View source for ROH World Championship

{{short description|Professional wrestling championship in Ring of Honor}}
{{use mdy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox pro wrestling championship
|championshipname=ROH World Championship
|image = ROH World Title.jpg
|caption = The title belt used since 2023.
|currentholder = [[Bandido (wrestler)|Bandido]]
|won = April 6, 2025
|aired =
|promotion = [[Ring of Honor]] (ROH)<br>[[All Elite Wrestling]] (AEW)
|created = June 22, 2002<ref name=":0" />
|mostreigns = [[Adam Cole]]<br>(3 reigns)
|firstchamp = [[Low Ki]]
|longestreign = [[Samoa Joe]]<br>(645 days)
|shortestreign = [[Kyle O'Reilly]]<br>(33 days)
|oldest = [[Chris Jericho]]<br>({{age in years and days|1970|11|09|2024|10|23}})
|youngest = [[Low Ki]]<br>({{age in years and days|1979|09|06|2002|07|27}})
|heaviest = [[Takeshi Morishima]]<br>({{convert|320|lb|kg|abbr=on}})
|lightest = [[Jonathan Gresham]]<br>({{convert|161|lb|kg|abbr=on}})
|pastnames  =*ROH Championship <br> (2002–2003)<br>
*'''ROH World Championship'''<br>(2003–present)
*Undisputed ROH World Championship<br> (2022)
|titleretired =
}}
The '''ROH World Championship''' is a [[professional wrestling]] [[Championship (professional wrestling)#World championships|world championship]] created and promoted by [[Ring of Honor]] (ROH). It is considered the most prestigious title in the promotion. The current champion is [[Bandido (wrestler)|Bandido]], who is in his second reign. In addition to being in ROH, the championship is also defended on [[All Elite Wrestling]]'s (AEW) programs, as AEW and ROH are both owned by [[Tony Khan]].

==History==
[[File:Kaval.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Inaugural champion [[Low-Ki]].]]
[[Low Ki]] defeated [[Brian Kendrick|Spanky]], [[Christopher Daniels]], and [[Doug Williams (wrestler)|Doug Williams]] in a [[Iron Man match|60-minute Iron Man match]] to become the inaugural ROH Champion at Crowning a Champion on July 27, 2002 after holding its first tournament to crown the inaugural champion on June 22, 2002.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Www.cagematch.net |title=ROH Title Tournament (Matches) |url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=26&nr=411&page=2 |access-date=July 27, 2002 |website=Www.cagematch.net}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=WOODWARD |first=BUCK |title=WHO WAS FIRST? WRESTLING'S INAUGURAL CHAMPIONS |url=https://www.webisjericho.com/who-was-first-wrestlings-inaugural-champions/ |access-date=July 16, 2024 |website=Webisjericho.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=r/SquaredCircle |first=jeffmartin48 |title=July 27th, 2002. In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Low Ki becomes the first ever Ring Of Honor world champion as a result of winning a four-way 60 minute Iron Man match against Doug Williams, Spanky and Christopher Daniels. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/ost4zh/july_27th_2002_in_philadelphia_pennsylvania_low/?rdt=50808 |access-date=July 16, 2024 |website=Reddit.com}}</ref>

[[Samoa Joe]] had the longest title reign to date when he held the belt for 21 months and four days. During his reign, ROH held a cross-promotional show with [[Frontier Wrestling Alliance]] in the [[United Kingdom]] on May 17, 2003, called Frontiers of Honor. At that show, Joe turned the title into the ROH World Championship when he defended it against [[Roy Bevis|The Zebra Kid]]. Since then the title has been defended in [[Germany]], [[Canada]], [[Switzerland]], [[Austria]], [[Mexico]], [[Japan]], [[Ireland]], [[Italy]], and [[Spain]].<ref name=":1" />

On August 12, 2006, the [[ROH Pure Championship]] was unified with the ROH World Championship after the ROH Pure Champion [[Nigel McGuinness]] lost to the ROH World Champion [[Bryan Danielson]] in [[Liverpool]], [[England]] in a title unification match.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Www.cagematch.net |title=Ring of Honor - Unified |url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=7494 |access-date=August 12, 2006 |website=Www.cagematch.net}}</ref> The match was contested under [[Ring of Honor#Specialty matches|pure wrestling rules]], with the stipulation that both championships could be lost by disqualification or count out.<ref>{{cite web|title=ROH Wrestling Pure Rules Clarified|url=https://www.rohwrestling.com/news/ten-competitors-announced-pure-title-tournament-pure-rules-clarified|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230226043537/https://www.rohwrestling.com/news/ten-competitors-announced-pure-title-tournament-pure-rules-clarified|url-status=dead|archive-date=2023-02-26}}</ref>

