deals with it. But I just can’t understand using that jealousy and letting it fester and turning into resentment and hatred instead of using it to fuel your personal growth.
“And I’m not saying I was perfect at it, but I’m not the one who speared my partner and hit that F5 during her championship opportunity. It’s a jealousy thing. It’s a resentment thing. Some people say I was selfish, and sure, maybe I was a little selfish. But it’s us, and it’s not going to be a standard match. There’s going to be emotion. There’s going to be energy and courage and I mean, I hope I win, but she knows.”
Sol Ruca looks on in the ring during NXT at the WWE Performance Center on February 3, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. (Matt Pendleton/WWE via Getty Images)
WWE LEGEND STEPHANIE MCMAHON SLAPS CODY RHODES BACK TO ‘MONDAY NIGHT RAW’
Ruca, who is usually a fan favorite, started hearing boos from the crowd.
She admitted that she didn’t see exactly why she was the target of some of the mockery.
“Again, I don’t see how someone who’s just trying to keep going can be the heel in this kind of situation,” she said. “It’s like having a friend and saying, ‘Hey, you’re doing really well at your job. You need to stop because I really want to do well at my job.’ You know? I don’t know, I don’t feel like it’s normal or healthy. So, I mean, sure, I could have taken the time to sit down with her and ask her how she feels about everything, but she’s hard-headed and she knows she’s not the best at communicating her feelings that way.
Sol Ruca enters the ring during NXT at the WWE Performance Center on June 17, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Kevin Sabitus/WWE via Getty Images)
“I don’t think I’m necessarily wrong. I don’t think she… I mean, she’s a little wrong. I don’t know, I feel like it could go either way. Sure, I could have been a little selfish, but I’d rather be selfish than someone who’s jealous of their best friend. That’s all I have to say about that.”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PK Press Club APP
NXT Stand & Deliver will take place at The Factory in St. Louis, Missouri. The event will begin at 7 p.m. ET and can be viewed on YouTube.
