Women of Honor

The first Women of Honor in-ring competitor and inauguralWomen of Honor ChampionSumie Sakai.
Acronym	WOH
Style	Women's professional wrestling
Parent	Ring of Honor (ROH)
Website	www.rohwrestling.com

Women of Honor is a term used byRing of Honor (ROH) to refer to its women's division and to thepromotion'sfemale talent. The term is applied universally towrestlers, backstage interviewers, andmanagers/valets.^[1][2][3][4]

ROH had its first women's match on June 22, 2002, at its Road to the Title show; it sawSumie Sakai defeatSimply Luscious.^[5] Women's wrestling was sporadically featured in ROH since the match. During the 2000s, ROH featured female wrestlers likeSara Del Rey,Daizee Haze,Serena Deeb,MsChif,Amazing Kong,Ashley Lane,Nevaeh,Allison Danger,Lacey,Taeler Hendrix,Mercedes Martinez and others on shows, later releasing a DVD featuring the best of its women's division.^[2] Some of women's matches were also featured on ROH'stelevision program onHDNet but ROH did not consistently feature women's matches until 2015.^[6]

ROH also had a partnership withwomen's professional wrestlingpromotionShimmer Women Athletes, with theShimmer Championship andShimmer Tag Team Championship being defended on several ROH shows – becoming the first women's titles to be featured in ROH.^[7][8]

From years 2011 to 2015, ROH's female talent primarily consisted of female valets and interviewers although some female workers and wrestlers would compete in matches in the promotion.^[9][10] During this time period women of ROH managed and accompaniedmale stars such asMichael Elgin,Mike Bennett,Matt Taven,Truth Martini,R.D. Evans,Moose,Cedric Alexander,Jay Lethal &Prince Nana were a part of stables such asThe Kingdom,The House of Truth,Team RnB andThe Briscoe Brothers that they also managed every now & then.^{[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18]}

For example, on February 26, 2011 atROH 9th Anniversary ShowSara Del Ray defeatedMsChif with Shane Hagadorn in Sara's corner as a male valet / ally.^[9]

During this time period there was no such thing as a Women's Championship that was properly owned by Ring of Honor such as theROH Women's World Championship and the firstly ROHWomen of Honor World Championship, during this time period ERA the women of ROH had to work with just brond & beauty with barley even aShimmer Championship to compete for.^{[9][10][11][12][13][19][20][21][22][23][24]}

Also during that time period ROH Girls such asMaria Kanellis,^[19] Sara Del Ray,Allysin Kay, Jenny Rose,Athena Reese,Scarlett Bordeaux,Mandy Leon,Mia Yim,Cherry Bomb, MsChif,Barbi Hayden,Taeler Hendrix, Seleziya Sparx,Veda Scott,Leah Von Dutch,Tara,^[20]ODB, Kasey Ray, Jessie Brooks and probably more spent there time wrestling in rare once in a life time (especially seen on television) ROH Women of Honor matches, in mix-tag team matches against each other, interviewing talent, interviewing backstage talent, ring announcing, side ring bell ringing and managing and valeting male talent of the company.^{[21][22][23][24][10][11][12][25]}

For example, during year 2011 Mia Yim was introduced to Ring of Honor Wrestling byPrince Nana as Princess Mia Yim afterwards from that point on she went on to valet his male stable alliance alongside him in Ring of Honor.^[21] Around that time she also had a match against Sara Del Ray in Ring of Honor Wrestling but was not successful.^[22]

For another factual example during those years, during year 2013 Athena Reese was a part of a ROH stable by the name ofTeam RnB alongside another ROH wrestler by the name ofA. C. H.^[13] weeks later A.C.H. ran into another ROH wrestler by the name of TaDarius Thomas^[26] and then the two made an alliance tag team stable name by the name of Adrenaline RUSH that primarily consisted of A.C.H. and TaDarius Thomas only^[27] from that point on.

