Athena surpasses Roman Reigns' record reign in AEW's ROH division

Roman Reigns’ long shadow over championship reigns has been eclipsed: not in WWE, but in AEW’s sister brand ROH. **Athena** now holds the ROH Women’s World Championship for **1,317 days**, one day longer than Reigns’ 1,316-day run as WWE Universal Champion from August 2020 to WrestleMania 40.

What happened?

Athena, a standout performer since joining AEW in 2022, quietly built her legacy on ROH TV rather than the main AEW roster. While Reigns dominated headlines as the Tribal Chief, Athena’s dominance in the women’s division went under the radar. On 18 June 2026, she officially passed his record: and she made sure the world knew it.

“I meant FOREVER!!!! Longest reigning champion of the modern era belongs to me and me only!!” Athena posted on X alongside hashtags **#ForeverROHChamp** and **#FallenGoddess**. The reaction was immediate: the ROH Women’s World Championship is now hers: forever, in her words: and no one else’s.

Why it matters for Roman Reigns

Reigns’ 1,316-day reign wasn’t just long: it redefined what it meant to be a top champion during the pandemic era. His run began in August 2020 and ended only when Cody Rhodes defeated him at WrestleMania 40 in April 2024. No one had held a major singles title that long in decades.

Athena’s achievement doesn’t diminish Reigns’ legacy. It mirrors it. Both became the faces of their brands during defining eras. Both redefined what it meant to hold a title. And both did it while operating largely outside the spotlight: Reigns as the Tribal Chief, Athena on ROH TV. The comparison isn’t lost on fans: one man’s record now belongs to a woman who carried the torch forward.

Reigns himself reflected on the cost of his transformation during a 2025 interview. “Early on, you could say that was exactly what I was,” he told *Nightcap*. “But around COVID when I came back, I had to make a choice: do I want to be one of the boys, or do I want to be responsible for the championships?” His answer: he chose the title. “We’re not a faction. We’re a family,” he said. “People wondering how long it’s going to go on for? Forever. Until I’m gone.”

What comes next?

Athena’s reign isn’t just symbolic: it’s a statement. At 1,317 days and counting, she’s now the longest-reigning modern-era champion in professional wrestling. The pressure is on: will she break 1,500 days? Will she defend against every top contender in ROH? And will the AEW universe finally give her the mainstream spotlight she’s earned?

For Reigns, the milestone is a reminder: legacy isn’t measured in days alone. It’s measured in impact. And whether in WWE or ROH, the Head of the Table still casts a long shadow. But now, a new name shines in its glow: Athena, the new queen of the longest reign.