Athena Next ROH Women’s World Championship Challenger After Death Before Dishonor 2026

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At ROH Death Before Dishonor 2026, Athena defeated Hazuki to retain the ROH Women’s World Championship.

With her reign currently standing at 1,350 days plus and counting, it will be interesting to see who will be next to step up to “The Fallen Goddess.”

Athena has stood on top for nearly four years now, so whoever is next could be the individual to finally topple “The Forever Ring of Honor Women’s World Champion.”

Here are ten Athena next potential ROH Women’s World Championship challengers after Death Before Dishonor 2026.

10. Maya World

The only woman in Ring of Honor who has been able to figure out Athena on some level is Maya World.

On the March 1 edition of ROH on Honor Club, Maya pushed Athena to her limit to become the first woman to go to a 10-minute time limit draw with “The Fallen Goddess” in over 30 matches.

This led to Athena needing help from MIT to get by Maya in their singles rematch on ROH TV and then in the Survival of the Fittest at Supercard of Honor 2026.

While World has gone on to greater heights in AEW as the current TBS Champion, there is potential for a singles rubber match with all the gold on the line between Maya and Athena waiting to happen.

9. Hyan

Speaking of Maya World, her singles success in AEW and ROH has somewhat overshadowed the potential of her tag team with Hyan.

The duo have remained together and team on both AEW and ROH TV, but it does seem like Maya is breaking out as a singles act now.

With that in mind, Ring of Honor has the opportunity to close the gap by giving Hyan the opportunity against Athena.

During her time in AEW and ROH, Hyan has showcased a ton of fighting spirit and tenacity that should make her a formidable challenger for Athena coming off the heels of Death Before Dishonor 2026.

8. Billie Starkz

The story of Athena in Ring of Honor has been interconnected with the rise of her faction MIT and her understudy Billie Starkz.

After beating the upstart in the Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament in 2023, Athena took Starkz under her wing as her “minion in training” and has since established her MIT stable with more students.

With Starkz and Diamante by her side, Athena has continue to reign over the ROH women’s division, but Billie feels like the opponent that has pushed her the most with two previous failed attempts at Final Battle in 2023 and 2024.

Considering it has been nearly two years since that last match, it might finally be the time for Billie to win the big one by vanquishing her teacher to end Athena’s historic run.

7. Mina Shirakawa

Another challenger who has failed to beat “The Fallen Goddess” in the past is Mina Shirakawa.

Back at ROH Death Before Dishonor 2025, Shirakawa failed to overcome Athena for the ROH Women’s World Championship.

Since then, Shirakawa has focused more on tag team competition, going to the finals of the AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championship tournament with “Timeless” Toni Storm and recently aligning with Queen Aminata.

Despite her recent venture into tag team wrestling, Shirakawa still has aspirations to get singles gold and could step up to challenge Athena once again after a year has passed since their last battle.

6. Queen Aminata

Speaking of Mina Shirakawa, she has recently started to team with Queen Aminata on ROH TV.

Like many names in the ROH women’s scene, Aminata is another victim of Athena’s unstoppable reign.

Back at ROH Death Before Dishonor 2024, Athena defeated Aminata to retain the ROH Women’s World Championship.

Now two years later, Aminata is wiser and has learned a lot over that time to help her finally be ready for a rematch against Athena in the near future.

5. Persephone

Persephone has started to make her presence felt on AEW television on a regular basis recently.

The current CMLL Women’s World Champion splits her time between her home promotion in Mexico and All Elite Wrestling.

However, Persephone has also made her mark in Ring of Honor where she had a memorable clash with Athena at ROH Final Battle 2025.

Following this loss, Persephone officially signed with AEW as a dual contracted star with CMLL, so it would make sense to see the 24 year old star challenge Athena for the ROH Women’s World Champion one more time before long.

4. Kay Lee Ray (Alba Fyre)

On April 24, WWE announced their round of talent cuts with over 24 wrestlers being released from the company.

One of the more notable names from these WWE releases was Alba Fyre.

During her seven-year run with the promotion, Fyre was a WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion, NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion and the longest-reigning NXT UK Women’s Champion.

Now that she is officially a free agent, Fyre, now once again known as Kay Lee Ray, feels like someone who could be a key acquisition for the AEW and ROH women’s division by bringing her in to challenge Athena for the gold upon her arrival.

3. Dani Luna

Another free agent who could come in to challenge Athena for the ROH Women’s World Championship is Dani Luna.

After leaving the NXT UK brand upon its closure in 2022, Luna hit the ground running in establishing her name across the independent scene in Europe and America.

Luna then signed with TNA Wrestling where she became a two-time TNA Knockouts World Tag Team Champion and considered a potential breakout star from their women’s scene.

Following her abrupt departure from TNA in March 2026, Luna has the intensity, aggressiveness and fire to be a more than capable challenger for Athena’s gold if she were to sign or make her debut in ROH.

2. Red Velvet

Another former challenger for Athena’s ROH Women’s World Championship who could step up next is Red Velvet.

Back in 2024, Athena defeated Velvet to retain her title at the AEW Battle of the Belts special. However, the Red Velvet of 2024 is not the same in 2026.

Two years later, Velvet is the current, two-time ROH Women’s World TV Champion and someone who has improved a great deal.

Considering her successful second reign with the TV gold, it might be time for Red to challenge Athena one more time, potentially in a title-for-title sceneario.

1. Deonna Purrazzo

Another potential champion vs. champion clash that fans could potentially see down the road is Athena facing off with Deonna Purrazzo.

Unlike so many of the names previously mentioned, Purrazzo has not been a failed contender for Athena’s title.

In fact, “The Virtuosa” has never faced Athena one-on-one in any promotion at the time of this writing.

Considering her success as ROH Women’s Pure Champion and recent run-ins with MIT, Deonna Purrazzo feels like the no-brainer option for Athena’s Women’s World Title in the very near future.

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• ROH
• death before dishonor
• Athena

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