Survival of the Fittest is aprofessional wrestling tournament held byRing of Honor (ROH). The inaugural tournament took place in 2004, and - with exceptions (2008, 2013, 2019–2020, 2022) - has become an annual tradition in ROH ever since.[1]
Wrestlers compete in a variety of "qualifying" matches, usually eithersingles matches ortag team matches, with the winner(s) of each match advancing to anelimination match where the last remaining competitor would be deemed the Survival of the Fittest winner, and receive a futureROH World Championship match (except the 2023 and 2024 tournament winner will be crownedROH World Television Championship).[1]
The tournament setup is based onMaryland Championship Wrestling's Shane Shamrock Memorial Cup, as ROH was to continue the Shane Shamrock Memorial Cup following the shutdown of MCW in 2003. However, following a controversy with ROH's owner in early 2004, MCW dropped their association with Ring of Honor, and ROH renamed the already scheduled tournament "Survival of the Fittest".[2][3][4]
In 2019, it was announced the event would take place on November 9 and 10, but the shows were ultimately cancelled.[5]
| # | Winner | Event | Year | Championship match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bryan Danielson | Midnight Express Reunion | 2004 | Danielson unsuccessfully challengedSamoa Joe for theROH World Championship. |
| 2 | Roderick Strong | This Means War | 2005 | Strong unsuccessfully challenged Bryan Danielson for the ROH World Championship. |
| 3 | Delirious | Honor Reclaims Boston | 2006 | Delirious unsuccessfully challenged Bryan Danielson for the ROH World Championship. |
| 4 | Chris Hero | Glory By Honor IV - Night 1 | 2007 | Hero unsuccessfully challengedNigel McGuinness for the ROH World Championship. |
| 5 | Tyler Black | Final Battle | 2009 | Black wrestled ROH World ChampionAustin Aries to a sixty-minute time limit draw. Black defeated Aries in a rematch to win the ROH World Championship at the8th Anniversary Show. |
| 6 | Eddie Edwards | Manhattan Mayhem IV | 2010 | Edwards defeated Roderick Strong to win the ROH World Championship. |
| 7 | Michael Elgin | Showdown in the Sun - Night 2 | 2011 | Elgin unsuccessfully challengedDavey Richards for the ROH World Championship. |
| 8 | Jay Lethal | 11th Anniversary Show | 2012 | Lethal unsuccessfully challengedKevin Steen for the ROH World Championship. |
| 9 | Adam Cole | Final Battle | 2014 | Cole unsuccessfully challengedJay Briscoe in aFight Without Honor for the ROH World Championship. |
| 10 | Michael Elgin (2) | All Star Extravaganza VIII | 2015 | Elgin unsuccessfully challenged Adam Cole for the ROH World Championship. |
| 11 | Bobby Fish | Manhattan Mayhem | 2016 | Fish unsuccessfully challenged Adam Cole for the ROH World Championship. |
| 12 | Punishment Martinez | Ring of Honor Wrestling (February 10, 2018) | 2017 | Martinez unsuccessfully challengedDalton Castle for the ROH World Championship. |
| 13 | Marty Scurll | G1 Supercard | 2018 | Scurll challengedJay Lethal in a three-wayladder match for the ROH World Championship, also involvingMatt Taven. Taven won the match. |
| 14 | Bandido | Best in the World | 2021 | Bandido defeatedRush to win the ROH World Championship. |
| 15 | Kyle Fletcher | Final Battle | 2023 | Survivor of the Fittest for the vacantROH World Television Championship. Fletcher defeatedKomander,Lee Moriarty,Bryan Keith,Dalton Castle andLee Johnson to win the championship. |
| 16 | Atlantis Jr. | Death Before Dishonor | 2024 | Survivor of the Fittest for theROH World Television Championship. Atlantis Jr. defeatedShane Taylor,Brian Cage,Lee Johnson,Lio Rush, andJohnny TV to retain the championship. |