Afterwards the three had a six-mix tag team match against MsChif,B. J. Whitmer, andMichael Elgin but were not successful.^[11][12]

For an even further factual example, on August 15, 2014, at ROHField of Honor of 2014 Jay Lethal defeated Matt Taven for theROH World Television Championship with Seleziya aka Seleziya Sparx and Truth Martini in Jay Lethal's corner. Seleziya was Jay Lethal's female valet alongside his then male valet Truth Martini. Shortly after that Taeler Hendrix returned to ROH and became Jay Lethal's female valet replacing Seleziya Sparx but the two ladies never at the same time valeted Jay Lethal. (They were known as The House of Truth. Scarlett Bordeaux was a part of the stable before both ladies.)^[28][29][17]

The popularity ofwomen in Ring of Honor has resulted in Ring of Honor taping a pilot for a standalone Women of Honor program. Ring of Honor has also made numerous Women of Honor branded merchandise available for purchase.^[30] The pilot aired as a Women of Honor-branded television special the weekend of June 25, 2016 and its success led to a Women of Honor taping that is available on DVD.^[31]

At its founding, ROH had a partnership with the female exclusive promotionShimmer Women Athletes (Shimmer), with their top championship - theShimmer Championship - being defended at ROH events, essentially serving as ROH'sde facto women's title in the promotion's early years.

During years 2015 to 2016 Ring of Honor regularly aired and promoted their Women of Honor matches called Women of Honor Wednesday matches^[32][33] (Also known as Women Division Wednesday matches starting years 2021 to 2022^[34]) on theirYouTube,Facebook, andTwitter platforms.^[32][34]

These Women of Honor matches where presented byIan Riccaboni. Which we're joined by ROH female talent such asTaeler Hendrix,Mandy Leon,Veda Scott,Deonna Purrazzo, Hania the Howling Huntress,Sumie Sakai,Havok and more ROH Women of Honor to compete in these reinstated Women of Honor matches since the division had been reinstated as a permanentWomen of Honor division during years 2015 and 2016.^[35][36]

In February 2017, ROH partnered with Japanese women's only wrestling promotionWorld Wonder Ring Stardom for a Women of Honor tryout camp.^[37] On December 5, 2017, atFinal Battle, Riccaboni introduced and announced ROH's creation of its own women's title called theWomen of Honor World Championship,^[38][39] which would later be named theWomen of Honor World Championship, as a tournament for the championship was set to start on January 20, 2018.^[40] On April 7, 2018, atSupercard of Honor XII,Sumie Sakai defeatedKelly Klein in the tournament final to become the inaugural champion.^[41][42] Along with Sumie Sakai, there have been four champions overall, shared betweenAngelina Love,^[43]Mayu Iwatani^[44] and Kelly Klein, who held the title in a record setting three-time.^[45][46][47]

On January 1, 2020, ROH deactivated the Women of Honor World Champion, held at the time by Kelly Klein, due to the former champion deciding not to renew her contract with the promotion amidst disagreements between the two parties, leading into Klein filling a lawsuit against the company over a year later in early 2021. As such, a new championship was to be created for the division, theROH Women's World Championship. The winner was originally planned to be crowned in a 16-woman Tournament at Quest For Gold, but that tournament, as well as the Women of Honor division as a whole, was put on hold due to the event being cancelled amidst theCOVID-19 pandemic.^[48]

During theROH 19th Anniversary Show on March 26, 2021,Maria Kanellis made her on-screen return to the promotion and announced a new tournament to crown a new ROH Women's World Champion, the first since the retirement of the Women of Honor World Championship at the beginning of 2020. The tournament will take place in summer 2021, with a number of the matches to be showcased on ROH TV.^[49] The division also seemingly dropped using the 'Women of Honor' name as a month later, 'Women's Division Wednesdays' returned on ROH's official YouTube channel starting on April 28, 2021.^[50]

As of January 1, 2020, ROH deactivated the ROH Women of Honor World Championship (due to contractual issues with reigning champion Kelly Klein), and announced the creation of a brand new championship for the division, the ROH Women's World Championship. The winner was originally planned to be crowned in a 16-woman Tournament at Quest For Gold, but had been cancelled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic. After ROH resumed operations following a five-month pandemic related hiatus, a new 15-woman tournament (with one participant -Angelina Love - getting a first round bye due to Vita VonStarr being removed from the tournament via other personal issues with Maria Kanellis) was announced atBest in the World that took place beginning on July 31, 2021, and tournament final whichRok-C won to become the inaugural ROH Women's World Champion on September 12, 2021, atDeath Before Dishonor XVIII.^{[51][52][53][54]}

