Red Velvet and Deonna Purrazzo's ROH Championship Reigns

One thing that has not been an issue for the women’s ROH women’s roster ever is having a tremendous amount of talent. 

However, this has created a problem, where so many women need the chance to compete for a title. And since “The Forever” champ Athena is not losing the ROH women’s world championship any time soon,  it was time to bring on two more very prestigious titles into the mix for the ladies! 

With these additions, a promotion needs to bring champions that will set the tone for how that title will be seen by fans. Will they see it as a title that needs a spotlight? Or a second rate belt that doesn’t hold a candle to the World title? 

Well I am thrilled to see that Red Velvet and Deonna Purrazzo have made the ROH women’s TV title and the Pure Women’s Championship look like the premier belts to hold. Two very different styles, but must see title defenses and a feeling that you don’t want these women to lose their championships anytime soon. 

Let’s take a look at both women’s title reigns so far.

Pure championship 

The Pure championship brings the unique blend of many wrestling styles. The champ would have to be a student of the wrestling game and master techniques that would leave their competitors in a haze. Constantly brushing up on their submission, strong style, catch, lucha and technical skills. To the point where they can break out of every hold or lock that has ever been invented. The champ might also be a wrestler that has an extensive martial arts background and wants to incorporate it into their wrestling style, and wants opponents that are willing to bring that skill as well.

Current men’s Pure champion Lee Moriaty has really been such a riveting champion. A man of many holds that really puts his signature on that title and made the faithful ROH fans flock to the promotion because of the hybrid styles displayed really happy. 

This made it a no brainer for the female equivalent to Lee to be none other than Deonna Purrazzo. 

Deonna Purrazzo is the inaugural champion and is UNDEFEATED currently. Deonna competed against Billie Starkz at the 2025 Final Battle PPV to become the champ after a grueling Pure Title tournament. 

At the start of her championship reign, Deonna immediately put out an open challenge for anyone that wanted to see if they could dethrone her. There have been some amazing bouts that have come from these proving ground matchups. 

Some of the most impressive bouts have been against some amazing talent. 

Diamanté 

The muscle for Athena’s posse currently has been Diamanté and she has been working hard to take that title from Deonna since she grabbed that championship. 

A chip is definitely on her shoulders since seeing Deonna set the tone for who the inaugural champion would represent. 

The pettiness is at an all time high when Diamanté started to use the Fujiwara finisher. 

A finisher that Deonna is of course known for. That made this three month feud between both women extremely personal and honestly, one that I can see continuing on in the future. 

Gisele Shaw

The Pure championship has also been taken to Maple Leaf Wrestling, when Deonna faced off against Gisele Shaw. 

Both have a past facing off against one another in TNA wrestling. Having 17 matches together during that time.  

Gisele has challenged Athena early in the year in Maple Leaf Wrestling as well. So the women’s championships in general are very valued to Gisele. As she is hungry for ROH gold. 

Gisele is someone that knows Deonna’s wrestling style so much, that it makes you as a viewer feel like this is a bout where Purrazzzo has the strongest chance of losing that coveted title. 

However, Deonna did prevail and retained her title. As well as have the Canadian crowd in the palm of her hands. In one of my favorite matches of the year honestly. 

Giving Deonna a 12-0 record as the Pure champion at that point. 

Janai Kai 

Janai Kai 

One of my favorite wrestlers that fits perfectly to challenge Deonna is Janai Kai. 

Janai (who is extremely underrated btw) has something that I feel can really help to differentiate the PURE title from any of the other women’s championships.

 She is a master of many disciplines and you see that in her wrestling. 

Kai has an extensive background in muy tai, tai kwon do and mixed martial arts. 

This was a fast paced match that incorporated technical and submission based techniques that really held the fans captive. 

I really feel that JAnai Kai should become a competitor that is used to challenge Purrazzo agin because she really makes the champ really have to bring something else out of her arsenal. 

Viva Van

Viva comes into this match as a fan favorite. Really starting to cement herself in ROH. 