On July 3, 2013, the ROH World Championship has declared [[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#Vacated|vacant]] for the first time since its inception, when [[Professional wrestling authority figures|ROH Match Maker]] Nigel McGuinness stripped then-champion [[Jay Briscoe]] of the title after he was sidelined with a [[kayfabe|storyline]] injury and would be unable to compete for the foreseeable future.<ref name=Vacant>{{cite web|url=http://pwinsider.com/article/78685/more-on-roh-championship.html?p=1|title=More on ROH Championship|date=July 3, 2013|last=Johnson|first=Mike|access-date=July 3, 2013|publisher=PWInsider}}</ref><ref name="Briscoe">{{cite web | url = http://www.rohwrestling.com/news/nigel-mcguinness-makes-huge-announcement | title = Nigel McGuinness Makes a Huge Announcement! | date=July 3, 2013 | access-date=July 3, 2013 | work=ROHwrestling.com}}</ref>

On January 4, 2016 the ROH World Championship was defended in [[Japan]] for the first time ever at [[Wrestle Kingdom 10]], as champion [[Jay Lethal]] defended and retained the title against [[Michael Elgin]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.f4wonline.com/japan/wrestle-kingdom-10-live-results-kazuchika-okada-vs-hiroshi-tanahashi-204791 | title = Wrestle Kingdom 10 live results: Kazuchika Okada vs Hiroshi Tanahashi | last=Meltzer | first=Dave | author-link=Dave Meltzer | date=January 3, 2016 | access-date=January 4, 2016 | work=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]}}</ref>

In late 2021, ROH announced it would go on hiatus following [[Final Battle (2021)|Final Battle]]. Then-ROH World Champion [[Bandido (wrestler)|Bandido]] was supposed to wrestle [[Jonathan Gresham]] in a championship match at Final Battle until December 9 when it was announced that Bandido had tested positive for [[COVID-19]], thus ending his participation in the scheduled match.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.rohwrestling.com/news/jonathan-gresham-gets-his-shot-roh-world-champion-bandido-final-battle | title = Jonathan Gresham Gets His Shot At ROH World Champion Bandido At Final Battle | accessdate=July 17, 2022 | publisher=[[Ring of Honor]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | first=Jeremy | last=Lambert | url = https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/bandido-tests-positive-covid-roh-final-battle-match-change | title = Bandido Tests Positive For COVID, ROH Final Battle Match To Change | date=December 9, 2021 | accessdate=July 17, 2022 | publisher=Fightful}}</ref> [[Jay Lethal]] took Bandido’s place against Gresham at Final Battle where Gresham defeated Lethal and won the vacated ROH World Championship, now represented by the original title belt.<ref name="GreshamvsLethal">{{cite web | url = https://www.rohwrestling.com/news/jay-lethal-returning-face-jonathan-gresham | title = JAY LETHAL RETURNING TO FACE JONATHAN GRESHAM AS PART OF DOUBLE MAIN EVENT AT FINAL BATTLE: END OF AN ERA! | accessdate=July 17, 2022 | publisher=[[Ring of Honor]]}}</ref><ref name="FinalBattle">{{cite web|title=Final Battle: End Of An Era Recap: Jonathan Gresham Wins Original ROH World Title Belt; Briscoes Become 12-Time World Tag Champs; Shocking Confrontations Transpire|url=https://www.rohwrestling.com/news/final-battle-end-era-recap-jonathan-gresham-wins-original-roh-world-title|publisher=ROH Wrestling|author=ROH Staff|access-date=July 17, 2022}}</ref> However, during ROH’s hiatus after Final Battle, Gresham and Bandido would appear in different promotions defending their respective championships; Gresham with the original belt and Bandido with the most recently designed belt. The championship was defended on cards promoted by other companies such as longtime ROH national rival [[Impact Wrestling]], [[Game Changer Wrestling]] (GCW), the UK-based [[Progress Wrestling]], and [[All Elite Wrestling]] (AEW). Both men even defended their respective titles with Gresham's new promotion, TERMINUS.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Jeremy |title=Jonathan Gresham to Defend ROH World Title At GCW Say What You Will |url=http://411mania.com/wrestling/jonathan-gresham-defend-roh-world-title-gcw-say-what-you-will/ |access-date=December 26, 2021 |website=411mania.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=TNA Wrestling |title=ROH World Title to be Defended in IMPACT for First-Time Ever as Jonathan Gresham Takes On Chris Sabin at Hard To Kill – TNA Wrestling |url=https://tnawrestling.com/2021/12/23/roh-world-title-to-be-defended-in-impact-for-first-time-ever-as-jonathan-gresham-takes-on-chris-sabin-at-hard-to-kill/ |access-date=December 23, 2021 |website=Tnawrestling.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | first=Jeremy | last=Lambert | url = https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/results/terminus-all-roads-lead-here-116-results-two-roh-title-defenses-aew-impact-roh-stars-action | title = TERMINUS All Roads Lead Here (1/16) Results: Two ROH Title Defenses, AEW IMPACT, ROH Stars In Action | date=January 16, 2022| accessdate=January 20, 2022 | publisher=Fightful}}</ref>

