Updated

Updated · Fox News · Aug 23

ROH Crowns 2 New Champions as Athena Extends 1,350-Day Reign at Death Before Dishonor

Updated

Updated · Fox News · Aug 23

ROH Crowns 2 New Champions as Athena Extends 1,350-Day Reign at Death Before Dishonor

Q: Can Lee Moriarty's historic 755-day championship reign survive the very man who shattered his first title run?

Yes—Moriarty’s reign can survive Shibata, but this is clearly the toughest threat to it. The case for Moriarty is strong. He enters Death Before Dishonor with a historic run of more than 755 days as ROH Pure Champion, the longest men’s Pure title reign in company history. Since beating Wheeler Yuta for the belt at Death Before Dishonor in July 2024, he has built credibility with wins over respected names including Blue Panther, Nigel McGuinness and AR Fox. Moriarty’s own argument is that this reign has proved he can adapt to any style, which matters greatly under Pure Rules, where discipline, rope-break management and technical control are decisive. But Shibata is not just another challenger. He is the man who ended Moriarty’s first Pure title reign in May 2023, and he also beat him again in singles competition on AEW Collision in April 2024. That head-to-head history gives Shibata a real psychological and stylistic edge. He also earned this shot by beating Yuta in a No. 1 contender’s Pure Rules match, showing he remains elite in exactly this format. So the answer is that Moriarty can retain, but only if he solves the one opponent who has repeatedly exposed him in this division. His championship run, experience as the defending champion, and recent résumé make survival plausible. Yet if any challenger is equipped to end this historic reign, it is Shibata, because he has already done it once and has beaten Moriarty more than once.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 23

Two ROH titles changed hands in Philadelphia, where Action Andretti beat Lio Rush for the TV Championship and Lethal Twist captured the Six-Man Tag Team belts.
Athena and Bandido still anchored the card with major title defenses, as Athena pinned Hazuki with the O-Face to push her women’s world title reign to 1,350 days and Bandido escaped Nick Wayne with a crucifix pin.
2300 Arena hosted a show with few title changes but several hard-fought retains, including Lee Moriarty over Katsuyori Shibata, Red Velvet in a four-way, Deonna Purrazzo, and Místico and Máscara Dorada.
ROH had loaded Death Before Dishonor with championship matches ahead of the event, and the result leaves the promotion heading into the fall with most top champions still in place.