View source for List of ROH Pure Champions

{{short description|Listing of professional wrestling champions for the ROH Pure Championship}}
{{use American English|date=January 2023}}
{{use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
The [[ROH Pure Championship]] is a [[professional wrestling championship]] contested for in the American [[professional wrestling promotion]] [[Ring of Honor]] (ROH). The championship is generally contested in [[Professional wrestling match types|professional wrestling matches]], in which participants execute [[Screenplay|scripted]] finishes rather than contend in [[Competition#Sports|direct competition]].
[[File:Lee Moriarty in February 2024.jpg|thumb|231x231px|Current and longest reigning champion [[Lee Moriarty]]]]

Overall, there have been 15 championship reigns between 13 different champions. The title has been vacated once. [[A.J. Styles]] was the inaugural champion, while [[Jonathan Gresham]] was the first champion upon the title's revival. [[Wheeler Yuta]] is the only champion to have more than one reign with the title, with three reigns. [[Lee Moriarty]] has the longest reign at {{age in days nts|July 26, 2024}}+ days with 10 title defenses. [[Bryan Danielson]] had the shortest reign at less than a day since the title was decommissioned after being unified with the ROH World Championship.

[[Lee Moriarty]] is the current champion in his first reign. He defeated Wheeler Yuta at [[Death Before Dishonor (2024)|Death Before Dishonor]] on July 26, 2024, in [[Arlington, Texas]].

==Reigns==
=== Names ===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Name
!Years
|-
|ROH Pure Wrestling Championship
|2004
|-
|'''[[ROH Pure Championship]]'''
|2004 – 2006; 2020 – present
|-
|'''[[ROH World Championship]]'''
|2006
|}
 