On January 20, 2022, it was announced that Bandido and Gresham would face each other in a [[championship unification]] match at [[Supercard of Honor XV]], the first ROH event after the hiatus.<ref name="TitleUnification">{{cite web|title=Jonathan Gresham, Bandido Will Meet At Supercard Of Honor To Determine Undisputed ROH World Champion|url=https://www.rohwrestling.com/news/jonathan-gresham-bandido-will-meet-supercard-honor-determine-undisputed-roh-world-champion|publisher=ROH Wrestling|author=ROH Staff|access-date=January 20, 2022}}</ref> At the event, Gresham defeated Bandido to unify the ROH World Championship.<ref name="SOH22">{{cite web|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2022/04/01/4-1-roh-supercard-of-honor-results-powells-live-review-of-bandido-vs-jonathan-gresham-for-the-undisputed-roh-championship-the-briscoes-vs-ftr-for-the-roh-tag-titles-rhett-titus-vs-minoru-suzuk/|title=4/1 ROH Supercard of Honor results: Powell's live review of Bandido vs. Jonathan Gresham for the undisputed ROH Championship, The Briscoes vs. FTR for the ROH Tag Titles, Rhett Titus vs. Minoru Suzuki for the ROH TV Title, Josh Woods vs. Wheeler Yuta for the ROH Pure Rules Title|first=Jason|last=Powell|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|date=April 1, 2022|access-date=April 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324035837/https://prowrestling.net/site/2022/04/01/4-1-roh-supercard-of-honor-results-powells-live-review-of-bandido-vs-jonathan-gresham-for-the-undisputed-roh-championship-the-briscoes-vs-ftr-for-the-roh-tag-titles-rhett-titus-vs-minoru-suzuk/|archive-date=March 24, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="revived">{{cite news |last=Faria |first=Colby |date=April 1, 2022 |title=ROH Supercard of Honor XV Results: Jonathan Gresham vs. Bandido For The Undisputed ROH World Title + More! |url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/results/roh-supercard-honor-xv-results-jonathan-gresham-vs-bandido-undisputed-roh-world-title-more |access-date=April 1, 2022 |publisher=Fightful}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Sanchez |title=JONATHAN GRESHAM CROWNED UNDISPUTED ROH WORLD CHAMPION |url=https://wrestletalk.com/news/jonathan-gresham-undisputed-roh-world-champion/ |access-date=April 1, 2022 |website=Wrestletalk.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Padula |first=Dominic |date= |title=#AndNEW: Jonathan Gresham Unifies ROH World Championship |url=https://lastwordonsports.com/prowrestling/2022/04/01/andnew-jonathan-gresham-unifies-roh-championship/ |access-date=April 1, 2022 |website=Lastwordonsports.com}}</ref> Afterwards, Gresham continued to carry the original belt while the belt carried by Bandido was shelved.