Deonna has her equal, in someone that can hand out deadly strikes, swift kicks, and even found creative ways to get out of Deonna’s insanely impressive submissions that she’s known for, without breaking rules for the Pure match. Deonna retains her title in match, after putting on an arm submission that Viva Van had no choice but to tap out to. 

This Pure title reign so far has really become a revamp for the Virtuosa Deonna Purrazzo that she so rightfully deserved since signing to AEW. She has really stuck her claim as a top draw in ROH and really gotten the chance to lock up with women that have the same passion as her. I look to see how far Purrazzzo will continue to take the title. 

Women’s World Television Championship 

Red Velvet initially faced a grueling challenge with making it through the ROH Womens Television tournament in 2024 to determine the inaugural champion. 

This was the first women’s title outside of the world women’s heavyweight title to be introduced and all the women were like sharks in the water. Looking to get their hands on the gold. 

Instantly Red Velvet became a fan favorite. She had been paying her dues in AEW years prior to this opportunity and really showing that she wanted to be a main draw to the women’s division in Ring of Honor. 

Red Velvet started her first run after beating Billie Starkz at Death before Dishonor in July of 2024. 

This first run was very successful and showed that Red Velvet meant business when she said that she was going to be a fighting champ. Showing a tenacity and determination that had the fans awaiting her next title defense. 

 Red Velvet came in making it clear that she was taking her career to another level. 

She had to face some stiff competition in a tournament that named her the inaugural champion and that also solidified that she would have some serious competition for her future title defenses. And boy did she ever.

Unfortunately, in July of 2025, she announced that she had to step away from in ring action, due to injury, and an interim champ was crowned. But not any person….THEE Mercedes Monè.

 Mercedes defeated Red Velvet on a November 2025 episode of Collision. Ended her title reign at 481 days. 

Red Velvet suffered heartbreak when the CEO Moné took her title and added it to her belt collection era. 

Something that must’ve got under Red Velvet’s craw. 

To feel like your beloved TV championship, one that you really cherished is just a token, or a collection piece that Moné brought out to flaunt, but not really care about. 

Red Velvet didn’t remain defeated, she continued to build herself up and climb that mountain again. To challenge for the title at Final Battle 2025. 

The glee on her face really showed up when she was able to bring the championship back home. 

In her first run, Red Velvet came in making it clear that she was taking her career to another level. With this second run, she reminded people why she was such a strong champ. 

This second title run has had some strong moments and competition. 

Mercedes Monè 

I feel that this title win and potential feud should be revisited because the chemistry between these two is phenomenal. With Red Velvet having to see Mercedes holding the title while he was recovering, then Mercedes also having to go through some heartbreak losing her many times a few months ago, I do think that there is room for both ladies to compete again and rivets the possible chip on awe shoulder that Moné might have from losing one her first belts to Red Velvet. It might just be dream booking on my end, but I would love to see the long term booking that we’ve been seeing lately in AEW to extend to ROH as well. 

Viva Van 

Viva Van has really starting to make a name for herself on the ROH roster and has been very proactive in trying to get the TV title. She had a great showcase against Red Velvet at this years Supercard. 

It was a hard hitting match that really showed that Viva can handle trying to climb the top of the mountain of the ROH women’s roster. 

Trish Adora

Trish is someone that I am still surprised hasn’t held any ROH gold yet. At this point, it is becoming a bit insulting. She has all the things that a champion should have. 

So her challenging for the title is great to show that the company wants to showcase the insanely talented women like Adora that Red Velvet will have to go through to keep her title. 

Red Velvet and Trish met up in March and Trish came in with a fired up attitude and really took it to Red Velvet. Actually holding the lead for the majority of the match. 

The Pure and TV championships have seen so many main event matches in just such a short span of time. It has been awesome to see how much evolution has continuously contributed to the rich history of the ROH women’s division and this new resurgence has been incredible to watch.

I’m excited to see what awaits Deonna Purrazzo and Red Velvet’s journey. Also what women in the future will continue to add to those belts. Belts that are now known to be be championships for fighters. 

Be sure to watch both women’s championship reigns on ROHTV.