| 17 | Komander | Final Battle | 2024 | Survivor of the Fittest for theROH World Television Championship. Komander defeatedBrian Cage,Willie Mack,AR Fox andBlake Christian to win the championship. |
| 18 | Bandido (2) | Final Battle | 2025 | Survivor of the Fittest for theROH World Championship. Bandido defeatedSammy Guevara,Blake Christian,The Beast Mortos,Hechicero, andKomander to retain the championship. |
ROH's first Survival of the Fittest tournament took place on June 24, 2004 inPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania.[3][7]
| Eliminated | Wrestler | Eliminated by | Method | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Samoa Joe | Colt Cabana | Pinned with asunset flip | 15:22 |
| 2 | Colt Cabana | Mark Briscoe | Pinned after ashooting star press | 17:06 |
| 3 | Homicide | Mark Briscoe | Both men pinned each other | 19:05 |
| 4 | Mark Briscoe | Homicide | ||
| 5 | Austin Aries | Bryan Danielson | Submitted to anElevated Boston crab | 42:28 |
| Winner | Bryan Danielson | N/a | ||
ROH's second Survival of the Fittest tournament took place on September 24, 2005 inBoston, Massachusetts.[7][8]
| Eliminated | Wrestler | Eliminated by | Method | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Samoa Joe | Roderick Strong | Pinned after Daniels hit Joe with theBest Moonsault Ever | 13:57 |
| 2 | Christopher Daniels | Austin Aries | Pinned with asunset flip | 19:12 |
| 3 | Jay Lethal | Roderick Strong | Pinned afterDeath by Roderick | 31:23 |
| 4 | Colt Cabana | Pinned after apildedriver | 35:51 | |
| 5 | Austin Aries | Submitted to theStronghold | 50:30 | |
| Winner | Roderick Strong | N/a | ||
ROH's third Survival of the Fittest tournament took place on October 6, 2006 inCleveland, Ohio.[7][9]
| Eliminated | Wrestler | Eliminated by | Method | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin Aries | Jay Briscoe and Mark Briscoe | Pinned after aDoomsday Device | 11:17 |
| 2 | Jay Briscoe | Matt Sydal | Pinned with aroll-up | 19:04 |
| 3 | Mark Briscoe | Pinned after theShooting Sydal Press | 23:06 | |
| 4 | Matt Sydal | Delirious | Submitted to theCobra Stretch | 34:51 |
| Winner | Delirious | N/a | ||
ROH's fourth Survival of the Fittest tournament took place on October 19, 2007 inLas Vegas, Nevada.[7][10]
| Eliminated | Wrestler | Eliminated by | Method | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Human Tornado | Chris Hero | Pinned after theHero's Welcome | 3:58 |
| 2 | Rocky Romero | Pinned after Aries hit Romero with a450° splash | 13:32 | |
| 3 | Austin Aries | Pinned with aroll-up | 15:38 | |
| 4 | Colt Cabana | Pinned after theHero's Welcome | 35:51 | |
| 5 | Claudio Castagnoli | Passed out in theHangman's Clutch | 50:30 | |
| Winner | Chris Hero | N/a | ||
ROH's fifth Survival of the Fittest tournament took place on October 10, 2009 inIndianapolis, Indiana.[7][11]
| Eliminated | Wrestler | Eliminated by | Method | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Claudio Castagnoli | Colt Cabana | Pinned after Hero hit Castagnoli with arolling elbow | 23:00 |
| 2 | Colt Cabana | Delirious | Pinned with aroll-up | 23:05 |
| 3 | Delirious | Roderick Strong | Pinned after theSick Kick | 24:59 |
| 4 | Chris Hero | Tyler Black | Pinned withGod's Last Gift | 28:38 |
| 5 | Roderick Strong | Pinned after theAvada Kedavra | 39:36 | |
| Winner | Tyler Black | N/a | ||
ROH's sixth Survival of the Fittest tournament took place on November 12, 2010 inDearborn, Michigan.[7][12]