On November 11, 2023, AEW announced a tournament called the [[AEW Continental Classic|Continental Classic]], with the winner becoming the first [[AEW Continental Champion]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Defelice|first=Robert|title=Tony Khan Announces AEW Continental Classic Tournament Starts On 11/22, Concludes At AEW Worlds End|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/tony-khan-announces-aew-continental-classic-tournament-starts-1122-concludes-aew-worlds-end|work=Fightful|date=November 11, 2023|access-date=November 11, 2023|archive-date=November 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112034526/https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/tony-khan-announces-aew-continental-classic-tournament-starts-1122-concludes-aew-worlds-end|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Rose |first=Bryan |title=AEW announces Continental Classic tournament, Bryan Danielson first entrant |url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/aew/aew-announces-continental-classic-tournament-bryan-danielson-first-entrant |date=November 11, 2023|access-date=November 14, 2023 |website=[[Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online]]}}</ref><ref name="new AEW title">{{cite web |last=Renner |first=Ethan |title=AEW announces new title & Continental Classic competitors |url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/aew/aew-announces-new-title-continental-classic-competitors |work=[[Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online]]|date=November 18, 2023|access-date=November 18, 2023}}</ref> Eddie Kingston, who held the ROH World Championship and NJPW's [[Strong Openweight Championship]], announced that he would be putting his championships on the line in the tournament and that the tournament's winner would be an American Triple Crown Champion (collectively referred to as the Continental Crown).<ref name="new AEW title"/><ref name = "TK">{{cite web |last1=Thomas |first1=Jeremy |title=Tony Khan Gives More Details on AEW Continental Classic, Will Conclude At Worlds End |url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/tony-khan-details-aew-continental-classic-worlds-end/ |work=[[411Mania]] |date=November 19, 2023 |access-date=November 19, 2023}}</ref> At AEW's [[Worlds End (2023)|Worlds End]] event, Kingston defeated [[Jon Moxley]] in the Continental Classic final, retaining the ROH World and Strong Openweight championships and becoming the first Continental Crown Champion. Kingston would lose the AEW Continental Championship to [[Kazuchika Okada]] on the March 20, 2024, episode of ''[[AEW Dynamite|Dynamite]]'', thus losing his recognition as Triple Crown Champion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/tony-khan-clarifies-rules-aew-continental-title/|title=Tony Khan Clarifies Rules Around AEW Continental Title|date=March 22, 2024|last=Thomas|first=Jeremy|work=[[411Mania]]|access-date=March 22, 2024}}</ref>

On June 16, 2025 it was announced that on June 17, 2025 the ROH World Championship will be defended in [[Mexico]] as champion [[Bandido (wrestler)|Bandido]] defends the title against [[Máscara Dorada]] at [[CMLL vs. AEW & ROH]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Skudder |first=Jake |title=CMLL vs AEW and ROH 2025 Card|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/event-guides/cmll-vs-aew-roh-card/ |access-date=June 16, 2025 |website=Www.f4wonline.com}}</ref> During the event Bandido was successful at retaining.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Suit |title=AEW & ROH vs. CMLL Arena Mexico live coverage: Bandido vs. Mascara Dorada|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/aew/aew-results/aew-roh-vs-cmll-arena-mexico-live-coverage-bandido-mascara-dorada/ |access-date=June 17, 2025 |website=Www.f4wonline.com}}</ref>
[[File:Samoa Joe, 2022 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|150px|[[Samoa Joe]] has the record for the longest reign with 21 months and four days. During his reign, the championship was renamed from the ROH Championship to the ROH World Championship.]]

==Inaugural championship tournament (2002)==
On June 22, 2002, ROH held the first part of a tournament to crown the inaugural ROH Champion.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":0">{{cite web |last=Staff |first=Cagematch.net |title=ROH Championship Tournament (2002) results |url=http://www.cagematch.net/?id=26&nr=411 |access-date=March 31, 2024 |website=Cagematch.net}}</ref> Sixteen wrestlers were divided into four blocks, with the winner of each block competing in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Non-elimination matches with four or more competitors|Four-Way]] [[Iron Man match]] on July 27, 2002 to determine the first champion.

