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ROH World Championship History

Complete list of every ROH World Championship reign — who held it, when they won it, and how long they kept it. Established Jul 27, 2002.

Current Champion
Bandido
Since Apr 6, 2025 · 433+ days
42
Total Reigns
33
Champions
645
Longest (days)
Samoa Joe
3×
Most Reigns
Adam Cole

Full Title Lineage

#ChampionWonReign
42 Bandido2nd reign CURRENT Apr 6, 2025 433+ days
41 Chris Jericho2nd reign Won a Ladder War at an AEW event for his second reign; at 53, the oldest champion in the title’s history. Oct 23, 2024DynamiteSalt Lake City, UT 165 days
40 Mark Briscoe Apr 5, 2024Supercard of HonorPhiladelphia, PA 201 days
39 Eddie Kingston Won a Winner Takes All match at an AEW event. Sep 20, 2023Dynamite: Grand SlamQueens, NY 198 days
38 Claudio Castagnoli2nd reign His second reign. Dec 10, 2022Final BattleArlington, TX 284 days
37 Chris Jericho1st reign Won at an AEW event. Sep 21, 2022Dynamite: Grand SlamQueens, NY 80 days
36 Claudio Castagnoli1st reign Jul 23, 2022Death Before DishonorLowell, MA 60 days
35 Jonathan Gresham Defeated Jay Lethal for the vacant title and was later recognized as undisputed champion when Tony Khan acquired ROH. Dec 11, 2021Final BattleBaltimore, MD 224 days
34 Bandido1st reign ↳ Forced to vacate the title after testing positive for COVID-19. Jul 11, 2021Best in the WorldBaltimore, MD 153 days
33 Rush2nd reign His second reign; held the title through ROH’s pandemic hiatus. Feb 29, 2020Gateway to HonorSt. Charles, MO 498 days
32 PCO Won a "Friday the 13th Massacre" no-disqualification match. Dec 13, 2019Final BattleBaltimore, MD 78 days
31 Rush1st reign Sep 27, 2019Death Before Dishonor XVIILas Vegas, NV 77 days
30 Matt Taven Won a three-way ladder match at Madison Square Garden, also involving Marty Scurll. Apr 6, 2019G1 SupercardNew York City, NY 174 days
29 Jay Lethal2nd reign Won a four-way also involving Cody and Matt Taven; his second reign. Jun 30, 2018Ring of Honor WrestlingFairfax, VA 280 days
28 Dalton Castle Dec 15, 2017Final BattleNew York City, NY 197 days
27 Cody Rhodes Competed as "Cody". Jun 23, 2017Best in the WorldLowell, MA 175 days
26 Christopher Daniels Mar 10, 2017ROH 15th Anniversary ShowLas Vegas, NV 105 days
25 Adam Cole3rd reign His record third reign, won at a New Japan Pro-Wrestling event. Jan 4, 2017Wrestle Kingdom 11Tokyo, Japan 65 days
24 Kyle O'Reilly At 33 days, the shortest reign in the title’s history. Dec 2, 2016Final BattleNew York City, NY 33 days
23 Adam Cole2nd reign His second reign. Aug 19, 2016Death Before Dishonor XIVLas Vegas, NV 105 days
22 Jay Lethal1st reign A winner-takes-all match that also unified his ROH World Television Championship; 427 days and a record 41 combined defenses. Jun 19, 2015Best in the WorldNew York City, NY 427 days
21 Jay Briscoe2nd reign His second reign. Sep 6, 2014All Star Extravaganza VIToronto, ON 286 days
20 Michael Elgin Jun 22, 2014Best in the WorldNashville, TN 76 days
19 Adam Cole1st reign Defeated Michael Elgin in a tournament final for the vacant title. Sep 20, 2013Death Before Dishonor XIPhiladelphia, PA 275 days
18 Jay Briscoe1st reign ↳ Forced to vacate the title due to injury. Apr 5, 2013Supercard of Honor VIINew York City, NY 87 days
17 Kevin Steen May 12, 2012Border WarsToronto, ON 328 days
16 Davey Richards Jun 26, 2011Best in the WorldNew York City, NY 321 days
15 Eddie Edwards Mar 19, 2011Manhattan Mayhem IVNew York City, NY 99 days
14 Roderick Strong Won a no-disqualification match with Terry Funk as enforcer. Sep 11, 2010Glory By Honor IXNew York City, NY 189 days
13 Tyler Black Now known as Seth Rollins. Feb 13, 2010ROH 8th Anniversary ShowNew York City, NY 210 days
12 Austin Aries2nd reign Won a three-way also involving Tyler Black; his second reign. Jun 13, 2009Manhattan Mayhem IIINew York City, NY 245 days
11 Jerry Lynn Apr 3, 2009Supercard of Honor IVHouston, TX 71 days
10 Nigel McGuinness A 545-day reign with 38 defenses. Oct 6, 2007UndeniableEdison, NJ 545 days
9 Takeshi Morishima Feb 17, 2007The Fifth Year FestivalPhiladelphia, PA 231 days
8 Homicide Dec 23, 2006Final BattleNew York City, NY 56 days
7 Bryan Danielson Unified the title with the ROH Pure Championship in 2006. Sep 17, 2005Glory by Honor IVLong Island, NY 462 days
6 James Gibson Won a four-way elimination match. Aug 12, 2005RedemptionDayton, OH 36 days
5 CM Punk Jun 18, 2005Death Before Dishonor IIIMorristown, NJ 55 days
4 Austin Aries1st reign Dec 26, 2004Final BattlePhiladelphia, PA 174 days
3 Samoa Joe At 645 days, the longest reign in the title’s history; the title was renamed the ROH World Championship during this reign. Mar 22, 2003Night of ChampionsPhiladelphia, PA 645 days
2 Xavier Sep 21, 2002UnscriptedPhiladelphia, PA 182 days
1 Low Ki Defeated Christopher Daniels, Spanky and Doug Williams in a four-way 60-minute Iron Man match to become the inaugural champion. Jul 27, 2002Crowning a ChampionPhiladelphia, PA 56 days

Ring of Honor's top championship, first won by Low Ki at Crowning a Champion in July 2002. Originally the ROH Championship, it was renamed the ROH World Championship in 2003 after being defended internationally, and absorbed the ROH Pure Championship when Bryan Danielson unified them in 2006. For more than two decades it has been a proving ground for future world champions across WWE and AEW. Adam Cole holds the record with three reigns; Samoa Joe's 645-day run is the longest in the title's history and Kyle O'Reilly's 33-day reign the shortest. Chris Jericho, at 53, is the oldest champion and Low Ki, at 22, the youngest.

ROH World Championship — FAQ

Bandido is the current ROH World Championship, having won the title on Apr 6, 2025.

Low Ki was the inaugural ROH World Championship, winning it on Jul 27, 2002 at Crowning a Champion.

Adam Cole has the most reigns with 3.

Samoa Joe's reign beginning Mar 22, 2003 is the longest at 645 days.

There have been 42 reigns across 33 different champions since the title was established.

← All current champions  ·  Where do these champions rank all-time? — The GOAT Index