{{Professional wrestling title history top|defenses=yes|active=yes|dayless=yes}}
{{PWtitlereign
|sort number = 0.5
|type = promotion
|name = [[Ring of Honor]] (ROH)
}}
{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 1
|champion = {{sortname|A.J|Styles}}
|reign    = 1
|date     = {{dts|2004|2|14}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=02|day1=14|year1=2004|month2=04|day2=24|year2=2004}}
|location = [[Braintree, Massachusetts|Braintree, MA]]
|event    = [[ROH 2nd Anniversary Show|Second Anniversary Show]]
|defenses = 1
|notes    = Defeated [[CM Punk]] in the ROH Pure Championship tournament finals to become the inaugural champion.
|ref      = <ref name=PWIROHPure>{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> | title=ROH Pure Title | magazine=PWI 2007 Wrestling Almanac & Book of facts | location= Blue Bell, Pennsylvania | publisher= [[London Publishing]] | date=June 2007 | editor-first=Harry | editor-last=Burkett | page=76 | isbn=978-25274-00389}}</ref><ref name="rohresults">{{cite web|url=http://www.rohwrestling.com/live/events/past-event|title=ROH official event results|access-date=April 7, 2012|publisher=[[Ring of Honor]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120718012719/http://www.rohwrestling.com/live/events/past-event|archive-date=July 18, 2012}}</ref><ref name="purewt">{{cite web|url=http://wrestling-titles.com/us/roh/roh-p.html|title=ROH Pure Championship history|access-date=April 15, 2007|publisher=Wrestling Titles}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=1245|title=ROH Second Anniversary Show|first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm|publisher=Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database|date=February 14, 2004|access-date=December 2, 2020}}</ref>
}}{{PWtitlereign
|sort number = 1.5
|type     = vacated
|date     = {{dts|2004|4|24}}
|defenses = yes
|notes    = Vacated when Styles was pulled from all ROH shows by [[Total Nonstop Action Wrestling]] following the Rob Feinstein controversy.
|ref=<ref name=PWIROHPure/><ref name="rohresults"/>
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 2
|champion = {{sortname|Doug|Williams|dab=wrestler}}
|reign    = 1
|date     = {{dts|2004|7|17}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=07|day1=17|year1=2004|month2=08|day2=28|year2=2004}}
|location = [[Elizabeth, New Jersey|Elizabeth, NJ]]
|event    = Reborn: Completion
|defenses = 3
|notes    = Defeated [[Alex Shelley]] in a tournament final.
|ref      =<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=1255|title=ROH Reborn: Completion|first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm|publisher=Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database|date=July 17, 2004|access-date=December 2, 2020}}</ref><ref name="rohofficial">{{cite web|url=http://rohwrestling.com/titlehistory/|title=ROH Pure Championship official title history |access-date=2007-04-14|publisher=[[Ring of Honor]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070325001514/http://rohwrestling.com/titlehistory/|archive-date=March 25, 2007}}</ref>
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 3
|champion = {{sortname|John|Walters|RJ Brewer}}
|reign    = 1
|date     = {{dts|2004|8|28}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=08|day1=28|year1=2004|month2=03|day2=5|year2=2005}}
|location = [[Elizabeth, New Jersey|Elizabeth, NJ]]
|event    = Scramble Cage Melee
|defenses = 6
|notes    = 
|ref      =<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=1259|title=ROH Scramble Cage Melee|first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm|publisher=Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database|date=August 28, 2004|access-date=December 2, 2020}}</ref>
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 4
|champion = {{sortname|Jay|Lethal}}
|reign    = 1
|date     = {{dts|2005|3|5}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=03|day1=5|year1=2005|month2=05|day2=7|year2=2005}}
|location = [[Philadelphia|Philadelphia, PA]]
|event    = Trios Tournament 2005
|defenses = 2
|notes    = 
|ref      =<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=1274|title=ROH Trios Tournament|first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm|publisher=Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database|date=March 5, 2005|access-date=December 2, 2020}}</ref><ref name=F4W0219>{{cite web | url=http://www.f4wonline.com/other-wrestling/daily-pro-wrestling-history-0305-hardy-boyz-win-wwf-tag-team-gold-231271 | title=Daily Pro Wrestling History (03/05): The Hardy Boyz win WWF tag team gold  | date=March 5, 2017 | access-date=March 5, 2017 | first=Brian | last=Hoops | publisher=Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online}}</ref>
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 5
|champion = {{sortname|Samoa|Joe}}
|reign    = 1
|date     = {{dts|2005|5|7}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=05|day1=7|year1=2005|month2=08|day2=27|year2=2005}}
|location = [[New York City|New York, NY]]
|event    = Manhattan Mayhem I
|defenses = 6
|notes    = 
|ref      =<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=1278|title=ROH Manhattan Mayhem|first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm|publisher=Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database|date=May 7, 2005|access-date=December 2, 2020}}</ref>
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 6
|champion = {{sortname|Nigel|McGuinness}}
|reign    = 1
|date     = {{dts|2005|8|27}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=08|day1=27|year1=2005|month2=08|day2=12|year2=2006}}
|location = [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo, NY]]
|event    = Dragon Gate Invasion
|defenses = 17
|notes    = 
|ref      =<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=3383|title=ROH Dragon Gate Invasion|first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm|publisher=Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database|date=August 27, 2005|access-date=December 2, 2020}}</ref>
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 7
|champion = {{sortname|Bryan|Danielson}}
|reign    = 1
|date     = {{dts|2006|08|12}}
|days     = <1
|location = [[Liverpool|Liverpool, England]]
|event    = Unified
|defenses = 0
|notes    = This was a title unification match with Danielson's [[ROH World Championship]] on the line.
|ref     = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=7494|title=ROH Unified|first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm|publisher=Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database|date=August 12, 2006|access-date=December 2, 2020}}</ref>
}}{{PWtitlereign
|sort number = 7.5
|type     = unified
|date     = {{dts|2006|08|12}}
|location = [[Liverpool|Liverpool, England]]
|event    = Unified
|defenses = yes
|notes    = Title was deactivated sometime after it unified with the [[ROH World Championship]].
|ref = <ref>{{Cite web |last=r/SquaredCircle |first=snowshoeBBQ |title=Why did ROH retire the Pure Championship? |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/31fq4v/why_did_roh_retire_the_pure_championship/ |access-date=July 16, 2024 |website=Reddit.com}}</ref><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>