=== Tournament bracket ===

{{4TeamBracket
| seeds = no
| RD1 = '''Block A'''
| RD2 = Final
| RD1-team1 = [[Paul London]]
| RD1-score1 = Pin<ref name=":3" />
| RD1-team2 = '''[[Brian Kendrick|Spanky]]'''
| RD1-score2 = 9:58
| RD1-team3 = '''[[Jody Fleisch]]'''
| RD1-score3 = 7:01
| RD1-team4 = [[Jonny Storm]]
| RD1-score4 = Pin<ref name=":3" />
| RD2-team1 = '''Spanky'''
| RD2-score1 = 5:13
| RD2-team2 = Jody Fleisch
| RD2-score2 = Pin<ref name=":3" />
}}

{{4TeamBracket
| seeds = no
| RD1 = '''Block B'''
| RD2 = Final
| RD1-team1 = '''[[Christopher Daniels]]'''
| RD1-score1 = 2:28
| RD1-team2 = [[Scoot Andrews]]
| RD1-score2 = Pin<ref name=":3" />
| RD1-team3 = '''[[AJ Styles]]'''
| RD1-score3 = 21:49
| RD1-team4 = [[Jerry Lynn]]
| RD1-score4 = Pin<ref name=":3" />
| RD2-team1 = '''Christopher Daniels'''
| RD2-score1 = 15:30
| RD2-team2 = AJ Styles
| RD2-score2 = Pin<ref name=":3" />
}}

{{4TeamBracket
| seeds = no
| RD1 = '''Block C'''
| RD2 = Final
| RD1-team1 = '''[[Bryan Danielson|American Dragon]]'''
| RD1-score1 = 2:31
| RD1-team2 = Bio-Hazard
| RD1-score2 = Sub<ref name=":3" />
| RD1-team3 = '''[[Doug Williams (wrestler)|Doug Williams]]'''
| RD1-score3 = 6:17
| RD1-team4 = [[Jay Briscoe]]
| RD1-score4 = Pin<ref name=":3" />
| RD2-team1 = American Dragon
| RD2-score1 = Pin<ref name=":3" />
| RD2-team2 = '''Doug Williams'''
| RD2-score2 = 13:17
}}

{{4TeamBracket
| seeds = no
| RD1 = '''Block D'''
| RD2 = Final
| RD1-team1 = '''[[Low Ki]]'''
| RD1-score1 = 3:53
| RD1-team2 = [[Prince Nana]]
| RD1-score2 = TKO<ref name=":3" />
| RD1-team3 = '''[[Amazing Red]]'''
| RD1-score3 = 4:20
| RD1-team4 = [[Xavier (wrestler)|Xavier]]
| RD1-score4 = Pin<ref name=":3" />
| RD2-team1 = '''Low Ki'''
| RD2-score1 = 11:16
| RD2-team2 = Amazing Red
| RD2-score2 = Pin<ref name=":3" />
}}

===Final===
[[Low Ki]] won the Four-Way 60-minute Iron Man match to become the inaugural champion.<ref name=":3" />

{| class="wikitable"
!Wrestler
!Points
|-
|'''[[Low Ki]]'''||style="text-align:center"|'''3'''
|-
|[[Christopher Daniels]]|| style="text-align:center" |2
|-
|[[Doug Williams (wrestler)|Doug Williams]]|| style="text-align:center" |-1
|-
|[[Brian Kendrick|Spanky]]|| style="text-align:center" |-1
|}

*Due to having multiple competitors, the rules for the Iron Man match were altered to a point system where a wrestler scoring a pinfall or submission was awarded two points, while the wrestler being pinned or submitted lost one point.

==Belt designs==
{{Multiple image
| align             = center
| image1            = ROH Original Title.png
| image2            = ROH World Championship 2004.webp
| image3            = ROH World Championship.jpg
| image4            = ROH World Championship belt.png
| image5            = ROH World Title.jpg
| total_width       = 1050
| footer            = ROH World Championship belts (left-to-right): first design (2002–2004; 2004–2010; 2021–2023), second design (2004), third design (2010–2012), fifth design (2017–2023), and current (2023–present).
}}

The Original 2002 design was based heavily on the now defunct UWF world heavyweight championship. 