| Eliminated | Wrestler | Eliminated by | Method | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Steen | Claudio Castagnoli | Pinned after abicycle kick | 0:08 |
| 2 | Adam Cole | Pinned after alariat | 9:19 | |
| 3 | Rhett Titus | Pinned after a pop-upEuropean uppercut | 12:18 | |
| 4 | Claudio Castagnoli | Kenny King | Pinned after theRoyal Flush | 14:23 |
| 5 | Kenny King | Eddie Edwards | Submitted to anAchilles lock | 16:12 |
| Winner | Eddie Edwards | N/a | ||
ROH's seventh Survival of the Fittest tournament took place on November 18, 2011 at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds inDayton, Ohio.[13][14]
| Eliminated | Wrestler | Eliminated by | Method | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jay Briscoe | Eddie Edwards | Pinned afterDie Hard | 18:21 |
| 2 | Mark Briscoe | Submitted to adragon sleeper | 18:37 | |
| 3 | Roderick Strong | Pinned with aschoolboy | 20:41 | |
| 4 | Eddie Edwards | Michael Elgin | Pinned after aspinning back fist /lariat combo | 20:58 |
| 5 | Kyle O'Reilly | Pinned after theElgin Bomb | 33:19 | |
| Winner | Michael Elgin | N/a | ||
ROH's eighth Survival of the Fittest tournament took place on September 22, 2012 at the Du Burns Arena inBaltimore, Maryland. The tournament was recorded in a single day for Ring of Honor's television show, and aired on a taped delay over the span of several weeks.[1][6][15]
| Eliminated | Wrestler | Eliminated by | Method | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mike Mondo | Roderick Strong | Pinned after theSick Kick | 4:49 |
| 2 | Roderick Strong | Adam Cole | Pinned after asuperkick | 6:41 |
| 3 | Adam Cole | Michael Elgin | Pinned after theElgin Bomb | 7:32 |
| 4 | Michael Elgin | Jay Lethal and Davey Richards | Double pinned after both men hit him with aBuzzsaw Kick | 13:32 |
| 5 | Davey Richards | Jay Lethal | Pinned after theLethal Injection | 21:26 |
| Winner | Jay Lethal | N/a | ||
ROH's ninth Survival of the Fittest tournament took place on November 8, 2014 at the Seagate Convention Center inToledo, Ohio. The tournament took place over a span of 2 days.
| Eliminated | Wrestler | Eliminated by | Method | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roderick Strong | Adam Page | Pinned with aroll-up | 17:08 |
| 2 | Adam Page | Matt Sydal | Pinned after theShooting Sydal Press | 21:10 |
| 3 | Matt Sydal | Tommaso Ciampa | Pinned afterProject Ciampa | 31:13 |
| 4 | Tommaso Ciampa | Adam Cole | Pinned afterMichael Elgin hit Ciampa with a steel chair | 32:03 |
| 5 | Hanson | Pinned after theFlorida Keys | 40:50 | |
| Winner | Adam Cole | N/a | ||
ROH announced the tournament would return in 2021, taking place throughout the month of June on ROH's flagship TV programRing of Honor Wrestling, and their online showROH Week by Week.
There were 12 participants competing in six qualifying matches, with the winners advancing to a six-way elimination finals (aired June 26 onRing of Honor Wrestling) where the winner received anROH World Championship match atBest in the World.[16]
| Eliminated | Wrestler | Eliminated by | Method | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Demonic Flamita | Bandido | Pinned with aroll-up | 4:50 |
| 2 | Brian Johnson | Rhett Titus | Pinned after theKing Kong Knee Drop | 12:56 |
| 3 | Rhett Titus | Chris Dickinson | Submitted to akneebar | 13:27 |
| 4 | Chris Dickinson | Bandido | Pinned after the21-Plex | 18:56 |
| 5 | Eli Isom | Submitted to anomoplata | 23:51 | |
| Winner | Bandido | N/a | ||
Note - In late 2021, ROH was sold toTony Khan, the owner and general manager ofAll Elite Wrestling (AEW), and with that ROH was then effectively absorbed into AEW.
