ROH Championship Belts

ROH Championship Belts

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    ROH Championship Belts: The Legacy of Ring of Honor Titles

    Ring of Honor (ROH) has been one of the most influential wrestling promotions in the world since its founding in 2002. Known for its hard-hitting, technical wrestling style, ROH has produced some of the best wrestlers in history, many of whom have gone on to dominate WWE, AEW, and NJPW. The promotion’s championship belts have played a major role in shaping its identity, serving as prestigious prizes for the best in-ring competitors.

    Over the years, ROH has introduced several titles, including the ROH World Championship, ROH Pure Championship, ROH Tag Team Titles, and more. In this article, we’ll explore the history, evolution, and significance of ROH championship belts and highlight the legends who have held them.

    1. ROH World Championship

    Introduction & First Champion (2002)

    The ROH World Championship is the top prize in Ring of Honor, introduced in 2002. It was originally known as the ROH Championship, but after being defended outside the U.S., it was officially recognized as a world title in 2003.

    Belt Design Evolution

    • Original ROH World Title (2002–2004) – A simple, classic design with a gold-plated ROH logo.
    • Second Design (2004–2010) – A larger belt with an oval center plate and intricate details.
    • Third Design (2010–2017) – A modernized, sleeker belt introduced when ROH gained more mainstream recognition.
    • Current Design (2017–Present) – Features a bold, gold-plated look with an emphasis on the ROH logo and prestige.

    Notable Champions

    • Samoa Joe (Longest Reign, 645 Days, 2003–2004) – Dominated the title scene and set a standard for ROH champions.
    • Bryan Danielson (2005–2006) – Elevated the championship with his technical mastery.
    • CM Punk (2005, Summer of Punk) – Made the title famous before leaving for WWE.
    • Jay Lethal (2015–2016, 2018–2019) – Held the title for a combined 707 days, making him one of the most dominant champions.

    2. ROH Pure Championship

    Introduction & First Champion (2004)

    The ROH Pure Championship was introduced in 2004 to highlight a more technical and submission-based wrestling style. Matches for this title follow special rules, including a limited number of rope breaks and restrictions on closed-fist punches.

    Belt Design Evolution

    • The original Pure Championship (2004–2006) had a minimalist design with a silver-plated finish.
    • When the title was revived in 2020, a new design was introduced, featuring a classic gold look with an old-school wrestling feel.

    Notable Champions

    • AJ Styles (First Champion, 2004) – Brought instant prestige to the title.
    • Nigel McGuinness (2005–2006) – Had a defining reign, making the title a must-watch.
    • Jonathan Gresham (2020–2022) – Helped revive the division, making the title a fan favorite again.

    3. ROH World Tag Team Championship

    Introduction & First Champions (2002)

    Tag team wrestling has always been a staple of ROH, and the ROH World Tag Team Championship has been held by some of the greatest teams in wrestling history. The first champions were Christopher Daniels & Donovan Morgan in 2002.

    Belt Design Evolution

    • The original belts were simple and classic, but as the company grew, they introduced more elaborate and prestigious-looking titles.
    • The current design features gold-plated plates with the ROH logo prominently displayed.

    Notable Champions

    • The Briscoe Brothers (13-time champions, 2003–2022) – The greatest tag team in ROH history.
    • The Young Bucks (2015, 2016, 2018) – Helped elevate the titles to a mainstream audience.
    • FTR (2022) – Defended the titles in a series of instant classics against The Briscoes.

    4. ROH World Television Championship

    Introduction & First Champion (2010)

    Introduced in 2010, the ROH World Television Championship is a mid-card title designed to showcase rising stars and workhorse wrestlers. Eddie Edwards became the inaugural champion.

    Belt Design

    • The title has maintained a consistent gold-plated look, though the size and detail have evolved over the years.

    Notable Champions

    • Adam Cole (2014–2015) – Used the title as a stepping stone to the ROH World Championship.
    • Jay Lethal (Longest Reign, 567 Days, 2014–2016) – Established himself as one of ROH’s biggest stars.
    • Samoa Joe (2022–Present) – Brought prestige back to the title under AEW ownership.

    5. ROH Women’s World Championship

    Introduction & First Champion (2021)

    ROH has had various women's titles over the years, but the ROH Women's World Championship was officially introduced in 2021 to establish a stronger women's division. The first champion was Rok-C (now known as Roxanne Perez in WWE).

    Belt Design

    • A modern, sleek championship with gold plates and red accents to signify its prestige.

    Notable Champions

    • Rok-C (First Champion, 2021–2022) – The young prodigy who defined the early days of the title.
    • Mercedes Martinez (2022) – Helped solidify the division after ROH was purchased by AEW.
    • Athena (2022–Present) – Dominated the title scene, bringing credibility to ROH’s women’s division.

    6. ROH Six-Man Tag Team Championship

    Introduction & First Champions (2016)

    With ROH’s history of faction-based wrestling, the ROH Six-Man Tag Team Championship was created in 2016. The first champions were The Kingdom (Matt Taven, TK O’Ryan, and Vinny Marseglia).

    Belt Design

    • Features a three-plate gold design, symbolizing team unity and dominance.

    Notable Champions

    • The Kingdom (2016) – Set the foundation for the division.
    • Villain Enterprises (2019) – Dominated ROH’s six-man scene.
    • The Embassy (2022–Present) – Established dominance under AEW ownership.

    The Future of ROH Championships Under AEW Ownership

    In 2022, Tony Khan (AEW President) purchased ROH, leading to a new era for ROH’s championships. Some key changes include:

    • ROH Titles Being Defended on AEW Programming – Champions like Claudio Castagnoli, Samoa Joe, and Athena have defended ROH belts on AEW shows.
    • New Championship Designs & Prestige – Titles have been updated with modern designs, and ROH belts continue to be held by world-class competitors.

    Conclusion: ROH Championships Represent Pure Wrestling Excellence

    ROH has always been a wrestling purist’s promotion, and its championship belts reflect that tradition. From the legendary ROH World Championship to the highly technical Pure Title and dominant Tag Team Championships, these belts have been held by some of the greatest wrestlers in history.

    As ROH moves forward under AEW’s leadership, its championship legacy continues to grow, ensuring that Ring of Honor remains one of the most respected promotions in wrestling history