During early January 2022 Ring of Honor stopped having Wednesday version's of ROH women's matches and once more had ROH women's matches alongside the men and onROH Wrestling TV shows alongside the men as they did during years 2002 to 2011 & years 2011 to 2015.^[55][56][57]

On December 16, 2023, of Ring of Honor's tapings Tony Khan unveiled a new ROH Women's title named theROH Women's World Television Championship.^[58] On April 5, 2024, at ROH pay-per-viewSupercard of Honor of year 2024Billie Starkz defeatedQueen Aminata to become the inaugural ROH Women's World Television Championship holder.^[59]

On September 15, 2024 Athena became the longest reigning ROH women's champion & ROH title holder of all time as a woman surpassingSamoa Joe's reign asROH World Champion at 645 days by holding the ROH Women's World Championship for 646 days.^[60]

On February 17, 2025 Athena hit a new landmark as Ring of Honor Women's World Champion, passing the 800-day mark as champion.^[61]

After the April 12, 2025 episode ofAEW Collision Tony Kahn introduced theROH Women's Pure Championship in the ROH Women's division.^[62]

On May 29, 2025 Athena hit another milestone as ROH Women's World Champion by hitting 900 days as champion.^[63][64]

On September 5, 2025 Athena hit a fourth Milestone as ROH Women's World Champion by hitting 1000-days as champion.^[65][66]

On December 5, 2025 atFinal Battle 2025 in the tournament finals ROH femaleveteranDeonna Purrazzo defeated Billie Starkz viasubmission to become the inaugural ROH Pure Women's Champion.^[10]

The following list shows the Women of Honor that are currently holding all active Women of Honor championships in Ring of Honor Wrestling.

Championship	Current champion(s)		Reign	Date won	Days held	Location	Notes	Ref.
ROH Women's World Championship		Athena	1	December 10, 2022	1,164	Arlington, Texas	DefeatedMercedes Martinez atFinal Battle.	[67]
ROH Women's World Television Championship		Red Velvet	2	December 5, 2025	73	Columbus, Ohio	DefeatedMercedes Moné atFinal Battle.	[68]
ROH Women's Pure Championship		Deonna Purrazzo	1	December 5, 2025	73	Columbus, Ohio	DefeatedBillie Starkz in a tournament final to become the inaugural champion atFinal Battle.	[68]

Ring of Honor Wrestling tapings – January and February of 2018 (And probably in November & December of 2017 as well.) (2300 Arena –Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

1^ Participants in the original tournament included: Ashley Vox, Gia Scott, Heather Monroe, Jenny Rose,Katarina, Kellyanne, Lindsay Snow, Maria Manic,Session Moth Martina, andTasha Steelz.
2^Brandi Lauren and Laynie Luck were named as alternates.
3^ Spot was originally meant for Vita VonStarr, but her interference in matches involving The Righteous got her removed.
4^ Allie Recks was slated to take VonStarr's place in the tournament, but a knee injury kept her from competing.
5^Chelsea Green was slated to take VonStarr's place in the tournament, but a broken wrist kept her from competing.
6^ Love defeated Quinn McKay on the May 8ROH Wrestling episode to earn a bye.

1^ Originally scheduled participantLady Frost was on tour inMexico when the tournament began, so she was removed.

1^ Aminata forfeited her semifinal match to Purrazzo due to a neck injury.

The following list shows the first everRing of Honor and partnered with Ring of HonorShimmer Women Athletes Women's Championship winners and the years that the titles were first ever won by Women of Ring of Honor in Ring of Honor history.

• Official ROH website
• Official ROH Roster website

• Professional wrestling slang
• Ring of Honor
• Women's professional wrestling
• Women's professional wrestling shows

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