Tony Khan Announces Creation of New ROH Championship

Tony Khan has expanded Ring of Honor’s championship lineup with the addition of a new women’s title. The AEW president made the announcement following the AEW Collision broadcast from Springfield, Massachusetts, revealing that a tournament will determine the inaugural ROH Women’s Pure Championship holder.

The tournament will conclude at ROH’s Supercard of Honor event scheduled for May 2, where the first champion will be crowned. This new title will adhere to ROH’s established “pure” rules format, which prohibits closed-fist strikes, bans outside interference, and utilizes a three-judge panel to determine winners in case of time-limit draws. The men’s division currently features Lee Moriarty as ROH Pure Champion.

This addition marks the third women’s championship in the ROH structure, joining the existing Women’s World Championship held by Athena and the Women’s Television Championship currently possessed by Red Velvet, which was introduced in December 2023. The continued expansion of women’s wrestling opportunities has been highlighted as a key initiative since Khan acquired the promotion.

Athena, who has held the ROH Women’s World Championship for more than 850 days, is simultaneously competing in the AEW Owen Hart Cup tournament. After defeating Harley Cameron on Collision, she advances to face Mercedes Mone in the semifinal match scheduled for the April 16 Spring Break Thru special. The opposite bracket features Kris Statlander squaring off against Jamie Hayter to determine who advances to the tournament final.

Tony Khan revealed a new ROH Women's Pure Championship after AEW Collision 👇

📸 @WrestlePurists pic.twitter.com/x8xMXd0ChB

— WrestleTalk (@WrestleTalk_TV) April 13, 2025