On the November 8, 2023 episode ofAEW Dynamite,Samoa Joe, who had held theROH World Television Championship for a record 574 days, voluntarily vacated the title to concentrate on pursuing theAEW World Championship.
Tony Khan announced a week later onROH Honor Club TV that Survival of the Fittest would return and be used in crowning a new champion. Qualifying matches took place onROH Wrestling, leading up to the six-way finals on December 15 atFinal Battle, with the winner becoming the new ROH World Television Champion. This was the first Survival of the Fittest where a championship was on the line rather than an opportunity at one, and the first where it was contested for the ROH World Television Champions rather than theROH World Championship.[17]
| Eliminated | Wrestler | Eliminated by | Method | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lee Johnson | Lee Moriarty | Submitted to theBorder City Stretch | 8:46 |
| 2 | Dalton Castle | Pinned afterThe Fang | 11:20 | |
| 3 | Lee Moriarty | Bryan Keith | Pinned after theEmerald Tiger Driver | 15:38 |
| 4 | Bryan Keith | Kyle Fletcher | Pinned after theGrimstone | 16:52 |
| 5 | Komander | 25:54 | ||
| Winner | Kyle Fletcher | N/a | ||
On July 25, Tony Khan announced a Survival of the Fittest match for the following day'sDeath Before Dishonor event, whereROH World Television ChampionAtlantis Jr. would defend his title againstBrian Cage,Johnny TV,Lee Johnson,Lio Rush, andShane Taylor. This would be the first Survival of the Fittest where none of the participants had qualifying matches and the first in which a championship was defended.[18]
| Eliminated | Wrestler | Eliminated by | Method of elimination | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shane Taylor | Lio Rush | Pinned afterThe Final Hour | 9:56 |
| 2 | Lio Rush | Lee Johnson | Pinned after theBig Shot Drop | 11:32 |
| 3 | Lee Johnson | Brian Cage and Johnny TV | Double pinned after apowerslam /springboard kick combo | 15:05 |
| 4 | Johnny TV | Brian Cage | Pinned after theDrill Claw | 18:39 |
| 5 | Brian Cage | Atlantis Jr. | Pinned with avictory roll | 19:12 |
| Winner | Atlantis Jr. (c) | N/a | ||
On December 13, ROH announced another Survival of the Fittest match for theROH World Television Championship, this time forFinal Battle. Here, championBrian Cage would defend the title againstWillie Mack,Mark Davis,Komander,AR Fox, andBlake Christian.[19]
| Eliminated | Wrestler | Eliminated by | Method of elimination | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Willie Mack | Brian Cage | Pinned after theTornado Claw | 9:29 |
| 2 | AR Fox | Pinned after anavalanche powerbomb | 13:26 | |
| 3 | Brian Cage (c) | Mark Davis | Pinned after apiledriver | 16:26 |
| 4 | Mark Davis | Blake Christian | Pinned after alow blow | 17:01 |
| 5 | Blake Christian | Komander | Pinned afterCielito Lindo | 25:18 |
| Winner | Komander | N/a | ||
On November 27, Tony Khan announced that, for the first time, theROH World Championship would be contested for in a Survival of the Fittest match atFinal Battle. The champion,Bandido, would defend the title againstBlake Christian,Hechicero,Komander,Sammy Guevara, andThe Beast Mortos.[20]
| Eliminated | Wrestler | Eliminated by | Method | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sammy Guevara | Komander | Pinned afterCielito Lindo | 11:24 |
| 2 | The Beast Mortos | Hechicero | Pinned after aheadscissors driver | 13:00 |
| 3 | Komander | Blake Christian | Pinned after theLethal Injection | 15:24 |
| 4 | Blake Christian | Bandido | Pinned with asunset flip | 20:38 |
| 5 | Hechicero | Pinned after apoison rana | 27:53 | |
| Winner | Bandido (c) | N/a | ||