}}{{PWtitlereign 
|number = 8
|champion = {{sortname|Jonathan|Gresham}}
|reign    = 1
|date     = {{dts|2020|10|30}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|2020|10|30|2021|09|12}}
|location = [[Baltimore|Baltimore, MD]]
|event    = ''[[Ring of Honor Wrestling]]''
|defenses = 7
|notes    = Defeated [[Tracy Williams]] in the final of a tournament to crown a new champion for the revived title.
|ref=<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=294123|title=ROH Wrestling #476|first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm|publisher=Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database|date=August 23, 2020|access-date=December 2, 2020}}</ref>
}}{{PWtitlereign 
|number = 9
|champion = {{sortname|Josh|Woods|dab=wrestler}}
|reign    = 1
|date     = {{dts|2021|09|12}}
|days     = {{age in days|September 12, 2021|April 1, 2022}}
|location = [[Philadelphia|Philadelphia, PA]]
|event    = [[Death Before Dishonor XVIII]]
|defenses = 5
|notes    = During this reign, [[Tony Khan]] purchased Ring of Honor.
|ref      = <ref name="ROHDeathBeforeDishonor">{{cite web|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2021/09/12/9-12-roh-death-before-dishonor-results-powells-review-of-bandido-vs-brody-king-vs-ec3-vs-demonic-flamita-in-an-elimination-match-for-the-roh-world-championship-jonathan-gresham-vs-josh-wo/|title=9/12 ROH Death Before Dishonor results: Powell's review of Bandido vs. Brody King vs. EC3 vs. Demonic Flamita in an elimination match for the ROH World Championship, Jonathan Gresham vs. Josh Woods for the ROH Pure Title, Miranda Alize vs. Rok-C to become the first ROH Women's World Champion|first=Jason|last=Powell|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|date=September 13, 2021|access-date=September 13, 2021}}</ref>
}}{{PWtitlereign 
|number = 10
|champion = {{sortname|Wheeler|Yuta}}
|reign    = 1
|date     = {{dts|2022|04|01}}
|days     = {{age in days|April 1, 2022|September 7, 2022}}
|location = [[Garland, TX]]
|event    = [[Supercard of Honor XV]]
|defenses = 3
|notes    = 
|ref      = <ref name="SupercardHonorXV">{{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}}</ref>
}}{{PWtitlereign 
|number = 11
|champion = {{sortname|Daniel|Garcia|dab=wrestler}}
|reign    = 1
|date     = {{dts|2022|09|07}}
|days     = {{age in days|September 7, 2022|December 10, 2022}}
|location = [[Buffalo, NY]]
|event    = ''[[AEW Dynamite|Dynamite]]''
|defenses = 2
|notes    = This was an [[All Elite Wrestling]] event.
|ref      = <ref name="Dynamite09072022">{{cite web|last=Barnett|first=Jake|title=9/7 AEW Dynamite results: Barnett's live review of Tony Khan addressing the status of the AEW World Championship and AEW Trios Titles, MJF's return promo, Wheeler Yuta vs. Daniel Garcia for the ROH Pure Rules Title, Death Triangle vs. Best Friends, Interim AEW Women's Champ Toni Storm vs. Penelope Ford in an eliminator match|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2022/09/07/9-7-aew-dynamite-results-barnetts-live-review-of-tony-khan-addressing-the-status-of-the-aew-world-championship-and-aew-trios-titles-mjfs-return-promo-wheeler-yuta-vs-daniel-garcia-for-the-roh/|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|date=September 8, 2022|access-date=September 8, 2022}}</ref>
}}{{PWtitlereign 
|number   = 12
|champion = {{sortname|Wheeler|Yuta}}
|reign    = 2
|date     = {{dts|2022|12|10}}
|days     = {{age in days|December 10, 2022|March 31, 2023}}
|location = [[Arlington, TX]]
|event    = [[Final Battle (2022)|Final Battle]]
|defenses = 4
|notes    = 
|ref      = <ref name="FB2022">{{Cite web|last=Powell|first=Jason|title=ROH Final Battle results: Powell's live review of FTR vs. The Briscoes in a Double Dog Collar match for the ROH Tag Team Titles, Chris Jericho vs. Claudio Castagnoli for the ROH Championship, Mercedes Martinez vs. Athena for the ROH Women's Title, Daniel Garcia vs. Wheeler Yuta for the ROH Pure Rules Title|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2022/12/10/roh-final-battle-results-powells-live-review-of-ftr-vs-the-briscoes-in-a-double-dog-collar-match-for-the-roh-tag-team-titles-chris-jericho-vs-claudio-castagnoli-for-the-roh-championship-mercede/|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|date=December 10, 2022|access-date=December 10, 2022}}</ref>
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 13
|champion = {{sortname|Katsuyori|Shibata}}
|date     = {{dts|2023|03|31}}
|event    = [[Supercard of Honor (2023)|Supercard of Honor]]
|location = [[Los Angeles|Los Angeles, CA]]
|reign    = 1
|days     = {{age in days|March 31, 2023|November 25, 2023}}
|defenses = 5
|notes    = 
|ref      = <ref name="SupercardHonor23">{{cite web|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2023/03/31/roh-supercard-of-honor-results-powells-live-review-of-reach-for-the-sky-ladder-match-for-the-vacant-roh-tag-titles-claudio-castagnoli-vs-eddie-kingston-for-the-roh-championship-athena-vs-y/|title=ROH Supercard of Honor results: Powell's live review of Reach For The Sky ladder match for the vacant ROH Tag Titles, Claudio Castagnoli vs. Eddie Kingston for the ROH Championship, Athena vs. Yuka Sakazaki for the ROH Women's Championship, El Hijo del Vikingo vs. Komander for the AAA Mega Championship, Samoa Joe vs. Mark Briscoe for the ROH TV Title|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|first=Jason|last=Powell|date=March 31, 2023|access-date=April 1, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331232844/https://prowrestling.net/site/2023/03/31/roh-supercard-of-honor-results-powells-live-review-of-reach-for-the-sky-ladder-match-for-the-vacant-roh-tag-titles-claudio-castagnoli-vs-eddie-kingston-for-the-roh-championship-athena-vs-y/|archive-date=March 31, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 14
|champion = {{sortname|Wheeler|Yuta}}
|date     = {{dts|2023|11|25}}
|event    = ''[[AEW Rampage|Rampage]]''
|location = [[Pittsburgh|Pittsburgh, PA]]
|reign    = 3
|days     = {{age in days|November 25, 2023|July 26, 2024}}
|defenses = 3
|notes    = This was an [[All Elite Wrestling]] event. 
|ref      = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/wheeler-yuta-defeats-katsuyori-shibata-roh-pure-title-1125-aew-rampage|title=Wheeler Yuta Defeats Katsuyori Shibata For ROH Pure Title On 11/25 AEW Rampage|work=Fightful|first=Robert|last=Defelice|date=November 25, 2023|access-date=November 25, 2023}}</ref>
}}
{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 15
|champion = {{sortname|Lee|Moriarty}}
|date     = {{dts|2024|07|26}}
|event    = [[Death Before Dishonor (2024)|Death Before Dishonor]]
|location = [[Arlington, Texas|Arlington, TX]]
|reign    = 1
|days     = {{age in days nts|July 26, 2024}}+
|defenses = 10
|notes    = 
|ref      = <ref>{{Cite web |last=PRITCHARD |first=BILL |title=Lee Moriarty Wins ROH Pure Championship At Death Before Dishonor |url=https://www.wrestlezone.com/news/1491886-lee-moriarty-wins-roh-pure-championship-at-death-before-dishonor/amp |access-date=July 26, 2024 |website=Wrestlezone.com}}</ref>
}}{{BundleEnd}}