In 2010, the title belt, along with the ROH World Tag Team Championship belts, was redesigned.<ref>{{cite web|title=ROH Wrestling {{!}} www.rohwrestling.com |url=http://www.rohwrestling.com/rohworldtitle.php |date=April 12, 2010 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100412035906/http://www.rohwrestling.com/rohworldtitle.php |archive-date=April 12, 2010 }}</ref> The new belt has an eagle with its wings spread over a picture of the world with an ROH logo on the top. This design also includes various [[flags]] on different countries.

In December 2012, a new design was introduced at the [[Final Battle (2012)|Final Battle]] iPPV.

In 2014, During the rivalry between [[Adam Cole]] and Jay Briscoe, Briscoe unveiled a custom ROH World Title belt.

In December 2017, ROH unveiled another new design for the title belt, which debuted at [[Final Battle (2017)|Final Battle]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pwinsider.com/article/114204/roh-unveils-new-world-heavyweight-championship-belt.html?p=1|title=ROH unveils new World Heavyweight Championship belt|date=December 14, 2017|last=Jordan|first=Paul|access-date=December 14, 2017|work=Pro Wrestling Insider}}</ref>

On March 31, 2023, a new design of the championship belt was revealed on the Countdown to [[Supercard of Honor (2023)|Supercard of Honor]] show, making it the sixth design in the title's history.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gibbons |first1=Aidan |title=New ROH World Title Belt Revealed |url=https://cultaholic.com/posts/new-roh-world-title-belt-revealed |access-date=April 3, 2023 |work=Cultaholic |date=March 31, 2023}}</ref>

The current (2023) design of the ROH World Championship has black strap featuring 5 plates. The main plate is silver with 2 black banners. The top reading "WORLD" and the bottom banner reading "WRESTLING CHAMPION". The center of the plate features a globe with the current Ring of Honor logo on it. The side plates are circular with the Ring of Honor logo on the top and an engraved figure of a wrestler performing the "Jay Driller" finisher, paying tribute to former ROH World Champion and Hall of Famer, [[Jay Briscoe]], who died in a car accident in January 2023.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Www.thesmackdownhotel.com |title=ROH World Championship |url=https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/title-history/roh/roh-world-championship |access-date=January 7, 2025 |website=Www.thesmackdownhotel.com}}</ref>

When [[Mark Briscoe]] became champion, he introduced his own variant of the title, with the plates on a white & black [[camouflage]] strap.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pizzaz |first=Manolo Has |title=ROH Roundup: Mark Briscoe two world title defenses, Dustin Rhodes in tears, more! |url=https://www.cagesideseats.com/2024/8/25/24227562/roh-ep-77-78-recap-ring-of-honor-mark-briscoe-two-world-title-defenses-dustin-rhodes-tears |access-date=August 25, 2024 |website=Cagesideseats.com}}</ref>

==Reigns==
{{Main|List of ROH World Champions}}
[[File:Bandido 16 Carat Gold 2020 N1 (3) (cropped).jpg|thumb|Two-time and current champion [[Bandido (wrestler)|Bandido]]]]
Overall, there have been 42 ROH World Championship reigns and 33 total champions. The title has been vacated twice. The inaugural champion was [[Low Ki]], who defeated [[Christopher Daniels]], [[Brian Kendrick|Spanky]], and [[Doug Williams (wrestler)|Doug Williams]] in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Basic non-elimination matches|Four Way]] [[Iron Man match|60-minute Iron Man match]] at the Crowning A Champion event on July 27, 2002, to become the inaugural champion.<ref name=":3" />

[[Adam Cole]] holds the record for most reigns, with three. [[Jay Lethal]] has the most defenses, with 41; [[Kyle O'Reilly]] has the fewest, with 0. At 645 days, [[Samoa Joe]] has the longest reign in the title's history; Kyle O'Reilly's reign is the shortest at 33 days.

[[Bandido (wrestler)|Bandido]] is the current champion in his second reign. He defeated [[Chris Jericho]] in a [[Lucha Libre#Luchas de Apuestas|Title vs. Mask match]] on April 6, 2025 in [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]] at [[AEW Dynasty (2025)|Dynasty]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Wrestlers as the ROH World Champion}}
*[https://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=121 ROH World Title History] at Cagematch.net

{{Ring of Honor}}
{{ROH World Championship}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Roh World Championship}}
[[Category:Ring of Honor championships]]
[[Category:World heavyweight wrestling championships]]
[[Category:World professional wrestling championships]]