== Combined Reigns ==
As of {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTDAY}}, {{CURRENTYEAR}}.
{{multiple image
| image1 = Aj Styles Smash 2014 (cropped).jpg
| caption1 = The inaugural champion [[AJ Styles]].
|width1  = 170
| image2 = Nigel....jpg
| caption2 = Champion with the most title defenses [[Nigel McGuinness]].
| width2 = 170
| image3 = Wheeler_Yuta,_June_2022.jpg
| width3 = 170
| caption3 = Record-setting three-time champion [[Wheeler Yuta]].
}}
{| class="wikitable"
! style="background:#ffe6bd;" |†
|Indicates the current champion
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center"
!Rank
!Wrestler
!No. of<br />reigns
!Combined<br />defenses
!Combined<br />days
|-
!1
|style="background-color:#FFE6BD"|{{sortname|Lee|Moriarty}} † || 1 || 10 || {{age in days|July 26, 2024}}+
|-
!2
|{{sortname|Wheeler|Yuta}} || 3 || 10 || 514
|-
!3
|{{sortname|Nigel|McGuinness}} || 1 || 17 || 350
|-
!4
|{{sortname|Jonathan|Gresham}} || 1 || 7 || 317
|-
!5
|{{sortname|Katsuyori|Shibata}} || 1 || 5 || 239
|-
!6
|{{sortname|Josh|Woods|dab=wrestler}} || 1 || 5 || 201
|-
!7
|{{sortname|John|Walters|RJ Brewer}} || 1 || 6 || 189
|-
!8
|{{sortname|Samoa|Joe}} || 1 || 6 || 112
|-
!9
|{{sortname|Daniel|Garcia|dab=wrestler}} || 1 || 2 || 94
|-
!10
|{{sortname|A.J.|Styles}} || 1 || 1 || 70
|-
!11
|{{sortname|Jay|Lethal}} || 1 || 2 || 63
|-
!12
|{{sortname|Doug|Williams|dab=wrestler}} || 1 || 3 || 42
|-
!13
|{{sortname|Bryan|Danielson}} || 1 || 0 || <1
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=120 ROH Pure Title History] at Cagematch.net

{{Ring of Honor}}
{{ROH Pure Championship}}

[[Category:World professional wrestling championships]]
[[Category:Ring of Honor championships]]